釋迦譜 4.21

4.21

When the monks had finished discussing the Dharma teachings throughout the night until dawn, Aniruddha addressed Ānanda: 'You may enter the city and tell the Mallas: "The Buddha has entered extinction; what you wish to perform should be done in good time."' At that time Ānanda arose, bowed to the Buddha’s feet, and, taking a monk along, weeping entered the city. From afar he saw five hundred Mallas assembled in one place. The Mallas welcomed him and bowed to his feet, saying: 'Why have you come so early today?' Ānanda replied: 'You should know that last night the Tathāgata entered extinction. What you wish to perform should be done in good time.' Hearing these words, none of the Mallas failed to grieve, and wiping their tears, they said: 'How swift is the Buddha's parinirvāṇa! How fast is the eye of the world extinguished!' Then the Mallas each returned home, prepared incense, flowers, and various kinds of music, and went to the twin trees to make offerings to the relics. When a full day had passed, they placed the Buddha’s relics upon a bier. The young Malla men and others came to lift the bier, but none could lift it. Then Aniruddha addressed the Mallas: 'Stop for now; do not fatigue yourselves in vain. The devas now wish to come and lift the bier. You intended to have the young Malla men lift the four corners of the bier, enter the eastern city gate, pass through all the streets and lanes so that the people of the state could all make offerings, and then go out the western city gate to a high and prominent place to cremate it. But the intent of the devas is to retain the relics for seven days, so that the people of the state can all make offerings, and then go out the northern city gate, cross the Hiraṇyavatī River, and cremate it at the Makuṭabandhana Caitya. It is the intent of the devas above that causes the bier not to move.' The Mallas said: 'Agreed! Excellent are these words. We will follow the intent of the devas.' Then the Mallas entered the city together, leveled the roads, swept, sprinkled, and burned incense. Then they came out to the twin trees and made offerings to the relics with incense, flowers, and music. When seven days had passed and the day was drawing to a close, they raised the Buddha’s relics and placed them upon the bier. The young Malla men held and lifted its four corners, carrying banners and parasols, burning incense, scattering flowers, and playing various kinds of music, leading and following, proceeding with dignified composure. At that time, the gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven rained down māndārava flowers, utpala flowers, and the like, and scattered celestial powdered sandalwood upon the relics, filling the streets. The devas played music, and ghosts and spirits sang hymns, making offerings to the relics. Thereupon the Mallas, bearing the bier, gradually advanced, entering the eastern city gate and halting in the various streets and lanes; having made offerings, they went out the northern city gate, crossed the Hiraṇyavatī River, and reached the Makuṭabandhana Caitya. They addressed Ānanda, saying: 'How further should we make offerings?' Ānanda replied: 'I personally heard from the Buddha that if one wishes to entomb his relics, it should be done according to the funeral rites for a wheel-turning sage king: while alive one obtains blessings, and at death one ascends to heaven.' The Mallas then went together into the city, prepared the funeral requisites, and returned to the Makuṭabandhana Caitya. They bathed the Buddha’s body with pure scented water and wrapped the body all around with new karpāsa cotton, followed by five hundred layers of fine cotton cloth wrapped in the same manner. They placed the body within a golden coffin, poured in scented oil, placed it inside a second large iron outer coffin, covered the outside again with a sandalwood outer coffin, and piled various renowned perfumes upon it. A Malla minister named Luoji held a great torch, wishing to ignite the Buddha’s pyre, but the fire would not burn. Other leading Mallas then came forward to ignite the pyre, but the fire again would not burn. At that time Aniruddha said to the Mallas: 'Stop, stop, worthy sirs! It is not within your power; that the fire goes out and does not burn is the intent of the devas. Because Mahākāśyapa is bringing five hundred disciples from the state of Pāvā, wishing to see the Buddha’s body, the devas, knowing his intent, cause the fire not to burn.' At that time, Mahākāśyapa, coming from the state of Pāvā, encountered a Nirgrantha holding a māndārava flower in his hand, and asked him: 'Do you know if my teacher is alive?' He answered: 'Seven days have already passed since his extinction.' Hearing this, Kāśyapa was distressed and sorrowful; the five hundred monks writhed and wailed, unable to control themselves. Kāśyapa went to the city of Kuśinagara, crossed the Nairañjanā River, reached the Makuṭabandhana Caitya, came to Ānanda, and said to Ānanda: 'We wish to see the relics face-to-face; before the cremation takes place, might we be allowed to see them?' Ānanda replied: 'Although the cremation has not taken place, he is wrapped in karpāsa cotton followed by five hundred layers of fine cotton cloth, enclosed in a golden coffin, and placed in an iron outer coffin. Thus the Buddha’s body can hardly be seen again.' Kāśyapa requested three times, and Ānanda answered as before. Then Mahākāśyapa approached the incense pyre. At that moment, from within the double coffins, the Buddha’s body put forth both feet, and the feet were of an unusual colour. Seeing this, Kāśyapa wondered and asked Ānanda: 'The Buddha’s body is golden; why are the feet of an unusual colour?' Ānanda replied: 'Just now an old woman came forward in sorrow, and her tears fell upon them; that is why the colour is unusual.' Kāśyapa then bowed towards the incense pyre before the Buddha’s relics. At that time, the fourfold assembly and the devas above all bowed together. Thereupon the Buddha’s feet suddenly disappeared. Then Mahākāśyapa circumambulated the pyre three times and recited verses. At that time, the Buddha’s pyre caught fire spontaneously without being lit. The Mallas said to one another: 'Now the fire blazes so furiously that it is difficult to quench. The cremation of the relics might consume them entirely; where should we seek water to extinguish it?' At that time, a śāla tree deity immediately used spiritual power to extinguish the fire of the Buddha’s pyre. The Mallas then went to the vicinity of the city of Kuśinagara and gathered various fragrant flowers to make offerings.