The Victor, Padumuttara,
the One with Eyes for everything,
the Leader of the World, arose
a hundred thousand aeons hence.

The Teacher, Best among Leaders,
Victor, Knower of Right from Wrong,
Grateful, Mindful of Benefits,
urges on those at the crossing.

Home of Kindness, examining
things with his omniscient knowledge,
the Limitless Heap of Virtue
is preaching his superb Dhamma.

At one time he, the Great Hero,
assembled with limitless folks,
is preaching the honeyed Dhamma,
along with the Four Noble Truths.

Having heard the superb Teaching,
pure in beginning, middle, end,
there was Dhamma-penetration
for one hundred thousand beings.

At that time the earth sounded forth
and the clouds began their growling;
the gods, Brahmā, men and titans
continued saying “Excellent!”

“O! The Compassionate Teacher!
O! Preaching of the great Dhamma!
O! The Victor lifts up those sunk
in the ocean of existence.”

When Brahmā with the gods and men
were thus stirred up with emotion,
the Victor praised a follower,
foremost of pleasers of the clans.

I then lived in Haṃsavatī,
born in a clan of ministers.
Comfortable and good-looking,
I was rich, with abundant wealth.

Having approached Swan Hermitage,
worshipping him, the Thus-Gone-One,
hearing his honey-sweet Dhamma,
having served the Neutral One,

bowing down before his feet, I
spoke these words to him at that time:
“O Sage, he who was praised by you,
foremost of the pleasers of clans,
I will be like him, O Hero,
in a Buddha’s dispensation.”

Then the Great Compassionate One
said to me as though sprinkling me
with ambrosia, “Son, striving one,
you’ll attain that beautiful place.
Doing a deed for the Victor,
how could it then be without fruit?

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 Udāyi
will be the Teacher’s follower.”

After hearing that I was thrilled,
and then for as long as I lived,
loving-hearted, I served the Guide,
the Victor, with the requisites.

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

And now in my final rebirth,
in lovely Kapilavastu,
I’m born in a minister’s clan,
with Suddhodana as our king.

When in lovely Lumbini grove,
Siddhartha, the Bull among Men,
was born for the well-being and
the happiness of every world,

on that same day, I too was born,
and I grew up along with him,
beloved, friendly, and held dear,
confident and skilled in the law.

At the age of twenty-nine years,
departing from there he went forth.
Contorting himself for six years,
he then was the Buddha, the Guide.

Conquering Death and his army,
casting out all the defilements,
crossing the flood of existence,
he then was Buddha in the world.

Going to the place named Isi
he instructed the group of five;
then the Blessed One instructed
folks, going, going here and there.

Instructing those who could be led,
assisting the world with its gods,
approaching Maṅgalā mountain,
the Victor then dwelt in that place.

Then sent by Suddhodana, the
earth’s protector, going, seeing
the Ten-Powered One, going forth,
I too became an arahant.

Then asking it of the Great Sage,
I brought him back to Kapila.
Then having gone back there again
I’m bringing the great clan pleasure.

The Victor, glad at that virtue,
the Bull of People spoke to me.
The Guide appointed me foremost
among the pleasers of the clans.

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 Kāḷudāyi Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Kāḷudāyi Thera is finished.