My progress was slow, I was despised in the past. Even my brother turned me away, saying, “Go home now.”
Turned away at the gate of the Saṅgha’s monastery, I stood there sadly, longing for the dispensation.
Then the Buddha came and touched my head. Taking me by the arm, he brought me into the Saṅgha’s monastery.
The Teacher, out of sympathy, gave me a foot-wiping cloth, saying: “Focus your awareness exclusively on this clean cloth.”
After hearing his words, I happily did his bidding. I practiced meditative immersion for the attainment of the highest goal.
I know my past lives, my clairvoyance is clarified; I’ve attained the three knowledges, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
I, Panthaka, created a thousand images of myself, and sat in the delightful mango grove until the time for the meal offering was announced.
Consequently, the Teacher sent to me a messenger to announce the time. When the time was announced, I flew to him through the air.
I paid homage at the Teacher’s feet, and sat to one side. When he knew I was seated, the Teacher received the offering.
Recipient of gifts from the whole world, receiver of sacrifices, field of merit for humanity, he received the religious donation.
Cūḷapanthaka
Thag 10.4 · Cūḷapanthakattheragāthā
Connections
Collection & context
- TheragāthāThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.