Mahàparinibbànasuttaü Home Page   Next Section

Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Chaññhabhàõavàraü]
[The Sixth Chapter for Recitation]

[42: Sarãrapañipajjanaü]
[The Preparation of the Body]

Atha kho àyasmà ca Anuruddho àyasmà ca ânando
Then venerable Anuruddha and venerable ânanda

taü rattàvasesaü Dhammiyà kathàya vãtinàmesuü.
spent the rest of the night in talk about the Teaching.

Atha kho àyasmà Anuruddho àyasmantaü ânandaü àmantesi:
Then venerable Anuruddha addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):

ßGacchàvuso ânanda Kusinàraü pavisitvà,
ßGo, ânanda, and after entering Kusinàrà

Kosinàrakànaü Mallànaü àrocehi:
inform the Mallas of Kusinàrà, (saying):

`Parinibbuto Vàseññhà Bhagavà yassa dàni kàlaü maÿÿathà'.û ti
`The Gracious One has attained Emancipation, Vàseññhas, now is the time for whatever you are thinking.'û

ßEvaü Bhante,û ti kho àyasmà ânando àyasmato Anuruddhassa pañissutvà,
ßVery well, reverend Sir,û said venerable ânanda, and after replying to venerable Anuruddha,

pubbaõhasamayaü nivàsetvà, pattacãvaram-àdàya, attadutiyo Kusinàraü pàvisi.
dressing in the morning time, and taking his robes and bowl, he entered Kusinàrà with a companion.

Tena kho pana samayena Kosinàrakà Mallà
Now at that time the Mallas from Kusinàrà

Santhàgàre sannipatità honti teneva karaõãyena.
were assembled in the Council Hall having some business (or other).

Atha kho àyasmà ânando
Then venerable ânanda

yena Kosinàrakànaü Mallànaü Santhàgàraü tenupasaïkami,
approached the Mallas from Kusinàrà in the Council Hall,

upasaïkamitvà Kosinàrakànaü Mallànaü àrocesi:
and after approaching he informed the Mallas of Kusinàrà (saying):

ßParinibbuto Vàseññhà Bhagavà yassa dàni kàlaü maÿÿathà.û ti
ßThe Gracious One has attained Emancipation, Vàseññhas, now is the time for whatever you are thinking.û

Idam-àyasmato ânandassa vacanaü sutvà,
After hearing this word from venerable ânanda,

Mallà ca Mallaputtà ca Mallasuõisà ca Mallapajàpatiyo ca
the Mallas, the sons of the Mallas, the daughters-in-law of the Mallas, and the wives of the Mallas

aghàvino dummanà cetodukkhasamappità.
became miserable, depressed, with their minds given over to suffering.

Appekacce kese pakiriya kandanti,
Some, having dishevelled hair, were weeping,

bàhà paggayha kandanti, chinnapàtaü papatanti, àvaññanti vivaññanti
throwing up their arms, falling down (as though) cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, they were crying:

ßAtikhippaü Bhagavà parinibbuto,
ßToo quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Sugato parinibbuto,
too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Cakkhumà loke antarahito!û ti
too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!û

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà purise àõàpesuü:
Then the Mallas from Kusinàrà ordered (their) men, (saying):

ßTena hi bhaõe Kusinàràyaü gandhamàlaÿ-ca,
* ßNow, friends, gather together perfume and flowers,

sabbaÿ-ca tàëàvacaraü sannipàtethà.û ti
and all the musicians in Kusinàrà.û

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà gandhamàlaÿ-ca sabbaÿ-ca tàëàvacaraü,
* Then the Mallas of Kusinàrà, having taken perfumes and garlands, and all the musicians,

paÿca ca dussayugasatàni àdàya,
and five-hundred pairs of clothes,

yena Upavattanaü Mallànaü Sàlavanaü,
approached the Mallas' Sal Wood at Upavattana,

yena Bhagavato sarãraü tenupasaïkamiüsu,
and the Gracious One's body,

upasaïkamitvà Bhagavato sarãraü,
after approaching the Gracious One's body,

naccehi gãtehi vàditehi màlehi gandhehi,
* through honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping (the body),

sakkarontà garukarontà mànentà påjentà,
with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes,

celavitànàni karontà maõóalamàle pañiyàdentà,
and making cloth canopies, and preparing circular pavillions,

evaü taü divasaü vãtinàmesuü.
they made the day pass.

