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86
THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE.
CH.
covering over the couch with its head to the north, between the twin Sâla trees. And the Blessed One laid himself down on his right side, with one leg resting on the other; and he was mindful and selfpossessed.
4. Now at that time the twin Sâla trees were all one mass of bloom with flowers out of season1; and all over the body of the Tathagata these dropped and sprinkled and scattered themselves, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old. And heavenly Mandârava flowers, too, and heavenly sandalwood powder came falling from the sky, and all over the body of the Tathagata they descended and sprinkled and scattered themselves, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old. And heavenly music was sounded in the sky, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old. And heavenly songs came wafted from the skies, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old!
5. Then the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ânanda, and said: The twin Sâla trees are all one mass of bloom with flowers out of season; all over the body of the Tathagata these drop and sprinkle and scatter themselves, out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old. And heavenly Mandârava flowers, too, and heavenly sandal-wood powder come falling from the sky, and all over the body of the Tathagata they descend and sprinkle and scatter themselves, out of rever
1 Sabbaphâliphullâ ti sabbe samantato pupphitâ mûlato patthaya yâva aggâ ekakkhannâ ahesum. (S. V. thlu.) Compare ekaphâliphullam vanam at Gâtaka I, 52.
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