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Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Tatiyabhàõavàraü]
[The Third Chapter for Recitation]

[25: Vesàliyaü ânandassa Aparaddhaü]
[ânanda's Fault at Vesàlã]

Ekam-idàhaü ânanda samayaü idheva Vesàliyaü viharàmi Udene Cetiye,
At one time, ânanda, I was living right here near Vesàlã, in the Udena Shrine,

idheva Vesàliyaü viharàmi Gotamake Cetiye,
I was living right here near Vesàlã, in the Gotamaka Shrine,

idheva Vesàliyaü viharàmi Sattambe Cetiye,
I was living right here near Vesàlã, in the Seven Mangos Shrine,

idheva Vesàliyaü viharàmi Bahuputte Cetiye,
I was living right here near Vesàlã, in the Many Sons Shrine,

idheva Vesàliyaü viharàmi Sàrandade Cetiye,
I was living right here near Vesàlã, in the Sàrandada Shrine,

idàneva kho tàhaü ânanda ajja Càpàle Cetiye àmantesiü:
and here today, ânanda, at the Càpàla Shrine I addressed you, (saying):

`Ramaõãyà ânanda Vesàlã ramaõãyaü Udenaü Cetiyaü,
`Delightful, ânanda, is Vesàlã, delightful is the Udena Shrine,

ramaõãyaü Gotamakaü Cetiyaü ramaõãyaü Sattambaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Gotamaka Shrine, delightful is the Seven Mangos Shrine,

ramaõãyaü Bahuputtaü Cetiyaü ramaõãyaü Sàrandadaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Many Sons Shrine, delightful is the Sàrandada Shrine,

ramaõãyaü Càpàlaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Càpàla Shrine.

Yassa kassaci ânanda cattàro Iddhipàdà bhàvità,
* Whoever has developed, ânanda,

bahulãkatà yànãkatà vatthukatà anuññhità paricità susamàraddhà,
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power,

so àkaïkhamàno kappaü và tiññheyya kappàvasesaü và.
could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.

Tathàgatassa kho ânanda cattàro Iddhipàdà bhàvità,
* The Realised One has developed, ânanda,

bahulãkatà yànãkatà vatthukatà anuññhità paricità susamàraddhà.
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power.

So àkaïkhamàno ânanda Tathàgato
If he wanted, ânanda, the Realised One

kappaü và tiññheyya kappàvasesaü và.' ti
could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.'

Evam-pi kho tvaü ânanda Tathàgatena oëàrike nimitte kayiramàne,
But despite such a gross hint, ânanda, being made by the Realised One,

oëàrike obhàse kayiramàne, nàsakkhi pañivijjhituü,
such a gross suggestion being made, you were unable to penetrate it,

na Tathàgataü yàci:
and did not beg the Realised One, (saying):

`Tiññhatu Bhante Bhagavà kappaü tiññhatu Sugato kappaü,
`May the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan; may the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan,

bahujanahitàya bahujanasukhàya lokànukampàya,
for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world,

atthàya hitàya sukhàya Devamanussànan.'-ti
for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men.'

Sace tvaü ânanda Tathàgataü yàceyyàsi dve va te vàcà Tathàgato pañikkhipeyya,
If you, ânanda, had begged the Realised One twice the Realised One might have rejected your speech,

atha tatiyakaü adhivàseyya.
but would have accepted it on the third occasion.

Tasmàtih' ânanda tuyhevetaü dukkañaü tuyhevetaü aparaddhaü.
So, ânanda, there is this wrong-doing for you, there is this fault for you.

* * *

Na nu etaü ânanda mayà pañikacceva akkhàtaü:
Were you not warned by me when I declared:

`Sabbeheva piyehi manàpehi nànàbhàvo vinàbhàvo aÿÿathàbhàvo'?
`There is alteration in, separation from, and changeability in all that is dear and appealing'? ⁰¹

Taü kutettha ânanda labbhà yaü taü,
How can it be otherwise, ânanda, for that which is obtained,

jàtaü bhåtaü saïkhataü palokadhammaü?
born, become, conditioned, subject to dissolution?

`Taü vata mà palujjã' ti netaü ñhànaü vijjati.
It is not possible (to say) this: `It should not dissolve'.

Yaü kho panetaü ânanda Tathàgatena cattaü vantaü muttaü pahãnaü,
But this has been relinquished, cast out, let loose, abandoned by the Realised One,

pañinissaññhaü ossaññho àyusaïkhàro:
forsaken, the life-process that has been given up.

Ekaüsena vàcà Tathàgatena bhàsità:
For sure this word was spoken by the Realised One:

`Na ciraü Tathàgatassa Parinibbànaü bhavissati,
`Not long now there will be the Realised One's Final Emancipation,

ito tiõõaü màsànaü accayena Tathàgato parinibbàyissatã.' ti
after the passing of three months the Realised One will attain Final Emancipation.'

Taÿ-ca Tathàgato jãvitahetu puna paccàgamissatã ti netaü ñhànaü vijjati.
The Realised One cannot for the sake of life go back on that, it is not possible.