378. {381.} Avaṇṭaphaladāyaka

Tha-ap 383

A trail across the Tibetan plateau toward distant snowy peaks.

Walt 3278 The Blessed One, Hundred-Rayed One,
the Self-Become, Unconquered One,
Seclusion-Lover, Sambuddha,
went forth in order to seek food. Verse 1

Walt 3279 Holding fruit in my hand, I saw
the Bull of Men who had approached.
Happy, with pleasure in my heart,
I gave him fruit with stems removed. Verse 2

Walt 3280 In the ninety-four aeons since
I gave him that fruit at that time,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of giving fruit. Verse 3

Walt 3281 Being in Best Buddha’s presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 4

Walt 3282 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 5

Walt 3283 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 6

Thus indeed Venerable Avaṇṭaphaladāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Avaṇṭaphaladāyaka Thera is finished.

Connections

Collection & context

TherāpadānaThe collection containing this text
The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting

About this edition

Translation by Jonathan S. Walters · SuttaCentral · CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US

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Translated by Jonathan S. Walters.

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

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Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.