Mahāparinibbāna Sutta 5.5

5.5.1

Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:

Then Ānanda said to the Buddha,

5.5.2

“ayaṃ, bhante, āyasmā upavāṇo dīgharattaṃ bhagavato upaṭṭhāko santikāvacaro samīpacārī.

“This Venerable Upavāṇa has been the Buddha’s attendant for a long time, close to him, living in his presence.

5.5.3

Atha ca pana bhagavā pacchime kāle āyasmantaṃ upavāṇaṃ apasāreti:

Yet in his final hour the Buddha makes him move, saying:

5.5.4

‘apehi, bhikkhu, mā me purato aṭṭhāsī’ti.

‘Move over, mendicant, don’t stand in front of me.’

5.5.5

Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo, yaṃ bhagavā āyasmantaṃ upavāṇaṃ apasāreti:

What is the cause, sir, what is the reason for this?”

5.5.6

‘apehi, bhikkhu, mā me purato aṭṭhāsī’”ti?

5.5.7

“Yebhuyyena, ānanda, dasasu lokadhātūsu devatā sannipatitā tathāgataṃ dassanāya.

“Most of the deities from ten solar systems have gathered to see the Realized One.

5.5.8

Yāvatā, ānanda, kusinārā upavattanaṃ mallānaṃ sālavanaṃ samantato dvādasa yojanāni, natthi so padeso vālaggakoṭinittudanamattopi mahesakkhāhi devatāhi apphuṭo.

For twelve leagues all around this sal grove there’s no spot, not even a fraction of a hair’s tip, that’s not crowded full of illustrious deities.

5.5.9

Devatā, ānanda, ujjhāyanti:

The deities are complaining:

5.5.10

‘dūrā ca vatamha āgatā tathāgataṃ dassanāya.

‘We’ve come such a long way to see the Realized One!

5.5.11

Kadāci karahaci tathāgatā loke uppajjanti arahanto sammāsambuddhā.

Only rarely do Realized Ones arise in the world, perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas.

5.5.12

Ajjeva rattiyā pacchime yāme tathāgatassa parinibbānaṃ bhavissati.

This very day, in the last watch of the night, the Realized One will be fully extinguished.

5.5.13

Ayañca mahesakkho bhikkhu bhagavato purato ṭhito ovārento, na mayaṃ labhāma pacchime kāle tathāgataṃ dassanāyā’”ti.

And this illustrious mendicant is standing in front of the Buddha blocking the view. We won’t get to see the Realized One in his final hour!’”