[2. Mahā-Moggallāna]

Anomadassi, Blessed One,
the World’s Best One, the Bull of Men,
was living in the Himalayas,
Honored by the Gods’ Assembly. (1) [374]

I was then a king of snake-gods,^[1]
known by the name of Varuṇa.^[2]
Taking on the form of Cupid^[3]
I was dwelling in the ocean. (2) [375]

Being in a musical group,
I provided the percussion.^[4]
After serving the Sambuddha,
the divine nymphs^[5] then sang [their songs]. (3) [376]

When the drums were being beaten
the gods then also beat on drums.
Upon hearing the sound of both,
the Buddha himself then listened. (4) [377]

Having invited Sambuddha
that he come over to my house,
providing an appointed seat.
I announced that it was [now] time. (5) [378]

With one thousand flawless arahants^[6]
following behind, that World-Chief,^[7]
shining light in all directions
did come over to my house [then]. (6) [379]

I satisfied with food and drink
the Great Hero who had arrived,
the God of Gods, the Bull of Men
along with the monks’ Assembly. (7) [380]

The Great Hero was delighted,
the Self-Existent, Top Human;
seated in the monks’ Assembly
he spoke these verses [about me]: (8) [381]

“He who worshipped the assembly
and also the Buddha, World-Chief,^[8]
due to the pleasure in [his] heart,
will go into the world of gods. (9) [382]

He will exercise divine rule
seventy-seven [different] times.
He will reside upon the earth,
[and] have eight hundred earthly reigns. (10) [383]

And he’ll be a wheel-turning king
five and fifty [different] times.
All the time they will bring for him
uncountable [amounts of] wealth. (11) [384]

Aeons beyond measure from now,
arising in Okkāka’s clan,
the one whose name is Gotama
will be the Teacher in the world. (12) [385]

After having come out of hell
he will go to a human state.
Known by the name of Kolita
he’ll be a kinsman of Brahma.^[9] (13) [386]

He’ll afterwards go forth, renouncing,
incited by [his] wholesome roots.
He’ll be second chief-follower
of the Blessed One, Gotama. (14) [387]

Resolved,^[10] with strenuous effort,^[11]
he’ll excel in superpowers.
Knowing well all the defilements
he’ll reach nirvana, undefiled.” (15) [388]

Depending on [some] evil friends,
overpowered by lust [and] anger,
being cruel-minded I slew
my mother and my father too. (16) [389]

In whichever womb I’m reborn
in hell or [else] among humans
since^[12] I possess that bad karma
I get murdered,^[13] head split open. (17) [390]

This is the final time for me;
[my] last rebirth is proceeding.^[14]
And also here, like that, for me
a time for getting killed will be. (18) [391]

Binding [myself] to solitude,
fond of samādhi-meditation,
knowing well all the defilements,
I am [now] living, undefiled. (19) [392]

Excelling in superpowers
I shake with only my left thumb
this very earth which is so deep,
thick and difficult to destroy. (20) [393]

I don’t feel the pride of “I am;”
no pride at all exists in me.
Even regarding novices
I act with reverence in [my] heart. (21) [394]

I brought forward the karma done
in an aeon so long ago.^[15]
That I has now attained the earth;^[16]
I’ve reached the end of defilements. (22) [395]

My defilements are [now] burnt up;
all [new] existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint. [396]

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! [397]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (23) [398]

Thus indeed Venerable Mahāmoggallāna Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Mahāmoggallāna Thera is finished.