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124
THE BOOK OF THE GREAT DECEASE.
CH.
of bearing the body of the Blessed One, are unable to lift it up?'
It is because you, O Vasetthas, have one purpose, and the spirits have another purpose.'
31. 'But what, Lord, is the purpose of the spirits?'
*Your purpose, O Vâsetthas, is this, Let us carry the body of the Blessed One, by the south and outside, to a spot on the south, and outside of the city,– paying it honour, and reverence, and respect, and homage, with dance and song and music, with garlands and perfumes, -and there, to the south of the city, let us perform the cremation ceremony. But the purpose of the spirits, Vâsetthas, is this, Let us carry the body of the Blessed One by the north to the north of the city, and entering the city by the north gate, let us bring it through the midst of the city into the midst thereof. And going out again by the eastern gate,-paying honour, and reverence, and respect, and homage to the body of the Blessed One, with heavenly dance, and song, and music, and garlands, and perfumes,-let us carry it to the shrine of the Mallas called Makuta-bandhana, to the east of the city, and there let us perform the cremation ceremony.'
'Even according to the purpose of the spirits, so, Lord, let it be!'
32. Then immediately all Kusinârâ down even to the dust bins and rubbish heaps became strewn knee-deep with Mandârava flowers from heaven! and while both the spirits from the skies, and the Mallas of Kusinârâ upon earth, paid honour, and reverence, and respect, and homage to the body of the Blessed One, with dance and song and music, with garlands and with perfumes, they carried the
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| SR No. | 007674 |
| Book Title | Dhammapada |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Max Muller |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1881 |
| Total Pages | 2540 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 45 MB |