485. {488.} Taraṇiya

Walt 5177 Atthadassi, the Blessed One,
the Self-Become One, World-Leader,
the Thus-Gone-One then came up to
the banks of river Vinatā. Verse 1

Walt 5178 A water-dwelling tortoise then,
I had come out from the water.
I went up to the World-Leader,
the Buddha; he desired to cross. Verse 2

Walt 5179 “Let the Buddha climb onto me,
O Atthadassi, O Great Sage;
I will carry you across; you
are the Ender of Suffering.” Verse 3

Walt 5180 Discerning what I was thinking,
Atthadassi, the Greatly Famed,
after climbing onto my back,
stood there, the Leader of the World. Verse 4

Walt 5181 As far back as I remember,
ever since I reached discretion,
I have not had such happiness
as when his soles then touched my back. Verse 5

Walt 5182 After crossing, the Sambuddha,
Atthadassi, the Greatly Famed,
remaining on the river bank,
spoke these verses about me then: Verse 6

Walt 5183 “Just as I ferry folks across
the stream of doubt which is the mind,
this turtle king, full of merit,
ferries me across the river. Verse 7

Walt 5184 Through this Buddha-ferrying and
practice of loving-heartedness,
for eighteen hundred aeons he
will delight in the world of gods. Verse 8

Walt 5185 Coming back here from the gods’ world,
incited by his wholesome roots,
sitting down on a single seat,
he’ll cross over the stream of doubt. Verse 9

Walt 5186-5187 As with a seed which is planted,
in a field which is bountiful:
when it rains, with proper support,
fruit pleases the cultivator;
so too within this Buddha-field,
preached by the Sammāsambuddha:
when it rains, with proper support,
the fruit will be pleasing to me.” Verse 10-11

Walt 5188 I am one bent on exertion,
calmed, devoid of grounds for rebirth,
knowing well all the defilements,
I am now living, undefiled. Verse 12

Walt 5189 In the eighteen hundred aeons
since I did that karma back then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that is the fruit of ferrying. Verse 13

Walt 5190 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 14

Walt 5191 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 15

Walt 5192 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 16

Thus indeed Venerable Taraṇiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Taraṇiya Thera is finished.