Walt 3791 My wife had passed away, my son
had gone to the cemetery;
on a single pyre I had burned
my mother, father, and brothers. Verse 1Walt 3792 I was consumed due to that grief,
I had become haggard and pale
and I was mentally deranged,
greatly pained because of that grief. Verse 2Walt 3793 Wounded by the arrow of grief,
I went up to the forest’s edge.
Eating only wild fruits I found,
I dwelt at the foot of a tree. Verse 3Walt 3794 The Sambuddha named Sumedha,
the Victor, Ender of Dis-ease,
with a desire to lift me up,
did come into my presence then. Verse 4Walt 3795 Having heard the sound of the feet
of Sumedha, the Sage So Great,
I having lifted up my head
did gaze upon him, the Great Sage. Verse 5Walt 3796 When he, the Great Hero, approached,
then joy did get produced for me.
Having seen him, the World-Leader,
my mind at last was put at ease. Verse 6Walt 3797 Having recovered consciousness,
I gave him a handful of leaves.
The Blessed One then sat down there,
out of compassion, Eyeful One. Verse 7Walt 3798 Sitting down there, the Blessed One,
Sumedha, Leader of the World,
Buddha preached to me the Teaching
that removes the arrows of grief: Verse 8Walt 3799 “Uninvited they’ve come from there;
not taking leave they’ve gone from here.
As they have come, so they have gone;
what good is wailing about that? Verse 9Walt 3800 Just as, when rain is raining down,
people traveling on the road,
taking their goods, are going to
a place where the rain’s not falling, Verse 10Walt 3801 and when the rain has ceased to fall,
they carry on as they had planned;
thus your mother and father too:
what good is wailing about that? Verse 11Walt 3802 We’re all visiting strangers, guests,
wavering, driven on, shaken.
Thus your mother and father too:
what good is wailing about that? Verse 12Walt 3803 Just as a serpent slithers on,
abandoning its worn-out skin,
thus your mother and father too:
their bodies are abandoned here.” Verse 13Walt 3804 Understanding the Buddha’s words,
I removed the arrow of grief.
Generating happiness, I
worshipped the Best of the Buddhas. Verse 14Walt 3805 Worshipping the Great Elephant,
I offered Sumedha, Leader
of the World, a stalk of flowers
endowed with a heavenly scent. Verse 15Walt 3806 Having worshipped the Sambuddha,
pressing my hands upon my head,
calling to mind his chief virtues,
I praised the Leader of the World: Verse 16Walt 3807 “Great Hero, you’re the One Who’s Crossed,
Omniscient One, the World-Leader.
You are lifting up all creatures
with your knowledge, O Sage So Great. Verse 17Walt 3808 You cut off all perplexity
and also doubt, O Sage So Great.
You’re imparting the path to me
through your knowledge, O Eyeful One. Verse 18Walt 3809 Arahants with the goal attained,
six-knowledge-holders, powerful,
wise ones who travel in the sky,
are surrounding you all the time. Verse 19Walt 3810 Your followers are bearing fruit,
those attained and those being trained;
your followers are blossoming
like lotus flowers at sunrise. Verse 20Walt 3811 As the ocean is unperturbed,
unequaled, difficult to cross,
thus too are you, O Eyeful One,
Endowed with Knowledge, Infinite.” Verse 21Walt 3812 Having worshipped the World’s Victor,
the Eyeful One, he of Great Fame,
praising each of the directions,
crouched over I went off from there. Verse 22Walt 3813 Falling from the world of the gods,
transmigrating from birth to birth,
I came out of my mother’s womb,
attentive and remembering. Verse 23Walt 3814 Having departed from the house,
I went forth into homelessness.
Zealous, also intelligent,
I pastured in meditation. Verse 24Walt 3815 Having put forth great exertion,
having gladdened the Sage So Great,
I thereafter am wandering,
like the moon freed from a cloud-bank. Verse 25Walt 3816 I’m now intent on seclusion,
calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth;
knowing well all the defilements,
I am now living, undefiled. Verse 26Walt 3817 In the thirty thousand aeons
since I worshipped the Buddha then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. Verse 27Walt 3818 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
All defilements are exhausted;
now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 28Walt 3819 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 29Walt 3820 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 30
Thus indeed Venerable Girimānanda Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Girimānanda Thera is finished.