Vol. 11 · pages 561–565

542 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VII 18. Then came vasa. The Blessed Lord went to Beluna for his vasa and asked the brethren to make their vasa in Vesali. 19. After finishing his vasa the Lord came to Vesali with a mind to leave Vesali and move on his journey. 20. So the Blessed Lord early one morning robed himself, and taking his bowl, entered Vesali for alms; and when he had passed through Vesali and eaten his meal he gazed at Vesali with an elephant’s look and addressed the venerable Ananda and said: “This will be the last time Ananda that the Tathagatha will behold Vesali.” 21. Thus saying he bade farewell to the people of Vesali. 22. He gave to the Lichchavis, when they took leave of him at the old city on their northern frontier, his alms-bowl as a memento. 23. It was his last visit to Vesali. He did not live to return to it again. § 2. Halt at Pava 1. From Vesali the Blessed Lord went to Bhandagam. 2. From Bhandagam he went to Hatthi-gam to Bhoga-Nagara. 3. And from Bhoga-Nagara he went to Pava. 4. At Pava the Blessed One stayed at the mango grove of one blacksmith by name Chunda. 5. Now Chunda heard that the Blessed One had come to Pava and was staying in his mango grove. 6. Chunda went to the mango grove and sat near the Blessed One, who gave him a religious discourse. 7. Gladdened by it Chunda addressed the Blessed One and said: “May the Blessed One do me the honour of taking his meal together with the brethren, at my house tomorrow.” 8. And the Blessed One signified, by silence, his

543 LEAVING VAISHALI VII consent. Seeing that the Blessed One had consented, Chunda departed thence. 9. Next day Chunda made ready in his dwelling- place sweet rice and cakes and some preparation of Sukara-Madhava. And he announced the hour to the Blessed One, saying: “The hour, Lord, has come, and the meal is ready.” 10. And the Blessed One robed himself and taking his bowl went with the brethren to the dwelling-place of Chunda and partook of the food prepared by him. 11. Again after the meal the Blessed One gave a discourse on religion to Chunda, then rose from his seat and departed thence. 12. The food offered by Chunda did not agree with the Blessed One. There fell upon him a dire sickness, the disease of dysentery, and sharp and shooting pain came upon him even unto death. 13. But the Blessed One, mindful and self-possessed, bore it without complaint. 14. Returning to the mango grove and after nature was relieved, the Blessed One told Ananda: “ Come let us go to Kushinara” and the party moved from Pava. § 3. Arrival at Kushinara 1. The Blessed Lord walked for part of the way. He soon felt the need for some rest. 2. On the way the Blessed One went aside from the path to the foot of a certain tree and said to Ananda: “Fold, I pray you, Ananda, the robe; and spread it out for me. I am weary, Ananda, and must rest a while ! ” 3. “ Even so, Lord!” said the venerable Ananda, in assent, to the Blessed One, and spread out the robe folded fourfold. 4. And the Blessed One seated himself on the seat prepared for him. 5. And when he was seated, the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: “Fetch me,

544 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VII I pray you, Ananda, some water. I am thirsty, Ananda, and would drink.” 6. Ananda replied: “This river Kakuttha is not far off, is clear and pleasant, cool and transparent, easy to get down into and delightful. There the Blessed One may both drink the water and cool his limbs. The water of this stream is foul and turbid.” 7. The Blessed One was too weak to walk down to the river. He preferred to have the water of the nearby stream. 8. Ananda brought the water and the Blessed One drank it. 9. After resting for a while the Blessed One with the company of the brethren went on to the river Kakuttha; and when he had come there, he went down into the water, and bathed, and drank. And coming out again on the other side he went on to the mango grove. 10. And when he came there he again asked his robe to be spread out, saying: “ I am weary and would lie down.” The robe was accordingly spread out and the Blessed One laid himself down on it. 11. After resting for a while the Blessed One got up and said to Ananda: “ Let us go on to the Sala grove of the Mallas, the Upavana of Kushinara on the further side of the river Hiranyavatti.” 12. On reaching the place in the company of Ananda, he again asked Ananda to spread his robe between the twin Sala trees. “I am weary and would lie down.” 13. Ananda spread the robe and the Blessed One laid himself down on it.

PART III His End 1. The Appointment of a Successor. 2. The Last Convert. 3. Last Words. 4. Ananda in Grief. 5. The Lament of the Mallas and the Joy of a Bhikkhu. 6. The Last Rites. 7. Quarrel Over Ashes. 8. Loyalty to the Buddha.