Verses on Dhamma 7.2.p4

7.2.p4

Bhikkhū satthāraṃ pucchiṃsu – ‘‘bhante, kadā pana therena patthanā ṭhapitā’’ti? ‘‘Sotukāmāttha, bhikkhave’’ti? ‘‘Āma, bhante’’ti. Satthā tesaṃ, ‘‘bhikkhave, ito kappasatasahassamatthake padumuttaro nāma buddho loke udapādī’’ti vatvā padumuttarapādamūle tena ṭhapitapatthanaṃ ādiṃ katvā sabbaṃ therassa pubbacaritaṃ kathesi. Taṃ therapāḷiyaṃ (theragā. 1054 ādayo) vitthāritameva. Satthā pana imaṃ therassa pubbacaritaṃ vitthāretvā ‘‘iti kho, bhikkhave, ahaṃ candopamappaṭipadañceva ariyavaṃsappaṭipadañca mama puttaṃ kassapaṃ ādiṃ katvā kathesiṃ, mama puttassa kassapassa paccayesu vā kulesu vā vihāresu vā pariveṇesu vā laggo nāma natthi, pallale otaritvā tattha caritvā gacchanto rājahaṃso viya katthaci alaggoyeva mama putto’’ti anusandhiṃ ghaṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imaṃ gāthamāha –

The monks asked the Teacher, “Reverend Sir, when did the Elder make his Earnest Wish?” “Monks, do you wish to hear?” “Yes, Reverend Sir.” Said the Teacher to them, “Monks, a hundred thousand cycles of time in the past, the Buddha Padumuttara appeared in the world.” Beginning with these words, the Teacher related the whole story of the Elder's deed in a previous state of existence, beginning with his Earnest Wish in the dispensation of the Buddha Padumuttara. (The story is related in detail in the Sacred Text of the Elders.) When the Teacher had related in detail this deed of the Elder in a previous state of existence, he said, "Thus, monks, beginning with my son Kassapa, I preached to all a Path like that of the moon, the Path of the Stock of the Elect. My son has no attachment for requisites or households or monasteries or cells. My son has no attachment anywhere, but is like a royal goose which goes down into a lake and swims therein and abides therein." And joining the connection and preaching the Law, he pronounced the following Stanza,