My progress was slow, I was despised in the past. Even my brother turned me away, saying, “Go home now.”
“Dandhā mayhaṁ gatī āsi, paribhūto pure ahaṁ; Bhātā ca maṁ paṇāmesi, ‘gaccha dāni tuvaṁ gharaṁ’.
Turned away at the gate of the Saṅgha’s monastery, I stood there sadly, longing for the dispensation.
Sohaṁ paṇāmito santo, saṅghārāmassa koṭṭhake; Dummano tattha aṭṭhāsiṁ, sāsanasmiṁ apekkhavā.
Then the Buddha came and touched my head. Taking me by the arm, he brought me into the Saṅgha’s monastery.
Bhagavā tattha āgacchi, sīsaṁ mayhaṁ parāmasi; Bāhāya maṁ gahetvāna, saṅghārāmaṁ pavesayi.
The Teacher, out of sympathy, gave me a foot-wiping cloth, saying: “Focus your awareness exclusively on this clean cloth.”
Anukampāya me satthā, pādāsi pādapuñchaniṁ; ‘Etaṁ suddhaṁ adhiṭṭhehi, ekamantaṁ svadhiṭṭhitaṁ’.
After hearing his words, I happily did his bidding. I practiced meditative immersion for the attainment of the highest goal.
Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, vihāsiṁ sāsane rato; Samādhiṁ paṭipādesiṁ, uttamatthassa pattiyā.
I know my past lives, my clairvoyance is clarified; I’ve attained the three knowledges, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi, dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ; Tisso vijjā anuppattā, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.
I, Panthaka, created a thousand images of myself, and sat in the delightful mango grove until the time for the meal offering was announced.
Sahassakkhattumattānaṁ, nimminitvāna panthako; Nisīdambavane ramme, yāva kālappavedanā.
Consequently, the Teacher sent to me a messenger to announce the time. When the time was announced, I flew to him through the air.
Tato me satthā pāhesi, dūtaṁ kālappavedakaṁ; Paveditamhi kālamhi, vehāsādupasaṅkamiṁ.
I paid homage at the Teacher’s feet, and sat to one side. When he knew I was seated, the Teacher received the offering.
Vanditvā satthuno pāde, ekamantaṁ nisīdahaṁ; Nisinnaṁ maṁ viditvāna, atha satthā paṭiggahi.
Recipient of gifts from the whole world, receiver of sacrifices, field of merit for humanity, he received the religious donation.
Āyāgo sabbalokassa, āhutīnaṁ paṭiggaho; Puññakkhettaṁ manussānaṁ, paṭiggaṇhittha dakkhiṇan”ti. … Cūḷapanthako thero ….
