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Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Paÿcamabhàõavàraü]
[The Fifth Chapter for Recitation]

[37: Kusinàrassa Itihàso]
[Kusinàrà's History] ⁰¹

Evaü vutte àyasmà ânando Bhagavantaü etad-avoca:
After this was said, venerable ânanda addressed the Gracious One, (saying):

ßMà Bhante Bhagavà imasmiü khuddakanagarake ⁰²
* ßReverend Sir, may the Gracious One not attain Final Emancipation in this small town,

ujjaïgalanagarake sàkhànagarake parinibbàyi.
this barren town, this branch town.

Santi Bhante aÿÿàni mahànagaràni seyyathãdaü:
There are, reverend Sir, other great towns, such as:

Campà Ràjagahaü Sàvatthã Sàketaü Kosambã Bàràõasã -
Campà, Ràjagaha, Sàvatthã, Sàketa, Kosambã, Bàràõasã ⁰³ -

ettha Bhagavà parinibbàyatu.
let the Gracious One attain Final Emancipation there.

Ettha bahå Khattiyamahàsàlà bràhmaõamahàsàlà gahapatimahàsàlà,
There are many wealthy Nobles there, wealthy brahmins, wealthy householders,

Tathàgate abhippasannà te Tathàgatassa sarãrapåjaü karissantã.û ti
who are devoted to the Realised One, and will worshipfully (dispose of) the Realised One's body.û

ßMà hevaü ânanda avaca, mà hevaü ânanda avaca:
ßDo not say that, ânanda, do not say that, ânanda:

`Khuddakanagarakaü ujjaïgalanagarakaü sàkhànagarakan'-ti.
`(This) small town, this barren town, this branch town'.

Bhåtapubbaü ânanda Ràjà Mahàsudassano nàma ahosi,
Formerly, ânanda, there was a King by the name of Mahàsudassana,

Cakkavattã Dhammiko Dhammaràjà, càturanto vijitàvã,
a Righteous Monarch, a Righteous King, who was victorious over the four quarters,

janapadatthàvariyappatto sattaratanasamannàgato.
one who had established a stable country, endowed with the seven jewels. ⁰⁴

Raÿÿo ânanda Mahàsudassanassa ayaü Kusinàrà Kusàvatã nàma ràjadhànã ahosi.
This Kusinàrà, was then named Kusàvatã, and was King Mahàsudassana's capital city.

Puratthimena ca Pacchimena ca dvàdasayojanàni àyàmena,
Stretching for twelve leagues from East to West,

Uttarena ca Dakkhiõena ca sattayojanàni vitthàrena,
and seven leagues from North to South,

Kusàvatã ânanda ràjadhànã iddhà ceva ahosi,
the capital city Kusàvatã was prosperous, ânanda,

phãtà ca bahujanà ca àkiõõamanussà ca subhikkhà ca,
successful, populous, full of people, with much food,

seyyathà pi ânanda devànaü âëakamandà nàma ràjadhànã iddhà ceva hoti,
just as, ânanda, the capital city of the Divinities named âëakamandà is prosperous,

phãtà ca bahujanà ca àkiõõayakkhà ca subhikkhà ca,
successful, populous, full of people, with much food,

evam-eva kho ânanda Kusàvatã ràjadhànã iddhà ceva ahosi,
so the capital city Kusàvatã was prosperous, ânanda,

phãtà ca bahujanà ca àkiõõamanussà ca subhikkhà ca.
successful, populous, full of people, with much food.

Kusàvatã ânanda ràjadhànã dasahi saddehi avivittà ahosi divà ceva rattiÿ-ca,
The capital city Kusàvatã was never separated from the ten sounds, by day or by night,

seyyathãdaü: hatthisaddena assasaddena rathasaddena bherisaddena,
that is to say: the sound of elephants, the sound of horses, the sound of chariots, the sound of drums,

mudiïgasaddena vãõàsaddena gãtasaddena sammasaddena tàëasaddena,
the sound of tabours, the sound of lutes, the sound of songs, the sound of cymbals, the sound of hand bells,

`asnàtha pivatha khàdathà!' ti dasamena saddena. <sup>05</sup>
(and with) `eat, drink, chew!' as the tenth sound.