[233. Sālapupphiya[1]]

In Aruṇavatī city
I was a cake-maker[2] back then.
I saw Sikhi [Buddha], Victor,
traveling[3] through a gate[4] of mine. (1) [2432]

Having taken the Buddha’s bowl
with a mind which was very clear,
I gave a sal flower [to him],
Buddha, Highest-Point-Attainer. (2) [2433]

In the thirty-one aeons since
I donated sweet-meats[5] to him,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of a sal flower. (3) [2434]

In the fourteenth aeon ago
I was [named] Amitañjala,[6]
a wheel-turning king with great strength,
possessor of the seven gems. (4) [2435]

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
[I have] done what the Buddha taught! (5) [2436]

Thus indeed Venerable Sālapupphiya Thera spoke these verses.

The legend of Sālapupphiya Thera is finished.

  1. “*Sal-*Flower-er” Sal, Pāli sāla, is shorea robusta ↩︎

  2. taking pūvika from pūva, cake (Sinh. kawum, oil cakes made of sugar and rice flour) ↩︎

  3. lit., “going” ↩︎

  4. or “door,” dvārena ↩︎

  5. khajja, edible solid food, sweets. This is what one would expect the donation from a cake-maker to be, even though the previous verse — and his name — emphasize sal flowers. ↩︎

  6. “Unlimited Salutation,” taking °añjala from añjalī, pressing the hands together in reverence. ↩︎

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