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

' Now it is not thus, Ananda, that the Tathagata is rightly honoured, reverenced, venerated, held sacred or revered. But the brother or the sister, the devout man or the devout woman, who continually fulfils all the greater and the lesser duties, who is correct in life, walking according to the precepts — it is he who rightly honours, reverences, venerates, holds sacred, and reveres the Tathagata with the worthiest homage.

1 We have here the unusual case of the Buddha being called Tathagata, not by himself, but by a third person, the compiler of the Suttanta. The paragraph is perhaps moulded by inadvertence on the next one. But see § 10. Compare the note above on IV, 25.

D. ii. 139. THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE. 1 5 1

Therefore, O Ananda, be ye constant in the fulfilment of the greater and of the lesser duties, and be ye correct in life, walking according to the precepts ; and thus Ananda, should it be taught.'

4. Now at that time the venerable Upava/za was standing in front of the Exalted One, fanning him. And the Exalted One was not pleased with Upavawa, and he said to him : — ' Stand aside, O brother, stand not in front of me ! '

Then this thought sprang up in the mind of the venerable Ananda : — [139] ' This venerable Upavawa had long been in close personal attendance and service on the Exalted One. And now, at the last moment, the Exalted One is not pleased with Upava^a, and has said to him : — " Stand aside, O brother, stand not in front of me ! " What may be the cause and what the reason that the Exalted One is not pleased with Upavawa, and speaks thus with him ? '

5. And the venerable Ananda said to the Exalted One : — ' This venerable Upava^a has long been in close personal attendance and service on the Exalted One. And now, at the last moment, the Exalted One is not pleased with Upavawa, and has said to him : — " Stand aside, O brother, stand not in front of me ! " What may be the cause and what the reason that the Exalted One is not pleased with Upava^a, and speaks thus with him ? '

' In great numbers, Ananda, are the gods of the ten world-systems assembled together to behold the Tathagata. For twelve leagues, Ananda, around the Sala Grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinara, there is no spot in size even as the pricking of the point of the tip of a hair which is not pervaded by powerful spirits \ And the spirits, Ananda, are mur-

1 Buddhaghosa explains that even twenty to sixty angels or gods (devatayo) could stand aragga-ko/i-nittudana- (MS. nittaddana-) matte pi, 'on a point pricked by the extreme point of a gimlet,' without inconveniencing one another (annam anfiam avyabadhenti). It is most curious to find this exact analogy to the notorious discussion as to how many angels could stand on the pointp. 152 muring, and say : — " From afar have we come to behold the Tathagata. Few and far between are the Tathagatas, the Arahant Buddhas who appear in the world : and now to-day, in the last watch of the night, the death of a Tathagata will take place ; and this eminent brother stands in front of the Tathagata, concealing him, and in his last hour we are prevented from beholding the Tathagata " ; thus, Ananda, do the spirits murmur.'

6. ' But of what kind of spirits is the Exalted One thinking ? '

' There are spirits, Ananda, in the sky, but of worldly mind, who dishevel their hair and weep, who stretch forth their arms and weep, [140] who fall prostrate on the ground, and roll to and fro in anguish at the thought : — " Too soon will the Exalted One die ! Too soon will the Exalted One pass away ! Full soon will the Light of the world vanish away * ! "

' There are spirits, too, Ananda, on the earth, and of worldly mind, who tear their hair and weep, who stretch forth their arms and weep, who fall pros-