45. Pañcahatthiya

Tha-ap 47

A winding path through a wildflower meadow.

Walt 1191 The Sambuddha named Sumedha
was traveling through the bazaar
with downcast eyes, speaking few words,
mindful, with his sense-doors guarded. Verse 1

Walt 1192 Then they brought me—for my top-crest—
five handfuls of water lilies.
I did Buddha-pūjā with them
feeling well- pleased by my own hands. Verse 2

Walt 1193 Then those flowers that I had placed
became the Teacher’s canopy.
They flocked to the Great Elephant
like students to a good teacher. Verse 3

Walt 1194 In the thirty thousand aeons
since I offered him that flower,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. Verse 4

Walt 1195 One hundred twenty aeons hence
there were five different kṣatriyans.
All of them were named Hatthiya,
wheel-turning kings with great power. Verse 5

Walt 1196 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 6

Thus indeed Venerable Pañcahatthiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Pañcahatthiya 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

Noncommercial reuse with attribution and the same license. Original publication and digitization credits are preserved below.

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.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

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.