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← Therīapadāna

8. Sattuppalamālikāya

Thi-ap 8

A tide advances and retreats across grey sand beside a smooth pebble.

Walt 71 In Aruṇavatī City,
lived a king named Aruṇavā.
I was then the wife of that king,
sent out by him on a journey. Verse 1

Walt 72 Having taken seven flowers,
divinely perfumed blue lotus,
lying down in that fine palace,
I reflected in this way then: Verse 2

Walt 73 “What use are these flowers to me,
planted on the top of my head?
They’ll be better for me offered
to the Best Buddha’s great knowledge. Verse 3

Walt 74 They’re honoring the Sambuddha;
Sitting near the palace doorway,
when the Sambuddha arrives here,
I too will worship the Great Sage.” Verse 4

Walt 75 Splendid like an arjuna tree,
like a lion, the king of beasts,
along with the monks’ Assembly,
the Victor then came on the road. Verse 5

Walt 76 After seeing the Buddha’s rays,
happy, with a mind that was moved,
having opened up the door, I
then worshipped the Best of Buddhas. Verse 6

Walt 77 I scattered up in the sky there
those seven blue lotus flowers.
Then covering the Buddha’s head,
they were held up there in the sky. Verse 7

Walt 78 Thrilled at heart, with a happy mind,
awe-struck, with hands pressed together,
bringing pleasure to my heart there,
I went to Tāvatiṁsa then. Verse 8

Walt 79 Blue lotus-flower canopies
are carried on top of my head.
I then exude divine perfumes:
the fruit of seven lotuses. Verse 9

Walt 80 Whenever I am sent somewhere
with my assembly of kinsfolk,
blue lotuses are carried then
over my entire retinue. Verse 10

Walt 81 I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of seventy kings of the gods.
Everywhere a female ruler,
I transmigrated birth to birth. Verse 11

Walt 82 I was fixed in the chief queen’s place
of sixty-three wheel-turning kings.
They all conform to my wishes;
I’m one whose words are listened to. Verse 12

Walt 83 My color and exuded scent
are those of blue lotus flowers;
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. Verse 13

Walt 84 Skillful in the superpowers,
fond of wisdom’s parts as focus,
special knowledges perfected:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. Verse 14

Walt 85 Skilled in retaining mindfulness,
pastured in calm-meditation,
undertaking fit exertion:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. Verse 15

Walt 86 My effort bearing the burden
brought me release from attachments;
defilements are all destroyed,
now there will be no more rebirth. Verse 16

Walt 87 In the thirty-one aeons since
I worshipped him with that flower,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth;
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā. Verse 17

Walt 88 My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. Verse 18

Walt 89 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 19

Walt 90 The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught! Verse 20

Thus indeed Bhikkhunī Sattuppalamālikāya spoke these verses.

The legend of Sattuppalamālikāya Therī is finished.

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About this edition

Translation by Jonathan S. Walters · SuttaCentral · CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US

Noncommercial reuse with attribution and the same license. Original publication and digitization credits are preserved below.

Translated by Jonathan S. Walters.

Whitman College, 2017

Legends of the Buddhist Saints (Apadāna) is released under the Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike license.

This is the first-ever complete translation of Apadāna into a Western language.

For more information, visit apadanatranslation.org

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Ayya Vimala.

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.