1012 Pdli Buddhistical Annals. £DeC. 



the torch to the funeral pile* of Bhagawa'— but were not able to ignite it. There- 

 upon the Kusindrd Mallians thus inquired of the venerable Anurudho : Lord 

 Anurudho, whence, and from what cause, is it, that these four Mallian chieftains 

 who are purified from head (to foot), and arrayed in new garments, and who have 

 said : we will set fire to the funeral pile of Bhagawa', have not been able to ignite 

 it? Because, Wasetthians, the intention of the dewatd is different. Lord, what then 

 is the wish of the dewatd ? Wdsellhians, the venerable Maha'kassapo, attended by 

 a great sacerdotal retinue, consisting of five hundred bhikkhus, is now on his way 

 from Pdivd to Kusindrd, and as long as Maha'kassapo shall not have bowed down, 

 with uplifted hands, at the feet of Bhagawa', so long will the funeral pile of 

 Bhagawa/ resist ignition. Lord, whatever be the design of the dewatd, be it com- 

 plied with. 



Thereafter, wherever the coronation hall of the Mallians might be in Kusindrd, 

 thither the venerable Maha'kassapo repaired to the funeral pile of Bhagawa'. On 

 arriving there, so adjusting his robes as to leave one shoulder bare, and with clasped 

 hands having performed the padakkhindn, perambulation, three times, round the pile, 

 he opened (the pile) at the feet ; and reverentially bowed down his head at the feet of 

 Bhagawa'. The aforesaid five hundred priests, also, adjusting their robes so as 

 to leave one shoulder bare, and with clasped hands, having performed Wig padakkhi- 

 ndn, perambulation, thrice round the pile, likewise, reverentially bowed down at the 

 feet of Bhagawa'. While tbe venerable Maha'kassapo and these five hundred 

 bhikkbus were in the act of bowing down in adoration, the funeral pile of Bhagawa' 

 spontaneously ignited. 



It thus came to pass in regard to the corpse of the Bhagawa' who was consum- 

 ed by fire : neither his surface skin, nor his under skin, nor his flesh, nor his nerves, 

 nor his muscles deposited any ashes or soot ; none (of those parts) of his corpse 

 remained (unconsumed). In the same manner that neither butter nor oil, which is 

 consumed by fire, leaves either ashes or soot — so it came to pass in regard to the 

 corpse of the Bhagawa' who was consumed— neither his surface skin, nor his under 

 skin, nor his flesh, nor his nerves nor his muscles left any residuary ashes or soot: 

 none (of those substances) of his corporeal remains was left unconsumed. All the 

 cloths, composing the five hundred pairs of cloths, were consumed. At the instant 

 that the internal and external parts of the corpse of Bhagawa' were absorbed, 

 streams of water pouring down from the skies, caused (the flames of) Bhagawa ''s 

 funeral pile to be extinguished : the flame was thus extinguished by the down pour 

 on the top of the funeral pile of Bhagawa'. The Kusindran Mallians also helped 

 to extinguish the funeral pile by sprinkling every kind of scented water. 



The Kusindran Mallians then forming a trelice work with lances, and fencing the 

 place round with their bows (transferred) the remains of Bhagawa' to the assem- 

 bly hallf (within the town) ; and for seven days, with dancing and vocal and instru- 

 mental music, and with garlands of fragrant flowers, rendered every mark of respect, 

 reverence, devotion and submission. 



The Mdgadha raja Aja'tasattu, the Wedehian descendant, heard that Bha- 

 gawa/ had attained parinibbdndn at Kusindrd; thereupon the said Mdgadha 

 monarch Aja'tasattu, the Wtdehian, sent an embassy unto the Kusinarian Malli- 

 ans, with this message : Bhagawa' was a kattiyo ; and I am also a kattiyo. I 

 am likewise worthy of possessing a portion of the corporeal remains of Bhaga- 



* This funeral pile was composed of sandal-wood, and was 120 cubits high. 



f The Atthakathd gives a detailed account of the procession which transferred 

 the bones of Buddho, still contained in the metal vessel in which he was burnt, 

 from the coronation hall to the house of assembly. 



