釋迦譜 4.36

4.36

The brāhmaṇa Droṇa exhorted the multitudes, saying, “Worthy ones, day and night you have received the Buddha’s strict teachings. Out of his great compassion, the Buddha cremated his body and left his bones, wishing to bring widespread blessing to all under heaven. Why should you violate the fundamental intention of his wisdom? Since the relics are now present, they should simply be divided.” The assembly all praised this as good. They all went to the relics, and after bowing their heads to the ground, they had Droṇa divide them. Thereupon Droṇa took a jar that held about a dān, smeared its inside with honey, and divided them into eight portions. Having done so, he spoke to the assembly: “Since I revere the Buddha, I wish to obtain the relics that adhere to the jar, so that I may return and erect a stūpa temple.” All said, “How wise!” and they consented to give it to him. The brāhmaṇa Vethadīpaka begged for the burnt charcoal from the ground to return and erect a stūpa temple; all said, “Give it to him.” Later, a non-Buddhist ascetic of another country begged and obtained the earth-ashes. Thereupon eight countries obtained eight shares of the Buddha’s relics, each returning to erect a stūpa, making eight stūpas; the ninth was the Jar Stūpa; the tenth was the Charcoal Stūpa; the eleventh was the Ash Stūpa. Having divided the relics, because the fourfold disciples from distant regions had not yet all heard, [the relics] were kept for ninety days. Then, forty li from the city, at a crossroads in the village of Upavattana, a stūpa temple was constructed. The eminent families of Kuśīnagara jointly made fired and sun-dried bricks and stone blocks three feet square, collecting them to make the stūpa; its height, width, and length were all fifteen feet. Inside it they deposited a gold jar and placed the relics. They erected a tall spire with a Dharma-wheel, canopies with hanging silks, lit lamps, and offered flowers, incense, music, and reverent worship.