242. Nāgakesariya

Gathering both ends of a bow,
I entered into the forest.
I saw a small lake gathered there,
very clean and full of flowers.

Plucking one with both of my hands
and saluting on my forehead,
I then offered it to Tissa,
the Buddha, Kinsman of the World.

In the ninety-two aeons since
I did pūjā with that flower,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of Buddha-pūjā.

In the seventy-seventh aeon,
I was named Pamokkharaṇa,
a wheel-turning king with great strength,
possessor of the seven gems.

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

Thus indeed Venerable Nāgakesariya Thera spoke these verses.