Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 22: The Lady Āmra (Āmrapālī) sees Buddha. 1. After the World-honoured One had made extensive conversions, the thought of his [final] nirvana arose. He set forth from the city of Rājagṛha to the district of Pāṭaliputra. 2. After [the Buddha’s] arrival he stayed there in the Pāṭalī Chaitya. There was a dependent state,

Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 23: Fixing His (Term Of) Years by Spiritual Power 1. The Licchavi elders of Vaiśālī then heard that the World-honoured One had entered their country and was staying in the Āmra Garden. 2. Some rode white chariots, with white parasols, and were dressed in white. Blue, red, yellow, or green—each had a different

Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 24: Farewell to the Licchavis 1. When the venerable Ānanda saw that the earth and the heavens all around were shaking, he was startled in his heart and the hair on his body stood on end. He asked the Buddha why [these things were occurring]. 2. The Buddha said to Ānanda, “I will

Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 25: Parinirvāṇa 1. While Buddha was approaching his place of nirvana, Vaiśālī was empty, as if the stars and the moon had lost their light in the darkness of the clouds at night. 2. The land had been happy before, but now it suddenly languished, like an orphaned daughter who has lost her

Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 26: The Great Parinirvāṇa 1. There was then a Brāhman called Subhadra. He was completely endowed with worthy qualities, and with pure morality he protected living beings. 2. In his youth he had received wrong views, and had gone forth to follow a heretical path. He wanted to come and meet the World-honoured

Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 27: Praising Nirvāna. 1. There was then a celestial son who had ascended to his palace with a thousand white geese. High in the sky he observed the Buddha’s Parinirvāṇa, and for the multitude of gods all around he widely proclaimed gāthās about impermanence: 2. “All is by nature impermanent. It is quickly

Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha Book 28: The Division of the Relics 1. The crowd of Mallas made offerings to the relics. They brought unsurpassed worship with exquisite fragrant flowers. 2. Then the kings of seven countries heard that the Buddha was extinguished. They sent messengers to the Mallas requesting the Buddha’s relics. 3. The multitude of Mallas revered