480. {483.} Bhisadāyaka

Walt 5057 I, having plunged into a pond,
served by various elephants,
am pulling up lotus root there,
because they’re what I’m eating then. Verse 1

Walt 5058-5059 The Buddha in that period
bore the name Padumuttara.
Wearing cloth dyed red, the Buddha
is traveling through the sky there,
shaking his robes made out of rags.
Then I heard the sound of his robes,
and looking upward at the sky,
I saw the Leader of the World. Verse 2-3

Walt 5060-5061 Remaining in that very place,
I invited the World-Leader:
“Honey is flowing from the roots
and milk and oil flow from the stems;
let the Buddha, the Eyeful One,
with pity accept some from me.”
Then the Teacher, Compassionate,
the Greatly Famed One, descended. Verse 4-5a-b

Walt 5062 The Eyeful One, with pity then,
accepted that alms food of mine.
Accepting it, the Sambuddha
expressed his thanks to me like this: Verse 5c-d,.6a-b

Walt 5063 “Be happy, O merit-filled one;
let your rebirth be accomplished.
Due to this gift of lotus root,
may you receive huge happiness.” Verse 6c-f

Walt 5064 Having said that, the Sambuddha,
the one whose name was “Best Lotus,”
the Sambuddha, taking that food,
the Victor flew off through the sky. Verse 7

Walt 5065 Having taken more lotus root,
I came back to my hermitage.
Hanging that root up in a tree,
I remembered my offering. Verse 8

Walt 5066 A massive wind-storm then arose:
it agitated the forest.
The space was filled up with the noise
of thunderbolts bursting forth there. Verse 9

Walt 5067 Then lightening falling from the sky,
struck me right on top of my head.
Because of that, sitting down,
I passed away right on the spot. Verse 10

Walt 5068 Then bound up with my good karma,
I was reborn in Tusitā.
When my human body fell down,
I delighted in the gods’ world. Verse 11

Walt 5069 Eighty-six thousand women then,
decked out in fine clothes and jewelry,
wait on me evening and morning:
the fruit of giving lotus root. Verse 12

Walt 5070 Having come to a human womb,
I am then happy all the time.
I have no lack of possessions:
the fruit of giving lotus root. Verse 13

Walt 5071 Having then been pitied by him,
the God of Gods, the Neutral One,
all defilements are exhausted;
now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 14

Walt 5072 In the hundred thousand aeons
since I gave that alms food back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
the fruit of giving lotus root. Verse 15

Walt 5073 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 16

Walt 5074 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 17

Walt 5075 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 18

Thus indeed Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Bhisadāyaka Thera is finished.