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145
Darsana Aura Cintana, Part II, pp. 47, 48.
(77)
The following is the translation of that Chapter of the Mahaparinivvana Sutta:
"Now, when the Blessed one had stayed as long as was convenient at Ambalatthika, the addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: Come Ananda, let us go on to Nalanda".
"So be it Lord" ! said Ananda, in assent, to the Blessed one.
Then the Blessed one proceeded, with a great company of the brethren of Nalanda, and there at Nalanda, the Blessed one stayed in the Payarika mango grove,
Now the venerable Sariputta came to the place where the Blessed one was, and having saluted him, took his seat respectfully at his side and said: "Lord ! Such faith have I in the Blessed one, that me thinks there never dhas been, nor will therebe, nor is there now any other, whether Samana or Brahmana, who is greater and wiser than the Blessed one, that is to say, as regards the higher wisdom'.
"Grand and bold are the words of the mouth, Sariputta ! Verily, thou hast burst forth in a song of ecstasy! Of course then thou hast known all the Blessed ones who in the long ages of the past have been Arahat Buddhas, comprehending their minds with yours, and aware what their mode of life, and what salvation they attained to"?
'Not so, O Lord'!
'But at last then, O Sariputta ! ,thou know est me as the Arhat-Buddha now alive, and hast penetrated my mind (in the manner I have mentioned)'.
'Not even that, O Lord'!
'You see then, Sariputta ! that you know the hearts of the Arahat Buddhas of the past and of the future. Why, therefore, are your words so grand and bold? Why do you burst forth into such a song of ecstasy'?
