Thag 10.4

Cūḷapanthakattheragāthā

“Dandhā mayhaṁ gatī āsi, paribhūto pure ahaṁ; Bhātā ca maṁ paṇāmesi, ‘gaccha dāni tuvaṁ gharaṁ’.

Cūḷapanthaka

My progress was slow, I was despised in the past. Even my brother turned me away, saying, “Go home now.”

Sohaṁ paṇāmito santo, saṅghārāmassa koṭṭhake; Dummano tattha aṭṭhāsiṁ, sāsanasmiṁ apekkhavā.

Turned away at the gate of the Saṅgha’s monastery, I stood there sadly, longing for the dispensation.

Bhagavā tattha āgacchi, sīsaṁ mayhaṁ parāmasi; Bāhāya maṁ gahetvāna, saṅghārāmaṁ pavesayi.

Then the Buddha came and touched my head. Taking me by the arm, he brought me into the Saṅgha’s monastery.

Anukampāya me satthā, pādāsi pādapuñchaniṁ; ‘Etaṁ suddhaṁ adhiṭṭhehi, ekamantaṁ svadhiṭṭhitaṁ’.

The Teacher, out of sympathy, gave me a foot-wiping cloth, saying: “Focus your awareness exclusively on this clean cloth.”

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, vihāsiṁ sāsane rato; Samādhiṁ paṭipādesiṁ, uttamatthassa pattiyā.

After hearing his words, I happily did his bidding. I practiced meditative immersion for the attainment of the highest goal.

Pubbenivāsaṁ jānāmi, dibbacakkhu visodhitaṁ; Tisso vijjā anuppattā, kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

I know my past lives, my clairvoyance is clarified; I’ve attained the three knowledges, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

Sahassakkhattumattānaṁ, nimminitvāna panthako; Nisīdambavane ramme, yāva kālappavedanā.

I, Panthaka, created a thousand images of myself, and sat in the delightful mango grove until the time for the meal offering was announced.

Tato me satthā pāhesi, dūtaṁ kālappavedakaṁ; Paveditamhi kālamhi, vehāsādupasaṅkamiṁ.

Consequently, the Teacher sent to me a messenger to announce the time. When the time was announced, I flew to him through the air.

Vanditvā satthuno pāde, ekamantaṁ nisīdahaṁ; Nisinnaṁ maṁ viditvāna, atha satthā paṭiggahi.

I paid homage at the Teacher’s feet, and sat to one side. When he knew I was seated, the Teacher received the offering.

Āyāgo sabbalokassa, āhutīnaṁ paṭiggaho; Puññakkhettaṁ manussānaṁ, paṭiggaṇhittha dakkhiṇan”ti.

Recipient of gifts from the whole world, receiver of sacrifices, field of merit for humanity, he received the religious donation.