Walt 1116 The World’s Great Lord, surrounded by
a thousand arahants undefiled,
being one bound to solitude
went off into seclusion then. Verse 1Walt 1117 I was dressed in deer-leather clothes,
carrying a triple rod there.
Then I saw the Chief of the World
encompassed by the Assembly. Verse 2Walt 1118 Placing deer-hide on one shoulder,
hands pressed together on my head,
having worshipped the Sambuddha,
I praised the World-Leader kindly: Verse 3Walt 1119 “Just as all birds, crows and so on,
hatched from eggs or born out of sweat,
born in wombs or viviparous,
always travel across the sky; Verse 4Walt 1120 Whatever creatures may exist,
those with and without consciousness,
are all of them included in
the great knowledge that you possess. Verse 5Walt 1121 Whatever mountain scents there are
in the supreme Himalaya
they all can’t match even a bit
the scent of your morality. Verse 6Walt 1122 This world together with its gods
is grasped by the darkness-makers.
When your knowledge is shining forth
the darkness-makers are destroyed. Verse 7Walt 1123 Just as creatures are in the dark
when the sun has set for the day,
this world’s enshrouded in darkness
when a Buddha has not appeared. Verse 8Walt 1124 Just as the sun when it rises
drives away darkness every day,
so too do you, O Best Buddha,
destroy the darkness every day. Verse 9Walt 1125 You are one bent on exertion,
Buddha in the world with its gods.
Through their delight in your karma
you satisfy many people.” Verse 10Walt 1126 Then giving thanks for all of that,
the Great Sage Padumuttara,
the Hero, flew into the sky
just like a swan-king in the air. Verse 11Walt 1127 Having flown off, the Sambuddha,
the Great Sage Padumuttara,
the Teacher, standing in the sky,
spoke these verses about me then: Verse 12Walt 1128 “I shall relate details of him
who has made this praise of knowledge,
combined with good analogies;
all of you listen to my words: Verse 13Walt 1129 Eighteen different times he will be
the king over all of the gods.
He will reside upon the earth
and have three hundred earthly reigns. Verse 14Walt 1130 Full five hundred times he will reign,
a king who turns the wheel of law,
and he will have much local rule
innumerable by counting. Verse 15Walt 1131 In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world. Verse 16Walt 1132 Having fallen from Tusitā,
incited by his wholesome roots,
a low ascetic with dreadlocks,
he will be known as Upāli. Verse 17Walt 1133 And afterwards, having gone forth,
driving away every evil,
knowing well all the defilements,
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled. Verse 18Walt 1134 And the Śākyas’ Son, Greatly Famed,
the Buddha known as Gotama,
pleased by his Vinaya knowledge
will place him in that foremost place.” Verse 19Walt 1135 I, after going forth with faith,
did my duty, am undefiled.
Knowing well all the defilements,
without defilements I now live. Verse 20Walt 1136 The Blessed One did pity me;
I am skilled in the Vinaya.
Delighted by my own karma
I’m living without defilements. Verse 21Walt 1137 Self-controlled in monastic rules
and in the five organs of sense,
I carry all the Vinaya
entirely, that gemstone-mine. Verse 22Walt 1138 And then, discerning my virtue,
the Teacher, the Best in the World,
seated in the monks’ Assembly,
did place me in that foremost place. Verse 23Walt 1139 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 24
Thus indeed Venerable Upāli Thera spoke these verses.
The legend of Upāli Thera is finished.