Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

1 8. And the Exalted One robed himself early in the morning, and taking his bowl, went with the brethren to the dwelling-place of Chunda, the worker in metals. When he had come thither he seated himself on the seat prepared for him. And when he was seated he addressed Chunda, the worker in metals, and said : — ' As to the truffles you have made ready, serve me with them, Chunda : and as to the other food, the sweet rice and cakes, serve the brethren with it.'

' Even so, lord ! ' said Chunda, the worker in metals, in assent, to the Blessed One. And the truffles he had made ready he served to the Exalted One ; whilst the other food, the sweet rice and cakes, he served to the members of the Order.

19. Now the Exalted One addressed Chunda, the worker in metals, and said: — 'Whatever truffles, Chunda, are left over to thee, those bury in a hole. I see no one, Chunda, on earth nor in Mara's heaven, nor in Brahma's heaven, no one among Samaras and Brahmaz^as, among gods, and men, by whom, when he has eaten it, that food can be properly assimilated, save by a Tatha^ata.'

' Even so, lord ! ' said Chunda, the worker in metals, in assent, to the Exalted One. And whatever truffles remained over those he buried in a hole. And he went to the place where the Exalted One was ; and when he had come there, took his seat respectfully on one side. And when he was seated, the Exalted One instructed and aroused and incited and gladdened Chunda, the worker in metals, with religious discourse. And the Exalted One then rose from his seat and departed thence.

20. Now when the Exalted One had eaten the rice prepared by Chunda, the worker in metals, there fell upon him a dire sickness, the disease of dysentery, and sharp pain came upon him, even unto death. [12s] But the Exalted One, mindful and self-possessed, bore it without complaint.

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And the Exalted One addressed the venerable Ananda,

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and said: — ' Come, Ananda, let us go on to^ Kusinara.' 'Even so, lord!' said the venerable Ananda, in assent, to the Exalted One.

' When he had eaten Chunda's food,
The copper-smith's — thus have I heard —
He bore with fortitude the pain,
The sharp pain even unto death !

When he had eaten, from the truffles in the food

There fell upon the teacher sickness dire,

Then after nature was relieved the Exalted One announced and said : ' I now am going on to Kusinara1.'

21. Now the Exalted One went aside from the path to the foot of a certain tree; and when he had come there he addressed the venerable Ananda, and said : — ' Fold,

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I pray you, Ananda, the robe^ in four ; and spread it out for me. I am weary, Ananda, and must rest awhile ! '

' Even so, lord ! ' said the venerable Ananda, in assent, to the Exalted One, and spread out the robe folded fourfold.

22. And the Exalted One seated himself on the seat prepared for him ; and when he was seated, he addressed the venerable Ananda, and said : — ' Fetch me, I pray you, Ananda, some water. I am thirsty, Ananda, and would drink.'

When he had thus spoken, the venerable Ananda said to the Exalted One : — ' But just now, lord, about five hundred carts have eone over. That water stirred up by the wheels has become shallow and flows fouled and turbid. [129] This river Kaku/^a, lord, not far off, is clear and pleasant, cool and transparent, easy to

1 ' It should be understood,' says Buddhaghosa, ' that these are verses by the Theras who held the council.' And he repeats this at §§ 38, 41. These here seem to be two different versifications of the same legend.

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get down into, and delightful. There the Exalted One may both drink the water, and cool his limbs.'

23. Again the second^ time the Exalted One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said : — ' Fetch me, I pray you, Ananda, some water. I am thirsty, Ananda, and would drink.'