16. The Discourse about the Great Emancipation (DN16)

42: The Preparation of the Body

Then venerable Anuruddha and venerable Ānanda spent the rest of the night in talk about the Teaching. Then venerable Anuruddha addressed venerable Ānanda, saying: “Go, Ānanda, and after entering Kusinārā inform the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: ‘The Gracious One has attained Emancipation, Vāseṭṭhas, now is the time for whatever you are thinking.’”

“Very well, reverend Sir,” said venerable Ānanda, and after replying to venerable Anuruddha, dressing in the morning time, and taking his robes and bowl, he entered Kusinārā with a companion.

Now at that time the Mallas from Kusinārā were assembled in the Council Hall having some business or other. Then venerable Ānanda approached the Mallas from Kusinārā in the Council Hall, and after approaching he informed the Mallas of Kusinārā saying: “The Gracious One has attained Emancipation, Vāseṭṭhas, now is the time for whatever you are thinking.”

After hearing this word from venerable Ānanda, the Mallas, the sons of the Mallas, the daughters-in-law of the Mallas, and the wives of the Mallas became miserable, depressed, with their minds given over to suffering. Some, having dishevelled hair, were weeping, throwing up their arms, falling down as though cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, they were crying: “Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!”

Then the Mallas from Kusinārā ordered their men, saying: “Now, friends, gather together perfume and flowers, and all the musicians in Kusinārā.”

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā, having taken perfumes and garlands, and all the musicians, and five-hundred pairs of clothes, approached the Mallas’ Sal Wood at Upavattana, and the Gracious One’s body, after approaching the Gracious One’s body, through honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the body, with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, and making cloth canopies, and preparing circular pavillions, they made the day pass.

Then this occurred to the Mallas of Kusinārā: “Today it is too late to burn the Gracious One’s body, tomorrow we will burn the Gracious One’s body.”

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā, through honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One’s body, with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, and making cloth canopies, and preparing circular pavillions, they made the second day pass, they made the third day pass, they made the fourth day pass, they made the fifth day pass, they made the sixth day pass.

Then on the seventh day this occurred to the Mallas of Kusinārā: “While honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One’s body, with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, after taking it out of the city by the South, on the outside of the City to the South we will burn the Gracious One’s body.”

Now at that time eight leaders of the Mallas, having washed their heads and put on clean clothes, said: “Let us lift the Gracious One’s body,” but they were not able to lift it.

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā said this to venerable Anuruddha: “What is the reason, Anuruddha, what is the cause why eight leaders of the Mallas, having washed their heads and put on clean clothes, and saying: ‘Let us lift the Gracious One’s body,’ are not able to lift it?”

“You Vāseṭṭhas have one intention, and the Divinities have another intention.”

“But what is the Divinities’ intention, reverend Sir?”

“Your intention, Vāseṭṭhas, is: ‘We, while honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One’s body, with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, after taking it out of the City by the South, on the outside of the City to the South, will burn the Gracious One’s body.’

The Divinities’ intention, Vāseṭṭhas, is: ‘We, while honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One’s body, with the Divinities’ dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, after carrying it to the North of the City by the North, and re-entering the City by the North Gate, and carrying it to the middle of the City by the middle, and going out by the Eastern Gate, to the East of the City, at the Mallas’ Shrine called the Bonded Coronet, there let us burn the Gracious One’s body.”

“Let us do according to the Divinities’ intention, reverend Sir.”

Now at that time the whole of Kusinārā, including the dirty rubbish heaps, was covered knee-deep with Divine Coral Tree flowers. Then the Divinities and the Mallas of Kusinārā while honouring, respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One’s body with the Divinities’ and mens’ dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, after carrying it to the North of the City by the North, and re-entering the City by the North Gate, and carrying it to the middle of the City by the middle, and going out by the Eastern Gate, to the East of the City, at the Mallas’ Shrine called the Bonded Coronet there set down the Gracious One’s body.

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā said this to venerable Ānanda: “How do we act, reverend Ānanda, in regard to the Realised One’s body?”

“As you act, Vāseṭṭhas, in regard to the Universal Monarch’s body, so you should act in regard to the Realised One’s body.”

“But how do we act, reverend Ānanda, in regard to the Universal Monarch’s body?”

“They wrap the Universal Monarch’s body, Vāseṭṭhas, with clean cloth, and after wrapping with clean cloth, they wrap with carded cotton, and after wrapping with carded cotton, they wrap with clean cloth, by this means after wrapping the Universal Monarch’s body with five-hundred pairs of cloth and cotton, enclosing it in an oil tub made of iron, and enclosing it in another iron tub, and putting it on a scented funeral pyre, they burn the Universal Monarch’s body, and they build a Shrine for the Universal Monarch at the crossroads.

