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

' On the night, Ananda, on which a Tathagata attains to the supreme and perfect insight, and on the night in which he passes finally away in that utter passing away which leaves nothing whatever to remain — on these two occasions the colour of the skin of the Tathagata becomes clear and exceeding bright.

38. ■ And now this day, Ananda, at the third watch of the night, in the Upavattana of Kusinara, in the Sala Grove of the Mallians, between the twin Sala trees, the utter passing away of the Tathagata will take place. Come, Ananda ! Let us go on to the river Kakuttha.'

' Even so, lord ! ' said the venerable Ananda, in assent, to the Exalted One.

The pair of robes of cloth of gold,
All burnished, Pukkusa had brought,
Clad on with them the Master then
Shone forth in colour like to gold * !

39. Now the Exalted One with a great company of the brethren went on to the river Kakuttha ; and when he had come there, he went down into the water, and bathed, and drank. And coming up out again on the other side he went on to the Mango Grove.

1 We have here the commencement of the legend which afterwards grew into an account of an actual ' transfiguration ' of the Buddha. It is very curious that it should have taken place soon after the Buddha had announced to Ananda his approaching death, and that in the Buddhist Sutta it should be connected so closely with that event ; for a similar remark applies also to the Transfiguration mentioned in the Gospels.

D. ii. 135. THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE. I47

And when he was come there he addressed the venerable Chundaka, and said : — ' Fold, I pray you, Chundaka, a robe in four and spread it out. I am weary, Chundaka, and would lie down.'

' Even so, lord ! ' said the venerable Chundaka, in assent, to the Exalted One. And he folded a robe in four, and spread it out.

40. And the Exalted One laid himself down on his right side, with one foot resting on the other ; and calm and self-possessed he meditated, intending to rise up again in due time. [135] And the venerable Chundaka seated himself there in front of the Exalted One.

41. The Buddha to Kakuttha's river came,
Whose clear and pleasant waters limpid flow.
He plunged beneath the stream wearied and worn.
The Buddha without equal in the world !
When he had bathed and drunk, the teacher then
Crossed o'er, the brethren thronging round his steps ;
The Blessed Master, preaching the while the truth,
The Mighty Sage came to the Mango Grove.
There spake he to the brother Chundaka : —
' Spread me the fourfold robe out as a couch.'
Urged by the Holy One, he quickly spread
The fourfold robe in order on the ground.
The Master laid him down, wearied and worn ;
And there, before him, Chunda took his seat.

42. And the Exalted One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said : — ' Now it may happen, Ananda, that some one should stir up remorse in Chunda the smith, by saying : — " This is evil to thee, Chunda, and loss to thee in that when the Tathagata had eaten his last meal from thy provision, then he died." Any such remorse, Ananda, in Chunda the smith should be checked by saying: — "This is good to thee, Chunda, and gain to thee, in that when the Tathagata had eaten his last meal from thy provision, then he died. From the very mouth of the Exalted One, Chunda, have I heard, l 2p. 135 from his own mouth have I received this saying : — ' These two offerings of food are of equal fruit, and of equal profit, and of much greater fruit and much greater profit than any other — and which are the two ? [136] The offering of food which, when a Tathagata has eaten, he attains to supreme and perfect insight ; and the offering of food which, when a Tathagata has eaten, he passes away by that utter passing away in which nothing whatever remains behind — these two offerings of food are of equal fruit and of equal profit, and of much greater fruit and much greater profit than any others. There has been laid up by Chunda the smith a karma redounding to length of life, redounding to good birth, redounding to good fortune, redounding to good fame, redounding to the inheritance of heaven, and of sovereign power.' : In this way, Ananda, should be checked any remorse in Chunda the smith V