Atha kho Kosinàrakànaü Mallànaü etad-ahosi:
Then this occurred to the Mallas of Kusinàrà:

ßAtivikàlo kho ajja Bhagavato sarãraü jhàpetuü,
ßToday it is too late to burn the Gracious One's body,

svedàni mayaü Bhagavato sarãraü jhàpessàmà.û ti
tomorrow we will burn the Gracious One's body.û

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà
Then the Mallas of Kusinàrà,

Bhagavato sarãraü naccehi gãtehi vàditehi màlehi gandhehi,
* through honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body,

sakkarontà garukarontà mànentà påjentà,
with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes,

celavitànàni karontà maõóalamàle pañiyàdentà,
and making cloth canopies, and preparing circular pavillions,

dutiyam-pi divasaü vãtinàmesuü,
they made the second day pass,

tatiyam-pi divasaü vãtinàmesuü,
they made the third day pass,

catuttham-pi divasaü vãtinàmesuü,
they made the fourth day pass,

paÿcamam-pi divasaü vãtinàmesuü,
they made the fifth day pass,

chaññham-pi divasaü vãtinàmesuü.
they made the sixth day pass. ⁰¹

Atha kho sattamam-pi divasaü Kosinàrakànaü Mallànaü etad-ahosi:
Then on the seventh day this occurred to the Mallas of Kusinàrà:

ßMayaü Bhagavato sarãraü naccehi gãtehi vàditehi màlehi gandhehi
* ßWhile honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body,

sakkarontà garukarontà mànentà påjentà,
with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes,

dakkhiõena dakkhiõaü Nagarassa haritvà,
after taking it out of the city by the South,

bàhirena bàhiraü dakkhiõato Nagarassa Bhagavato sarãraü jhàpessàmà.û ti
on the outside of the City to the South we will burn the Gracious One's body.û

Tena kho pana samayena aññha Mallapàmokkhà,
Now at that time eight leaders of the Mallas,

sãsaü nahàtà ahatàni vatthàni nivatthà:
having washed their heads and put on clean clothes, (said):

ßMayaü Bhagavato sarãraü uccàressàmà,û ti na sakkonti uccàretuü.
ßLet us lift the Gracious One's body,û but they were not able to lift (it).

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà àyasmantaü Anuruddhaü etad-avocuü:
Then the Mallas of Kusinàrà said this to venerable Anuruddha:

ßKo nu kho Bhante Anuruddha hetu ko paccayo
ßWhat is the reason, Anuruddha, what is the cause

yenime aññha Mallapàmokkhà sãsaü nahàtà ahatàni vatthàni nivatthà:
why eight leaders of the Mallas, having washed their heads and put on clean clothes, (and saying):

`Mayaü Bhagavato sarãraü uccàressàmà,' ti na sakkonti uccàretun?û-ti
`Let us lift the Gracious One's body,' are not able to lift (it)?û

ßAÿÿathà kho Vàseññhà tumhàkaü adhippàyo aÿÿathà Devatànaü adhippàyo.û ti
ßYou Vàseññhas have one intention, and the Divinities have another intention.û

ßKathaü pana Bhante Devatànaü adhippàyo.û ti
ßBut what is the Divinities' intention, reverend Sir?û

ßTumhàkaü kho Vàseññhà adhippàyo:
ßYour intention, Vàseññhas, is:

`Mayaü Bhagavato sarãraü naccehi gãtehi vàditehi màlehi gandhehi,
* `We, while honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body,

sakkarontà garukarontà mànentà påjentà,
with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes,

dakkhiõena dakkhiõaü Nagarassa haritvà,
after taking it out of the City by the South,

bàhirena bàhiraü dakkhiõato Nagarassa Bhagavato sarãraü jhàpessàmà.' ti
on the outside of the City to the South, will burn the Gracious One's body.'

Devatànaü kho Vàseññhà adhippàyo:
* The Divinities' intention, Vàseññhas, is:

`Mayaü Bhagavato sarãraü dibbehi naccehi gãtehi vàditehi màlehi gandhehi,
`We, while honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body,

sakkarontà garukarontà mànentà påjentà,
with the Divinities' dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes,

uttarena uttaraü Nagarassa haritvà,
after carrying it to the North of the City by the North,

Uttarena Dvàrena Nagaraü pavesetvà,
and re-entering the City by the North Gate,

majjhena majjhaü Nagarassa haritvà,
and carrying it to the middle of the City by the middle,

Puratthimena Dvàrena nikkhamitvà,
and going out by the Eastern Gate,

puratthimato Nagarassa Makuñabandhanaü nàma Mallànaü Cetiyaü,
to the East of the City, at the Mallas' Shrine called the Bonded Coronet,

ettha Bhagavato sarãraü jhàpessàmà.û ti
there let us burn the Gracious One's body.û

ßYathà Bhante Devatànaü adhippàyo tathà hotå.û ti
ßLet us do according to the Divinities' intention, reverend Sir.û

* * *

Tena kho pana samayena Kusinàrà yàva sandhisamalasaïkañãrà,
* Now at that time the whole of Kusinàrà, including the dirty rubbish heaps,

jaõõumattena odhinà Mandàravapupphehi santhatà hoti.
was covered knee-deep with (Divine) Coral Tree flowers.

