544. {547.} Abhaya

Walt 6217 The Victor, Padumuttara,
the One with Eyes for everything,
the Leader of the World, arose
a hundred thousand aeons hence. Verse 1

Walt 6218 The Thus-Gone-One exhorts someone
in the going for refuge, and
he exhorts someone in morals,
in the supreme ten ways to act. Verse 2

Walt 6219 The Hero gives to somebody
the ultimate fruit of monkhood,
and likewise the eight attainments;
he bestows the three knowledges. Verse 3

Walt 6220 Supreme Man urges some being
in the six special knowledges,
and the Lord gives to somebody
the four analytical modes. Verse 4

Walt 6221 Seeing folks to be awakened,
across leagues that can’t be counted,
in no time having approached them,
the Charioteer of Men exhorts. Verse 5

Walt 6222-6223 I then lived in Haṁsavatī;
I was the son of a brahmin,
a master of all the Vedas,
revered as a grammarian,
skillful in etymology,
confident in definitions,
verse-knower, ritual-knower,
also clever at prosody. Verse 6-7

Walt 6224 While wandering about on foot,
having approached Swan Hermitage,
I saw him, the Best Debater,
Honored by the Great Populace, Verse 8

Walt 6225 preaching the Dhamma without stain.
I, with contrary ideas,
after having gone up to him,
after hearing his stainless words, Verse 9

Walt 6226 looking for a word of the Sage
which was incorrect, repeated,
or thrown-off or without meaning,
I saw none; therefore I went forth. Verse 10

Walt 6227 After not a long time, being
confident among all teachers,
I am taken as an expert
in the subtle words of Buddha. Verse 11

Walt 6228 After having put together
four well-written verses for him,
praising the Chief of the Three Worlds,
I had them preached from day to day. Verse 12

Walt 6229 “In this frightful existence you
are Free from Passion, Great Hero;
out of compassion, you don’t die,
thus you’re ‘the Compassionate Sage.’ Verse 13

Walt 6230 Someone who’s a common person
not overwhelmed by defilements,
would be attentive and mindful;
thus Buddha’s inconceivable. Verse 14

Walt 6231 These are not destroyed by themselves,
even someone’s weak defilements,
consumed in the fire of knowledge.
It would be a marvel if so. Verse 15

Walt 6232 He who’s the Teacher of All Worlds:
for him the world’s thus a teacher;
he’s thus known as ‘the World-Teacher’
and the world is following him.” Verse 16

Walt 6233 With fine verses like those, I praised
the Sambuddha, Dhamma-preacher;
doing so as long as I lived,
after death I went to heaven. Verse 17

Walt 6234 In the hundred thousand aeons
since I praised the Buddha like that,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of praising Buddha. Verse 18

Walt 6235 I experienced a lot of
great kingship in the world of gods,
and local kingship here on earth,
and wheel-turning kingship as well. Verse 19

Walt 6236 I transmigrate in just two states:
that of a god, or of a man.
I do not know other rebirths;
that’s the fruit of praising Buddha. Verse 20

Walt 6237 When human I‘m born in two clans:
the kṣatriyan or the brahmin.
I don’t get born in lesser clans:
that’s the fruit of praising Buddha. Verse 21

Walt 6238 Now, in my final existence,
in Rajgir, ultimate city,
I am King Bimbisāra’s son,
and my given name’s Abhaya. Verse 22

Walt 6239 Influenced by an evil friend,
I was bewildered by a Jain.
Sent by the leader of the Jains,
I approached the Best of Buddhas. Verse 23

Walt 6240 Having asked a subtle question,
hearing Buddha’s supreme response,
going forth, in not a long time,
I attained my arahantship. Verse 24

Walt 6241 After praising the Best Victor,
I myself am praised all the time.
With good-scented body and mouth,
I am endowed with happiness. Verse 25

Walt 6242 Thus indeed I am greatly wise,
with sharp, clever and quick wisdom,
and I speak with varied discourse,
through the power of that karma. Verse 26

Walt 6243 With pleasure in my heart, praising the Worthy,
the Unmatched, Self-Become Padumuttara,
as the fruit of that, to a place full of woe,
for a whole lakh of aeons, I did not go. Verse 27

Walt 6244 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 28

Walt 6245 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 29

Walt 6246 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 30

Thus indeed Venerable Abhaya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Abhaya Thera is finished.