Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s3.10

c12.s3.10

In all the versions of the *Mahāparinibbāna Sutta* it is said that there were two rivers which the Buddha and his host of followers crossed between Pāvā and Kusinārā.⁸ None of the Pāli versions name the first river.⁹ At his Master's repeated commands to fetch water from this river, Ānanda thrice gave the same reply—"‘But just now, Lord, about 500 carts have gone over. That water stirred up by the wheels has become shallow and flows foul and turbid. This river Kakutthā, Lord (*ayaṁ bhante Kakutthā nadī*), not far off (*avidūre*), is clear and pleasant, cool and transparent... There the Exalted One may both drink the water and cool his limbs.’"¹⁰ On the other hand, the Sanskrit version and the Tibetan and Chinese versions based on it, not only refer to this river whose water had become undrinkable as Kukustā, but also name the next river, with pure, cool water, as Hiraṇyavatī *nadī*.¹¹ This was the river Kakutthā of the corresponding Pāli version.