Vol. 11 · pages 556–560

537 THE MEETING OF THOSE NEAR AND DEAR VII 2. Sariputta arrived there with a company of five hundred brethren. 3. After saluting the Blessed One Sariputta told him that the last day of his life on earth had arrived. Will the Blessed Lord be pleased to permit him to give up his mortal coils ? 4. The Blessed Lord asked Sariputta if he had selected any place for his parinibbana. 5. Sariputta told the Blessed One, “ I was born in the village Nalaka in Magadha. The house in which I was born still stands. I have chosen my home for my parinibbana.” 6. The Lord replied, “Dear Sariputta ! Do what pleases you.” 7. Sariputta fell on the feet of the Blessed Lord and said, “I have practised the paramitas for one thousand Kalpas with only one wish, to have the honour of falling on your feet. I have achieved that end and there is no end to my happiness.” 8. ‘ “We do not believe in rebirth. Therefore this is our last meeting. Let the Lord forgive me my faults. My last day has come.” 9. “Sariputta! There is-nothing to forgive,” said the Lord. 10. When Sariputta rose to go, the Lord in his honour got up and stood up on the verandah of the Gaudhakuti Vihar. 11. Then Sariputta said to the Blessed Lord, “ I was happy when I saw you first. I am happy to see you now. I know this is the last darshan of you I am having. I shall not have your darshan again.” 12. Joining together the palms of his hand he walked away without showing his back to the Blessed Lord. 13. Then the Blessed Lord said to the assembled brethren— “Follow your Elder Brother,” and the assembly for the first time left the Blessed Lord and went after Sariputta. 14. Sariputta on reaching his village died in his home in the very room in which he was born.

538 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VII 15. He was cremated and his ashes were taken to the Blessed Lord. 16. On receiving the ashes the Blessed Lord said to the brethren—“He was the wisest, he had no acquisitive instinct, he was energetic and industrious, he hated sin, ye brethren see his ashes. He was as strong as the earth in his forgiveness, he never allowed anger to enter his mind, he was never controlled by any desire, he had conquered all his passions, he was full of sympathy, fellowship and love.” 17. About that time Mahamogallan was then living in a solitary Vihar near Rajagraha. He was murdered by some assassins employed by the enemies of the Blessed Lord. 18. The sad news of his end was conveyed to the Blessed One. Sariputta and Mahamogallan were his two chief disciples. They were called Dharma-Senapati —Defenders of the Faith. The Blessed Lord depended upon them to continue the spread of his gospel. 19. The Blessed Lord was deeply affected by their death in his lifetime. 20. He did not like to stay in Shravasti and to relieve his mind he decided to move on.

PART II Leaving Vaishali 1. Farewell to Vesali. 2. Halt at Pava. 3. Arrival at Kushinara.

541 LEAVING VAISHALI VII § 1. Farewell to Vesali 1. Before he set on his last journey the Blessed Lord was staying at Rajagraha on the Vulture’s Peak. 2. After staying there for some time he said: “ Come Ananda, let us go to Ambalathika.” 3. “ So be it Lord ! ” said Ananda in assent, and the Blessed One, with a large company of the brethren, proceeded to Ambalathika. 4. After staying at Ambalathika he moved on to Nalanda. 5. From Nalanda he went to Pataligama, the capital of Magadha. 6. From Pataligama he went to Kotigam and from Kotigam he went to Nadika. 7. At each of these places he stopped for a few days and delivered a religious discourse either to the brethren or the householders. 8. From Nadika he went to Vesali. 9. Vesali was the birth-place of Mahavira and consequently a stronghold of his faith. 10. But the Blessed Lord soon succeeded in converting the people of Vesali to his own faith. 11. It is said that owing to drought, a famine ravaged the city of Vesali to such an extent that people died in large numbers. 12. The people of Vesali complained of it in a general assembly convoked by them. 13. The assembly after much discussion decided to invite the Blessed Lord to the city. 14. A Lichchavi by name Mahali, a friend of King Bimbisara and son of the chaplain of Vesali, was sent to offer the invitation. 15. The Blessed Lord accepted the invitation and started with five hundred Bhikkhus. As soon as he entered the territory of the Vajjins there was a thunderstorm, rain fell in torrents and famine disappeared. 16. This is the origin of the welcome which the people of Vesali gave to the Blessed Lord. 17. Having won their hearts it was natural that the people of Vesali should give him a warm response.