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

22. Then the venerable Ananda thought: — 'If I allow the Mallas of Kusinara, one by one, to pay their respects to the Exalted One, the whole of the Mallas of Kusinara will not have been presented to the Exalted One until this night brightens up into the dawn. Let me, now, cause the Mallas of Kusinara to stand in groups, each family in a group, and so present them to the Exalted One, saying : — " Lord ! a Malla of such and such a name, with his children, his wives, his retinue, and his friends, humbly bows down at the feet of the Exalted One." '

And the venerable Ananda caused the Mallas of seems to me that he has been misled by the commentary, which really presupposes the more correct division.

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Kusinara to stand in groups, each family in a group, and so presented them to the Exalted One, and said : — ' Lord ! a Malla of such and such a name, with his children, his wives, his retinue, and his friends, humbly bows down at the feet of the Exalted One.'

And after this manner the venerable Ananda presented all the Mallas of Kusinara to the Exalted One in the first watch of the night.

r>i.

Now at that time a Wanderer named SubhaddaT who was not a believer, was dwelling at Kusinara. And the Wanderer Subhadda heard the news : — ' This very day, they say, in the third watch of the night, will take place the final passing away of the Samara Gotama.'

[149] Then thought the Wanderer Subhadda : — ' This have I heard from fellow Wanderers old and well stricken in years, teachers and disciples, when they said : — " Sometimes and full seldom do Tathagatas appear in the world, the Able Awakened Ones." Yet this day, in the last watch of the night, the final passing away of the Samara Gotama will take place. Now a certain feeling of uncertainty has sprung up in my mind ; and this faith have I in the Samara Gotama, that he, methinks, is able so to present the truth that I may get rid of this feeling of uncertainty.'

24. Then the Wanderer Subhadda went to the Sala
Grove of the Mallas, to the Upayattana of Kusinara,
to the place where the venerable Ananda was.

And when he had come there he said to the venerable Ananda : — ' Thus have I heard from fellow Wanderers, old and well stricken in years, teachers and disciples, when they said : — " Sometimes and full seldom do Tathagatas appear in the world, the Able Awakened Ones." Yet this day, in the last watch of the night, the final passing away of the Samara Gotama will take place. Now a certain feeling of uncertaintyhas sprung up in my mind ; and this faith have I in the Samara Gotama, that he, methinks, is able so to present the truth that I ma)- get rid of this feeling of

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uncertainty. O that I, even I, Ananda, might be allowed to see the Samara Gotama ! '

And when he had thus spoken the venerable Ananda said to the Wanderer Subhadda : — ' Enough ! friend Subhadda. Trouble not the Tathagata. The Exalted One is weary.'

And again the Wanderer Subhadda [made the same request in the same words, and received the same reply] : and the third time the Wanderer Subhadda [made the same request in the same words, and received the same reply]. [!5o]

25. Now the Exalted One overheard this conversation of the venerable Ananda with the Wanderer Subhadda. And the Exalted One called the venerable

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Ananda, and said : — ' It is enough, Ananda ! Do not keep out Subhadda. Subhadda, Ananda, may be allowed to see the Tathagata. Whatever Subhadda may ask of me, he will ask from a desire for knowledge, and not to annoy me. And whatever I may say in answer to his questions, that he will quickly understand.'

Then the venerable Ananda said to Subhadda, the Wanderer : — ' Enter in, friend Subhadda ; for the Exalted One gives you leave.'

26. Then Subhadda, the Wanderer, went in to the place where the Exalted One was, and saluted him courteously, and after exchanging with him the compliments of esteem and of civility, he took his seat on one side. And when he was thus seated, Subhadda, the Wanderer, said to the Exalted One : — ' The leaders in religious life ] who are heads of companies of