The Victor, Padumuttara,
the Sage, Knower of Every World,
the One who had Five Eyes, arose
a hundred thousand aeons hence.

The Admonisher, Instructor,
Crosser-Over of all that breathe,
Skilled at Preaching, he, the Buddha,
caused many folks to cross the flood.

Merciful, Compassionate One,
Well-Wisher of all that breathe, he
established in the five precepts
all the rivals who had arrived.

In this way he was Unconfused
and Very Well-Known by rivals,
Ornamented by arahants
who were masters and neutral ones.

The body of the Sage So Great
rose up fifty-eight cubits tall;
he was Valuable Like Gold,
Bearing the Thirty-Two Great Marks.

People’s lifespan at that time was
fully one hundred thousand years.
Remaining in the world so long,
he ferried many folks across.

I then lived in Haṃsavatī,
brahmin master of the Vedas.
Approaching Beings’ Best Hardwood,
I heard the preaching of Dhamma.

Then Buddha placed a follower,
who pastured in developed thought,
skilled in meaning and the Teaching,
etymology and preaching,
a hero, in that foremost place.
After hearing that, I was thrilled;
then for a week I fed him, the
Best Victor, with his followers.

Having covered with new cloth robes
the Wisdom-Sea with his students,
bowing down in front of his feet,
I aspired to attain that place.

Afterward the World-Chief said this:
“Look at that excellent brahmin,
now bent down in front of my feet,
with lotus-belly radiance.

This one’s aspiring to the place
of the monk of the Best Buddha.
Through that faith, generosity,
and his hearing of the Teaching,
he’ll transmigrate from birth to birth,
being happy in every place;
very far into the future,
he’ll receive that delightful place.

In one hundred thousand aeons,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world.

Worthy heir to that one’s Dhamma,
Dhamma’s legitimate offspring,
the one whose name is Koṭṭhita
will be the Teacher’s follower.”

After hearing that I was thrilled,
and then for as long as I lived,
mindful, loving-hearted and wise,
I waited on him, the Victor.

Due to that karma done very well,
with intention and firm resolve,
discarding my human body,
I went to Tāvatiṃsa then.

Three hundred times the lord of gods,
I exercised divine rule there,
and then five hundred times I was
a king who turns the wheel of law.

There was also much local rule,
innumerable by counting.
Through the power of that karma,
I was happy in every place.

I transmigrate in just two states:
that of a god, or of a man.
I don’t go to other rebirths:
that’s the fruit of good practice.

I am born in the two high clans,
kṣatriyan and also brahmin.
I don’t get born in lesser clans:
that’s the fruit of good practice.

When my last rebirth was attained
I was a kinsman of Brahmā,
reborn then in a brahmin clan
in Śrāvasti, very wealthy.

Mother was named Candavatī;
my father Assalāyana.
When with all intelligence the
Buddha instructed my father,
being pleased with the Well-Gone-One,
I went forth into homelessness.
Moggallāna was my teacher;
Sāri’s child was my preceptor.

When my hair was being cut off,
views were cut off too, with their roots.
While living in the saffron robes,
I attained my arahantship.

Because my thought was developed
well in meaning and the Teaching,
etymology and preaching,
the World-Chief placed me in that place.

Questioned by Upatissa, I
explained with nothing indistinct.
Thus in analytical modes,
I’m foremost in the religion.

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

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!

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

Thus indeed Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mahākoṭṭhika Thera is finished.