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"Ananda ! I am in possession of four powers (şddhipāda). So if I desire, I can stay on for a full kalpa".
But Ananda missed even such a clear hint from the Buddha. He failed to request him to live on for a kalpa for the good of many, for the happiness of many. The Buddha repeated the same words for the second time and again for the third time. But Ananda said nothing. The wicked Māra had full control of Ananda's mind. Thereafter, to give a break to the talk, the Buddha said,
"Let us drop it, Ananda. You will understand the implication tomorrow".
No sooner had Ananda separated from the Buddha than Māra appeared before him and said,
"Bhante! You had said, in part, as follows: 'I shall not enter into liberation till that time when the monks and the nuns, the male followers and the female followers are not fixed in religion, are not versed in religion to be able to communicate it to others, till they are capable to prevent remorse; till the religion of the Buddha which is brahmacarya (non-sex) prospers, spreads and is not adopted by many. 'Bhante ! Now, all these have been fulfilled, So now it is time for you to enter into liberation".
To this, the Buddha gave the following reply,
"Ye sinful ! Be at peace. After three months from this day, I shall enter into liberation"
At the Capala caitya on that day, the Buddha loosened his grip on the thread of life with conscience and feeling. There was a severe earth-quake at that time. The heavenly drums were beaten. Ananda rushed to the Buddha and said,
"Bhante! How very strange ! How very wonderful ! What's the cause for this severe earth-quake? What's the factor behind this all"?
The Buddha said,
