4. Anuruddha

Walt 423 I caught a glimpse of the World-Chief,
the Blessed One named Sumedha,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
while he was dwelling in solitude. Verse 1

Walt 424 So I approached that Sambuddha,
Sumedha, the Chief of the World,
and holding up hands pressed together
I said to him, the Best Buddha: Verse 2

Walt 425 “With your permission, Great Hero
o World’s Best One, O Bull of Men,
I shall light a lamp for you while
you meditate beneath that tree.” Verse 3

Walt 426 That Wise One signaled his assent
the Self-Existent, Best Debater.
I then contrived a mechanism
by piercing through some tree trunks there. Verse 4

Walt 427 I set afire a thousand wicks
for the Buddha, the World’s Kinsman.
For a week I kept them all lit
and then those lamps were extinguished. Verse 5

Walt 428 Due to the pleasure in my heart
and that intention and resolve,
discarding my human body
I’m born in a divine mansion. Verse 6

Walt 429 There was a pillar, well-proportioned
for me born in that divine state.
It blazed forth on every side then:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. Verse 7

Walt 430 On every side for a whole league
I myself shined forth at that time.
I surpassed all the other gods:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. Verse 8

Walt 431 For thirty aeons, king of gods
I exercised divine rule then.
No one at all neglected me:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. Verse 9

Walt 432 And also eight and twenty times
I was a wheel-turning monarch.
Both day and night I could then see
an entire league surrounding me. Verse 10

Walt 433 With knowledge of one thousand worlds,
I see in the dispensation.
The “divine eye” is now attained:
that is the fruit of giving lamps. Verse 11

Walt 434 That Sambuddha named Sumedha
lived thirty thousand aeons hence.
To him a lamp was given by me
with a mind that was very clear. Verse 12

Walt 435 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.

Walt 436 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!

Walt 437 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 13

Thus indeed Venerable Anuruddha Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Anuruddha Thera is finished.