Walt 3042 The Victor, Padumuttara,
was the Master of Everything.
While preaching the Four Noble Truths,
he ferried many folks across. Verse 1Walt 3043 A matted-haired ascetic then,
I practiced fierce austerities.
Throwing off my clothes made of bark,
I traveled in the sky back then. Verse 2Walt 3044 Then I was unable to fly
over him, the Best of Buddhas.
Like a bird hitting a mountain,
I did not get to journey on. Verse 3Walt 3045 My movement had not formerly
been obstructed in such a way;
as though rising up from water,
I easily flew through the sky. Verse 4Walt 3046 “A lofty human being must
be sitting underneath me now.
It’s good for me to search for him;
I might obtain something worthwhile.” Verse 5Walt 3047 Then descending from the sky, I
heard the sound of the Teacher,
who was preaching impermanence;
I learned that lesson at that time. Verse 6Walt 3048 Learning to see impermanence
I went back to my hermitage.
Dwelling there the rest of my life,
I passed away right on the spot. Verse 7Walt 3049 In my subsequent existence,
I recalled hearing that Teaching.
Due to that karma done very well,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then. Verse 8Walt 3050 For thirty thousand aeons I
delighted in the world of gods.
And I exercised divine rule,
one more than fifty different times. Verse 9Walt 3051 And seventy-one different times
I was a wheel-turning monarch.
There was also much local rule,
innumerable by counting. Verse 10Walt 3052 Then seated in my father’s house,
a monk with senses well-controlled,
illustrating the truth in verse,
spoke of things as impermanent. Verse 11Walt 3053 Remembering that perception,
transmigrating from birth to birth,
I still did not perceive the end,
nirvana, everlasting state. Verse 12Walt 3054 “In flux indeed is all that is;
things come to be and then decay.
They arise and then they dissolve;
their cessation is happiness.” Verse 13Walt 3055 After hearing him say that verse,
I recalled my past perception.
Seated in a single sitting,
I achieved the arahant-state. Verse 14Walt 3056 Being only seven years old,
I attained my arahantship.
Recognizing my virtue the
Buddha, Eyeful One ordained me. Verse 15Walt 3057 Even though I was a mere boy,
I finished what needs to be done.
Today what do I need to do
in the Śākyan’s dispensation? Verse 16Walt 3058 In the hundred thousand aeons
since I did that good karma then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit in hearing the Teaching. Verse 17Walt 3059 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 18
Thus indeed Venerable Dhammasavaniya Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Dhammasavaniya Thera is finished.