So they act, Vāseṭṭhas, in regard to a Universal Monarch’s body. Just as they act, Vāseṭṭhas, in regard to a Universal Monarch’s body, so should they act in regard to a Realised One’s body, and a Shrine should be made for the Realised One at the crossroads. Whoever there prepares flowers, incense, or powder, or worships or establishes confidence in his mind, that will be for their benefit and happiness for a long time.”

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā gave orders to their men, saying: “If it is so then wrap the body with the Mallas’ carded cloth, friends.”

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā wrapped the Gracious One’s body with clean cloth, and after wrapping with clean cloth, they wrapped with carded cotton, and after wrapping with carded cotton, they wrapped with clean cloth, and by this means, after wrapping the Gracious One’s body with five-hundred pairs of cloth and cotton, enclosing it in an oil tub made of iron, and enclosing it in another iron tub, and putting it on a scented funeral pyre, they put the Gracious One’s body on the funeral pyre.

43: The Story concerning Mahākassapa

Now at that time venerable Mahākassapa was travelling along the highway from Pāvā to Kusinārā, together with a great Community of monks, around five-hundred monks. Then venerable Mahākassapa, after descending from the path, sat down at the root of a certain tree.

Now at that time a certain Ājīvaka while holding a Mandārava flower from Kusinārā was travelling along the highway to Pāvā.

Venerable Mahākassapa saw that Ājīvaka approaching from afar, and after seeing him, he said this to that Ājīvaka: “Do you know our Teacher, friend?”

“Certainly, friend, I know. Today is seven days since the Final Emancipation of the ascetic Gotama, therefore I am holding this Mandārava flower.”

Then those monks there who were not free from passion, some, throwing up their arms, were weeping, falling down as though cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, they were crying: ‘Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation, too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!’

But those monks who were free from passion, mindfully, with full awareness, endured, thinking: “Impermanent are all processes, how can it be otherwise?”

Now at that time one who had gone forth in old age, named Subhadda was sitting in that group. Then Subhadda, who had gone forth in old age, said this to those monks: “Enough, friends, do not grieve, do not lament, we are now freed from that troublesome Great Ascetic, saying: ‘This is allowable for you, this is not allowable for you.’ But now we will do whatever we wish, and we will not do whatever we do not wish.”

Then venerable Mahākassapa addressed the monks, saying: “Enough, friends, do not grieve, do not lament, were you not warned by the Gracious One, friends, when he declared this: ‘There is alteration in, separation from, and changeability in all that is dear and appealing.’ How can it be otherwise, friends, for that which is obtained, born, become, in process, subject to dissolution? It is not possible to say this: ‘It should not dissolve’.

Now at that time four leaders of the Mallas, having washed their heads and put on clean clothes, said: “Let us burn the Gracious One’s funeral pyre,” but they were not able to burn it. Then the Mallas of Kusinārā said this to venerable Anuruddha: “What is the reason, venerable Anuruddha, what is the cause, why four leaders of the Mallas, having washed their heads and put on clean clothes, and saying: ‘Let us burn the Gracious One’s funeral pyre,’ are not able to burn it?”

“The Divinities have another intention, Vāseṭṭhas.”

“But what is the Divinities’ intention, reverend Sir?”

“The Divinities’ intention, Vāseṭṭhas, is: ‘The venerable Mahākassapa is travelling along the highway from Pāvā to Kusinārā together with a great Community of monks, around five-hundred monks, the Gracious One’s funeral pyre will not burn while venerable Mahākassapa has not worshipped the Gracious One’s feet with his head.’”

“Let us do according to the Divinities’ intention, reverend Sir.”

Then venerable Mahākassapa approached Kusinārā, and the Mallas’ Shrine called the Bonded Coronet, and the Gracious One’s funeral pyre, and after approaching and arranging his robe on one shoulder, extending his hands in respectful salutation, and circumambulating the funeral pyre three times, and uncovering the feet he worshipped the Gracious One’s feet with his head.

Also five-hundred monks, after arranging their robes on one shoulder, extending their hands in respectful salutation, and circumambulating the funeral pyre three times, worshipped the Gracious One’s feet with their heads. After the Gracious One’s feet had been worshipped by venerable Mahākassapa and by five-hundred monks the funeral pyre caught fire by itself.

Now while the Gracious One’s body was burning, of the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, the sinews, the synovial fluid, neither charcoal was evident, nor was ash of the body left over. Just as while ghee or oil is burning there is no charcoal and no ash evident, so when the Gracious One’s body was burning, of the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, the sinews, the synovial fluid, neither charcoal was evident, nor was ash of the body left over. Only two of those five-hundred pairs of clothes were not consumed, that on the inside and that on the outside.

