Tathāgata — without an equal in the world.
Surrounded by the monks whose head he was.
The Teacher and Lord, Preserver of Dhamma,
To the Mango Grove the great Sage went,
And to Cundaka the monk he said:
‘On a fourfold robe I’ll lie down.’
And thus adjured by the great Adept,
Cundaka placed the fourfold robe.
The Teacher laid his weary limbs to rest
While Cundaka kept watch beside him.
4.42. Then the Lord said to the Venerable Ānanda: ‘It
might happen, Ānanda, that Cunda the smith should feel
remorse, thinking: “it is your fault, friend Cunda, it is by your
misdeed that the Tathāgata gained final Nibbāna after taking
his last meal from you!” But Cunda’s remorse should be expelled
in this way: “That is your merit, Cunda, that is your good deed,
that the Tathāgata gained final Nibbāna after taking his last meal
from you! For, friend Cunda, I have heard and understood from
the Lord’s own lips that these two alms‐givings are of very great
fruit, of very great result, more fruitful and advantageous than
any other. Which two? The one is the alms‐giving after eating
which the Tathāgata attains supreme enlightenment, the other
that after which he attains the Nibbāna‐element without
remainder at his final passing. These two alms‐givings are more
fruitful and profitable than all others. Cunda’s deed is conducive
to long life, to good looks, to happiness, to fame, to heaven
and to lordship.” In this way, Ānanda, Cunda’s remorse is to be
expelled.’
4.43. Then the Lord, having settled this matter, at that
time uttered this verse:
‘By giving, merit grows, by restraint, hatred’s checked.
He who’s skilled abandons evil things.
As greed, hate and folly wane, Nibbāna’s gained.’
[End of the fourth recitation‐section]
5.1. The Lord said: ‘Ānanda, let us cross the Hiraññavatī
River and go to the Mallas’ Sāla grove in the vicinity of Kusinārā.’
‘Very good, Lord,’ said Ānanda, and the Lord, with a large
company of monks, crossed the river and went to the Sāla grove.
There the Lord said: ‘Ānanda, prepare me a bed between these
two Sāla trees with my head to the north. I am tired and want to
lie down.’ ‘Very good, Lord,’ said Ānanda, and did so. Then the
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Lord lay down on his right side in the lion‐posture, placing one
foot on the other, mindful and clearly aware.
5.2. And those twin Sāla trees burst forth into an
abundance of untimely blossoms, which fell upon the Tathāgata’s
body, sprinkling it and covering it in homage. Divine Coral tree
flowers fell from the sky, divine sandal‐wood powder fell
from the sky, sprinkling and covering the Tathāgata’s body in
homage. Divine music and song sounded from the sky in homage
to the Tathāgata.
5.3. And the Lord said: ‘Ānanda, these Sāla trees have
burst forth into an abundance of untimely blossoms... Divine
music and song sound from the sky in homage to the Tathāgata.
Never before has the Tathāgata been so honoured, revered,
esteemed, worshipped and adored. And yet, Ānanda, whatever
monk, nun, male or female lay‐follower dwells practising the
Dhamma properly, and perfectly fulfils the Dhamma‐way, he or
she honours the Tathāgata, reveres and esteems him and pays
him the supreme homage. Therefore, Ānanda, “We will dwell
practising the Dhamma properly and perfectly fulfil the
Dhamma‐way” — this must be your watch‐word.’
5.4. Just then the Venerable Upavāna was standing in
front of the Lord, fanning him. And the Lord told him to move:
‘Move aside, monk, do not stand in front of me.’ And the
Venerable Ānanda thought: ‘This Venerable Upavāna has for
long been the Lord’s attendant, keeping close at hand, at his
beck and call. And now in his last hour the Lord tells him to
stand aside and not stand in front of him. Why ever does he do
that?’
5.5. And he asked the Lord about this. ‘Ānanda, the
devas from ten world‐spheres have gathered to see the Tathāgata.
For a distance of twelve yojanas around the Mallas’ Sāla grove
near Kusinārā there is not a space you could touch with the
point of a hair that is not filled with mighty devas, and they are
grumbling: “We have come a long way to see the Tathāgata. It
is rare for a Tathāgata, a fully‐enlightened Buddha, to arise in
the world, and tonight in the last watch the Tathāgata will attain
final Nibbāna, and this mighty monk is standing in front of the
Lord, preventing us from getting a last glimpse of the Tathāgata!”’
5.6. ‘But, Lord, what kind of devas can the Lord
perceive?’ ‘Ānanda, there are sky‐devas whose minds are earthbound,
they are weeping and tearing their hair, raising their arms,
throwing themselves down and twisting and turning, crying: “All
too soon the Blessèd Lord is passing away, all too soon the Well‐
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Farer is passing away, all too soon the Eye of the World is
disappearing!” And there are earth‐devas whose minds are earthbound,
who do likewise. But those devas who are free from
craving endure patiently, saying: “All compounded things are
impermanent — what is the use of this?”’
5.7. ‘Lord, formerly monks who had spent the Rains in
various places used to come to see the Tathāgata, and we used
to welcome them so that such well‐trained monks might see
you and pay their respects. But with the Lord’s passing, we shall
no longer have a chance to do this.’
5.8. ‘Ānanda, there are four places the sight of which
should arouse emotion in the faithful. Which are they? “Here
the Tathāgata was born” is the first. “Here the Tathāgata attained
supreme enlightenment” is the second. “Here the Tathāgata set
in motion the Wheel of Dhamma” is the third. “Here the
Tathāgata attained the Nibbāna‐element without remainder” is
the fourth. And, Ānanda, the faithful monks and nuns, male and
female lay‐followers will visit those places. And any who die
while making the pilgrimage to these shrines with a devout heart
will, at the breaking‐up of the body after death, be reborn in a
heavenly world.
5.9. ‘Lord, how should we act towards women?’ ‘Do
not see them, Ānanda.’ ‘But if we see them, how should we
behave, Lord?’ ‘Do not speak to them, Ānanda.’ ‘But if they speak
to us, Lord, how should we behave?’ ‘Practise mindfulness,
Ānanda.’
5.10. ‘Lord, what shall we do with the Tathāgata’s
remains?’ ‘Do not worry yourselves about the funeral
arrangements, Ānanda. You should strive for the highest goal,
devote yourselves to the highest goal, and dwell with your minds
tirelessly, zealously devoted to the highest goal. There are wise
Khattiyas, Brahmins and householders who are devoted to the
Tathāgata: they will take care of the funeral.’
5.11. ‘But, Lord, what are we to do with the Tathāgata’s
remains?’ ‘Ānanda, they should be dealt with like the remains of
a wheel‐turning monarch.’ ‘And how is that, Lord?’ ‘Ānanda,
the remains of a wheel‐turning monarch are wrapped in a new
linen‐cloth. This they wrap in teased cotton wool, and this in a
new cloth. Having done this five hundred times each, they
enclose the king’s body in an oil‐vat of iron, which is covered
with another iron pot. Then having made a funeral‐pyre of all
manner of perfumes they cremate the king’s body, and they raise
a stupa at a crossroads. That, Ānanda, is what they do with the
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