Verses on Dhamma 5.15.p24

5.15.p24

Imaṃ dukanipāte upasāḷakajātakaṃ kathesi. Iti pathaviyaṃ sarīranikkhepaṃ katvā marantesu sattesu amatapubbapadese marantā nāma natthi, ānandattherasadisā pana amatapubbapadese parinibbāyanti.

(While, as a general rule, it is true that of all beings who have died and whose bodies have been laid upon the earth, there are none who die where men have not died before, nevertheless men like the Elder Ānanda do die where men have not died before. For example, we are told that when the Elder Ānanda was a hundred and twenty years old, he surveyed his allotted term of life, and perceiving that the time of his dissolution was near at hand, made the announcement, “I shall die seven days hence.” This announcement was heard by dwellers on both sides of the river Rohiṇī. Thereupon those who dwelt on the near side said, “We have been of great service to the Elder; he will die on our side.” But those who dwelt on the far side said, “We have been of great service to the Elder; he will die on our side.” The Elder heard their remarks and thought to himself, “Those