註華嚴經題法界觀門頌 1.84

1.84

Bhadrā is translated here as Nairañjanā, or "Golden Water"; it is the name of a river. This means that the Buddha displayed a lifespan of seventy-nine years, expounding the Dharma for forty-nine years to deliver countless people. In the end, he arrived beside the Nairañjanā River at the edge of the city of Kuśinagara, beneath the twin śāla trees, where he peacefully passed away lying on his right side with feet crossed. The assembly of noble humans and devas wept bitterly in grief, and they wrapped him in fine white cotton smeared with fragrant oil. Having wrapped and smeared him, they placed him within triple coffins of gold, silver, and iron. The devas and spirits all offered fragrant firewood, piling it high as a mountain. When he was about to be cremated, Mahākāśyapa was in the great stone cave on Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa; seeing various anomalous omens, he said to his assembly: "The Buddha has now left me and entered great nirvāṇa." He then led five hundred disciples and hurried there. As soon as he had paid homage to the feet, the Tathāgata brought forth and showed his two feet and spoke a gāthā: "The eldest son of my Dharma / Is named Mahākāśyapa. / Ānanda is diligent and vigorous, / Capable of severing all doubts." When the gāthā ended, he withdrew his feet. The golden coffin lifted itself seven tāla trees high, circled the city several times, and returned to its original place. When the devas offered fire, none could ignite it; by the samādhi of self-manifesting radiant fire, he cremated himself, yielding eight hu and four dou of relics, for which stūpas were erected and offerings made across worlds as numerous as sands. This is the mark of entering nirvāṇa.