SA 1197（一一九七） 入灭

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying in the country of Kuśinagara, in the grove of the twin śāla trees.

At that time, the World-Honored One, about to enter parinirvāṇa, said to Venerable Ānanda, "Between the twin śāla trees, prepare a rope bed with the head facing north. The Tathāgata will enter parinirvāṇa without remainder in the middle of the night today."

Then Venerable Ānanda, following the World-Honored One's instructions, prepared a rope bed between the twin śāla trees, with the head facing north. He returned to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and said to the World-Honored One, "I have prepared a rope bed between the twin śāla trees, with the head facing north, for the Tathāgata."

Then the World-Honored One went to the rope bed, lay down on his right side, with his head facing north, placing one foot on top of the other, and focused his mind on the appearance of dawn.

Then the World-Honored One entered into the nirvāṇa without remainder in the middle of the night. After his nirvāṇa, the twin śāla trees immediately produced flowers, which hung down all around to make offerings to the World-Honored One.

At that time, a certain bhikṣu spoke a verse, saying:

The good and firm trees, with their branches hanging down to pay homage to
the Buddha, with wonderful flowers making offerings, to the great teacher who has entered nirvāṇa.

At that time, Śakra, Lord of the Devas, spoke a verse, saying:

All conditioned phenomena are impermanent, they are all phenomena of arising
and ceasing. Although they arise, they soon cease. This cessation is bliss.

At that time, the Lord of the Sahā World, the Brahmā King, spoke another verse, saying:

All beings in the world, those who are established, will
all abandon. Such a holy great teacher, unparalleled in the
world. Attaining the power of the Tathāgata, universally being the
eye for the world, will eventually return to destruction, entering
nirvāṇa without remainder.

The Venerable Aniruddha then spoke another verse, saying:

The breath coming in and going out, the mind is well guarded
and protected. Coming from the basis, entering nirvāṇa in the world. The
appearance of great terror, causing the body hairs to stand on end
The one with all the powers of practice, the great teacher enters
nirvāṇa. The mind is not lazy, also not dwelling in all attachments
The mind gradually becomes liberated, like fire extinguished when firewood is exhausted.

Seven days after the Tathāgata's nirvāṇa, Venerable Ānanda went to the śiśira place and spoke a verse, saying:

The guide's precious body went to the Brahma heaven. With
such great spiritual power, the inner fire burned the body
Five hundred [stacked] woolen blankets wrapped the body, all burned
and destroyed. A thousand fine woolen garments were used to
cover the Tathāgata's body. Only two were not burned, the
uppermost and the undergarment.

When Venerable Ānanda spoke this verse, the bhikṣus were silent, both sad and joyful!