When the Gracious One’s body was burnt a shower of water appeared in the sky, and the Gracious One’s funeral pyre was extinguished. Also after water rose from a well, the Gracious One’s funeral pyre was extinguished. Also the Mallas from Kusinārā extinguished the Gracious One’s funeral pyre with all types of fragrant water.

Then the Mallas of Kusinārā, after making an enclosure of spears in the Council Hall, and surrounding the Gracious One’s bodily relics with bows, honoured, respected, revered, and worshipped it with dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes.

44: The Distribution of the Relics

The Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and I also am a Noble, I am worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, I will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

Then the Licchavīs of Vesālī heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Licchavīs of Vesālī sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and we also are Nobles, we are worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, we will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

Then the Sakyas of Kapilavatthu heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Sakyas of Kapilavatthu sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was our foremost relative, we are worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, we will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

Then the Bulas of Allakappa heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Bulas of Allakappa sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and we also are Nobles, we are worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, we will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

Then the Koliyas of Rāmagāma heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Koliyas of Rāmagāma sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and we also are Nobles, we are worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, we will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

Then the brahmin Veṭhadīpaka heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the brahmin Veṭhadīpaka sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and I am a brahmin, I am worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, I will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

Then the Mallas of Pāvā heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Mallas of Pāvā sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and we also are Nobles, we are worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, we will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

After this was said, the Mallas of Kusinārā said this to their community and group: “The Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation in the area of our village, but we will not see a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics.”

After this was said, the brahmin Doṇa said this to their community and group:

“Listen, dear Sirs, to a sentence of mine:
Our Buddha was one who spoke about forebearance
It is not good that there should be a battle
About sharing the relics of the Best Man.

Let us united, in concord, dear Sirs,
With joyful minds, make eight shares of the relics,
And set up Shrines in every direction
So that many people may gain faith in the Visionary One.”

“Now, brahmin, you must divide the Gracious One’s bodily relics in eight equal divisions.”

“Certainly, dear Sir,” said Doṇa the brahmin, after replying to that community and group, and dividing the Gracious One’s bodily relics in eight equal divisions, he said this to that community and group: “Please give me this urn, dear Sirs, and I also will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the urn.” They gave the urn to Doṇa the brahmin.

Then the Moriyā of Pepper Wood heard: “The Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.” Then the Moriyā of Pepper Wood sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, saying: “The Gracious One was a Noble, and we also are Nobles, we are worthy of a share of the Gracious One’s bodily relics, we will make a Shrine and hold a festival for the bodily relics.”

“There are no more portions of the Gracious One’s relics, instead take the ashes from the Gracious One’s body.” Therefore they took away the ashes.

Then the Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Rājagaha and held a festival.

The Licchavīs from Vesālī made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Vesālī and held a festival.

The Sakyas from Kapilavatthu made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Kapilavatthu and held a festival.

The Bulas of Allakappa made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Allakappa and held a festival.

The Koliyas of Rāmagāma made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Rāmagāma and held a festival.

The Veṭhadīpaka brahmin made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Veṭṭhadīpa and held a festival.

The Mallas of Pāvā made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Pāvā and held a festival.

The Mallas of Kusinārā made a Shrine for the Gracious One’s bodily relics at Kusinārā and held a festival.

Doṇa the brahmin made a Shrine for the urn and held a festival.

The Moriyās of Pepper Wood made a Shrine for the ashes at Pepper Wood and held a festival.

Thus there were eight Shrines for the bodily relics, the Urn Shrine was the ninth, and the Ashes Shrine was the tenth, and so it was in former times.

There were eight measures of the Visionary’s relics,
Seven measures are honoured in Jambudīpa,
One measure of the most Noble Man,
The King of the Dragons honours in Rāmagāma.

One tooth is worshipped in the Heavens,
And one is honoured in the city of Gandhāra,
A further one in the realm of the Kaliṅga King,
And the King of the Dragons honours one more.

Through the power of these relics this Lovely Earth
Is decorated like a most excellent hall.
Thus this body of the Visionary One,
Is well esteemed by those who respect the respectable.

Honoured by Lords of Divinities, Lords of Dragons, and Kings,
The relics are honoured by true Lords of Men,
Worship those relics after holding up your hands,
A Buddha is rare even in a hundred aeons.

Altogether forty even teeth, the hair, and body hair relics were
Carried off successively by the Divinities to the various Universes.

The Discourse about the Great Emancipation,
The Third in the Mahāvagga section of the Long Discourses is Finished.

Translation by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu, June, 2008 / 2552. Used by kind permission.

This translation, as well as extensive notes and commentary, is found on the translator’s website, Ancient Buddhist Texts.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.