傳法正宗記 2.12

2.12

That master and disciple, seeing the mahāsattva's wondrous marvel, received his words and immediately recited what the Venerable One had spoken, whereupon they attained the second fruit. Having obtained this confirmation, the Venerable One was all the more self-vigilant, considering that the body is fragile like a cluster of foam, let alone in frail old age—how could it endure long? Wishing to proceed to nirvāṇa, and because King Ajātaśatru had once lamented not witnessing the parinirvāṇa of the two venerable sages, the Buddha and Kāśyapa, and had therefore made a pact with Ānanda that when he was to pass into extinction, he hoped he would indicate the appointed time, the Venerable One accordingly went to inform him. Reaching the king's gate, the gatekeeper declined him, saying that because the king was asleep, he dared not report it. However, the king in his dream happened to see a parasol adorned with the seven jewels, with tens of millions of people surrounding and gazing up at it; suddenly a violent wind and rain arrived, blowing and snapping its handle, and the jewels all fell to the ground. The king was startled awake, just as the gatekeeper reported Ānanda's arrival. Hearing this, the king cried out and wept bitterly, his grief moving heaven and earth. He immediately went to the city of Vaiśālī, where he saw the Venerable One sitting in the middle of the Ganges. The king hurried to pay homage to him and recited a verse: