546. {549.} Vanavaccha

Walt 6273 In this present lucky aeon
Brahmā’s Kinsman, Greatly Famed One,
known by the name of Kassapa,
Best Debater, Buddha, arose. Verse 1

Walt 6274 Then I, after having gone forth
in the Buddha’s dispensation,
wandering in the holy life
as long as I lived, fell from there. Verse 2

Walt 6275 Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then. Verse 3

Walt 6276-6277 Fallen from there, in a forest,
I was then born as a pigeon.
A Buddhist monk was living there,
always delighting in trances,
loving-hearted, compassionate,
with a face always greatly pleased,
even-minded, a great hero,
learned in the four boundless states. Verse 4-5

Walt 6278 In not a long time I trusted
that follower of the Buddha,
whose thoughts were without obstructions,
friendly toward all living beings. Verse 6

Walt 6279 Then whenever I approached him,
every day he preached the Dhamma,
and gave a little of his food
to me, seated before his feet. Verse 7

Walt 6280 After living like that back then,
with great love for the Victor’s son,
having died I went to heaven,
like home after being abroad. Verse 8

Walt 6281 Fallen from heaven I’m reborn
as human due to good karma.
Throwing away life in the house,
I then went forth repeatedly. Verse 9

Walt 6282 As monk, ascetic or brahmin,
I was thus one who had gone forth,
becoming a forest-dweller
in various hundreds of lives. Verse 10

Walt 6283 And now in my final rebirth,
a brahmin named Vacchagotta
in lovely Kapilavastu,
I set forth along with my wife. Verse 11

Walt 6284 My mother’s pregnancy craving
when she was close to giving birth,
resolved her to live in the woods,
when I had come out of her womb. Verse 12

Walt 6285 My mother then gave birth to me
within a beautiful forest.
As I departed from her womb,
they swaddled me in saffron cloth. Verse 13

Walt 6286 After that Prince Siddhartha was
born, Banner of the Śākyan Clan.
I became his beloved friend,
held in confidence and honored. Verse 14

Walt 6287 When Beings’ Hardwood departed,
renouncing all of his vast fame,
after having gone forth as well,
I went to the Himalayas. Verse 15

Walt 6288 Seeing respected Kassapa,
preacher of rigor, in the woods,
hearing the Victor’d arisen,
I approached the Coachman of Men. Verse 16

Walt 6289 He then preached the Dhamma to me,
with all of the meanings explained.
Then, going forth under Buddha,
I went to the forest again. Verse 17

Walt 6290 Zealously living there I then
learned the six special knowledges.
O! I have obtained a good gain,
being pitied by my good friend. Verse 18

Walt 6291 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 19

Walt 6292 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 20

Walt 6293 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 21

Thus indeed Venerable Vanavaccha Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Vanavaccha Thera is finished.