[Verse 1]
Beneath the ocean, deep and wide,
King Varuna laid his pride aside.
He raised his music to the sky,
With a faithful heart and an open mind.
A seat prepared, a meal was shared,
A humble gift, a prayer of care.
Before the Buddha, bright and wise,
He offered goodness without disguise.
[Pre-Chorus]
It’s more than music in the air,
It’s the kindness that we choose to share.
With honest hearts and actions true,
The path of wisdom begins anew.
[Chorus]
Moggallāna, let your light shine through,
With a steady heart and a mind made true.
Great in power, yet humble and kind,
Leaving pride and conceit behind.
Meditate, be patient, persevere,
Let the truth make the pathway clear.
Faith and wisdom, compassion too,
Lead the heart to freedom anew.
[Verse 2]
From Kolita, the journey grew,
A life of practice, calm and true.
In quiet places, he trained his mind,
The roots of suffering left behind.
No rank could make his spirit proud,
No power could place him above the crowd.
Even a novice received his respect,
A humble heart was his greatest strength.
[Bridge]
Our deeds matter, day by day,
Choose the wholesome in what we say.
Do not judge another’s pain,
Let wisdom guide us through the rain.
[Final Chorus]
Moggallāna, let your light shine through,
With a steady heart and a mind made true.
Great in power, yet humble and kind,
Leaving pride and conceit behind.
Meditate, be patient, persevere,
Let the truth make the pathway clear.
Faith and wisdom, compassion too,
Lead the heart to freedom anew.
[Outro]
From Varuna’s offering long ago,
To the path where wisdom’s rivers flow,
May we walk with hearts sincere,
And let the light of Dharma guide us here.
Mahā Moggallāna Therāpadāna: From the Serpent King Varuṇa to the Buddha’s Disciple Renowned for Spiritual Powers
The Mahā Moggallāna Therāpadāna, found in the Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, Buddhavagga, in Tipiṭaka Volume 32, recounts the former deeds of Venerable Mahā Moggallāna, one of the chief disciples of Gotama Buddha. The account highlights faith, generosity, perseverance, meditation, humility, and the pursuit of liberation.
Background and Story
According to the Mahā Moggallāna Therāpadāna, the Buddha named Anomadassī once resided in the Himalayan region, surrounded by celestial beings and the monastic community. At that time, the future Mahā Moggallāna was said to have been born as a great serpent king named Varuṇa, who lived in the ocean.
Varuṇa left his retinue of serpent followers and arranged a musical offering in honor of the Buddha. Surrounded by female serpents playing music, the gathering was accompanied by music from humans, serpents, and celestial beings.
Varuṇa then invited the Buddha to his abode, prepared a seat, and offered a meal to the Buddha and a large community of monks. After the meal, the Buddha Anomadassī expressed his appreciation and spoke of the benefits associated with honoring the Buddha and the monastic community with a faithful mind.
The Buddha also prophesied that Varuṇa would eventually be reborn in the era of Gotama Buddha as a human named Kolita. He would renounce worldly life and become the second chief disciple of Gotama Buddha. In the later tradition, Kolita is known as Venerable Mahā Moggallāna.
The account describes Mahā Moggallāna’s commitment to seclusion, concentration, and meditation. Through persistent practice, he came to know the influxes that bind beings to suffering and attained liberation as an arahant.
Although renowned for extraordinary spiritual powers, Mahā Moggallāna declared that he was free from conceit and showed deep respect even to a novice monk. His example suggests that spiritual accomplishments should be accompanied by humility rather than pride.
The verses also refer to the consequences of past deeds and to the violent death that befell the elder. This passage invites reflection on karma within the framework of Buddhist teachings. It should not, however, be used to assume that every hardship experienced by any person can be definitively attributed to past karma alone.
At the conclusion, Mahā Moggallāna declares that he has fulfilled the purpose of his spiritual training. The text mentions his attainment of the four analytical knowledges (paṭisambhidā), the eight liberations (vimokkha), and the six higher knowledges (abhiññā).
Key Buddhist Teachings
1. Faith expressed through wholesome action
Varuṇa’s offering illustrates devotion expressed through practical acts of generosity and hospitality. Faith is meaningful when accompanied by sincere intention and actions that benefit others.
2. Perseverance in mental cultivation
Mahā Moggallāna’s dedication to seclusion, concentration, and meditation demonstrates the importance of sustained effort. Mental development requires continued training rather than wishful thinking alone.
3. Concentration and wisdom on the path to liberation
The account emphasizes the understanding and abandonment of mental defilements. The ultimate goal of practice is not merely to acquire extraordinary abilities, but to overcome the causes of suffering.
4. Humility despite great accomplishments
Mahā Moggallāna’s declaration that he was free from conceit, together with his respect for even a novice monk, offers an enduring lesson: knowledge, ability, and status should not become grounds for arrogance.
5. Respect and harmonious coexistence
Respecting others without being dominated by status or rank helps reduce self-centeredness and encourages a community grounded in ethical conduct and spiritual qualities.
6. Reflecting on karma responsibly
The account encourages careful attention to one’s actions and their consequences. At the same time, judgments about another person’s suffering should not be made hastily or treated as certain explanations based solely on past karma.
Conclusion
The Mahā Moggallāna Therāpadāna recounts a journey of wholesome deeds and spiritual development, from the former life of Varuṇa, who honored the Buddha Anomadassī, to the life of Mahā Moggallāna, a chief disciple of Gotama Buddha who devoted himself to meditation and attained liberation.
Its central message extends beyond extraordinary spiritual powers. Faith, generosity, perseverance, mental cultivation, humility, and the completion of the spiritual path are qualities that readers can reflect upon and apply in daily life.
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