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286
FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING.
V, 25.
name was Kunda, invited Buddha to his house, and there he gave him, as an offering, his very last repast. 1947
Having partaken of it and declared the law (preached), he onward went to the town of Kusi (Kusinagara), crossing the river Tsae-kieuh (Tsaku) and the Hiranyavati (Hi-lan). 1948
Then in that Sala grove, a place of quiet and seclusion (hermit-rest), he took his seat: entering the golden river (Hiranyavati) he bathed his body, in appearance like a golden mountain. 1949
Then he spake his bidding thus to Ananda: 'Between those twin Såla trees, sweeping and watering, make a clean space, and then arrange my sittingmat (couch), 1950
'At midnight coming, I shall die' (enter Nirvana). Ånanda hearing the bidding of his master (Buddha), his breath was choked with heart-sadness; 1951
But going and weeping he obeyed the instruction, and spreading out the mat he came forthwith back to his master and acquainted him. Tathagata having lain down with his head towards the north and on his right side, slept thus. 1952
Resting upon his hand as on a pillow with his feet crossed”, even as a lion-king; all grief is passed, his last-born body from this one sleep shall never rise. 1953
His followers (disciples) round him, in a circle
Kusinagara is the present Kasia. I do not find any reference in General Cunningham's account of this city (Archæological Survey of India, I, 76 seq.) to the river Tsaku, but the Hiranyavatt is still known as the Hirana.
3 With one leg resting on the other,' Sacred Books of the East, vol. xi, p. 86.
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