145. Ummāpupphiya

When Siddhattha, the Blessed One,
Sacrificial Recipient,
the World-Worshipped One passed away,
a stupa festival took place.

While the festival proceeded
for Siddhattha the Sage so Great,
taking a blue flax flower \[then
I placed it upon the stupa.

In the ninety-four aeons since
I offered that flower there then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of stupa-pūjā.

And in the ninth aeon ago
there were five and eighty monarchs.
All were known as Somadeva,
wheel-turning kings with great power.

The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!

Thus indeed Venerable Ummāpupphiya Thera spoke these verses.