Atha kho Devatà ca Kosinàrakà ca Mallà
Then the Divinities and the Mallas of Kusinàrà

Bhagavato sarãraü Dibbehi ca mànusakehi ca naccehi gãtehi vàditehi màlehi gandhehi
* while honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body

sakkarontà garukarontà mànentà påjentà,
with the Divinities' and mens' dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes,

uttarena uttaraü Nagarassa haritvà,
after carrying it to the North of the City by the North,

Uttarena Dvàrena Nagaraü pavesetvà,
and re-entering the City by the North Gate,

majjhena majjhaü Nagarassa haritvà,
and carrying it to the middle of the City by the middle,

Puratthimena Dvàrena nikkhamitvà,
and going out by the Eastern Gate,

puratthimato Nagarassa Makuñabandhanaü nàma Mallànaü Cetiyaü
to the East of the City, at the Mallas' Shrine called the Bonded Coronet

ettha Bhagavato sarãraü nikkhipiüsu.
there set down the Gracious One's body.

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà àyasmantaü ânandaü etad-avocuü:
Then the Mallas of Kusinàrà said this to venerable ânanda:

ßKathaü mayaü Bhante ânanda Tathàgatassa sarãre pañipajjàmà.û ti
ßHow do we act, reverend ânanda, in regard to the Realised One's body?û

ßYathà kho Vàseññhà Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa sarãre pañipajjanti,
ßAs you act, Vàseññhas, in regard to the Universal Monarch's body,

evaü Tathàgatassa sarãre pañipajjitabban.û-ti
so you should act in regard to the Realised One's body.û

ßKathaü pana Bhante ânanda Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa sarãre pañipajjantã.û ti
ßBut how do we act, reverend ânanda, in regard to the Universal Monarch's body?û

ßRaÿÿo Vàseññhà Cakkavattissa sarãraü ahatena vatthena veñhenti,
ßThey wrap the Universal Monarch's body, Vàseññhas, with clean cloth,

ahatena vatthena veñhetvà vihatena kappàsena veñhenti,
and after wrapping with clean cloth, they wrap with carded cotton,

vihatena kappàsena veñhetvà ahatena vatthena veñhenti,
and after wrapping with carded cotton, they wrap with clean cloth,

etena upàyena paÿcahi yugasatehi Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa sarãraü veñhetvà
by this means after wrapping the Universal Monarch's body with five-hundred pairs (of cloth and cotton),

àyasàya teladoõiyà pakkhipitvà, aÿÿissà àyasàya doõiyà pañikkujjitvà,
enclosing it in an oil tub made of iron, and enclosing it in another iron tub,

sabbagandhànaü citakaü karitvà, Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa sarãraü jhàpenti,
and putting it on a scented funeral pyre, they burn the Universal Monarch's body,

càtummahàpathe Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa thåpaü karonti.
and they build a Shrine for the Universal Monarch at the crossroads.

Evaü kho Vàseññhà Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa sarãre pañipajjanti.
So they act, Vàseññhas, in regard to a Universal Monarch's body.

Yathà kho Vàseññhà Raÿÿo Cakkavattissa sarãre pañipajjanti,
Just as they act, Vàseññhas, in regard to a Universal Monarch's body,

evaü Tathàgatassa sarãre pañipajjitabbaü,
so should they act in regard to a Realised One's body,

càtummahàpathe Tathàgatassa thåpo kàtabbo.
and a Shrine should be made for the Realised One at the crossroads.

Tattha ye màlaü và gandhaü và cuõõakaü và àropessanti và
Whoever there prepares flowers, incense, or powder, or

abhivàdessanti và cittaü và pasàdessanti,
worships or establishes confidence in his mind,

tesaü taü bhavissati dãgharattaü hitàya sukhàyà.û ti
that will be for their benefit and happiness for a long time.û

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà purise àõàpesuü:
Then the Mallas of Kusinàrà gave orders to (their) men, (saying):

ßTena hi bhaõe Mallànaü vihataü kappàsaü sannipàtethà.û ti
ßIf it is so (then) wrap (the body) with the Mallas' carded cloth, friends.û

Atha kho Kosinàrakà Mallà Bhagavato sarãraü ahatena vatthena veñhesuü,
Then the Mallas of Kusinàrà wrapped the Gracious One's body with clean cloth,

ahatena vatthena veñhetvà vihatena kappàsena veñhesuü,
and after wrapping with clean cloth, they wrapped with carded cotton,

vihatena kappàsena veñhetvà ahatena vatthena veñhesuü
and after wrapping with carded cotton, they wrapped with clean cloth,

etena upàyena paÿcahi yugasatehi Bhagavato sarãraü veñhetvà,
and by this means, after wrapping the Gracious One's body with five-hundred pairs (of cloth and cotton),

àyasàya teladoõiyà pakkhipitvà, aÿÿissà àyasàya doõiyà pañikkujjitvà,
enclosing it in an oil tub made of iron, and enclosing it in another iron tub,

sabbagandhànaü citakaü karitvà, Bhagavato sarãraü citakaü àropesuü.
and putting it on a scented funeral pyre, they put the Gracious One's body on the funeral pyre.