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V, 28. DIVISION OF THE SARIRAS. 335 of the country holding gem-embroidered canopies, 2285
Paid their offerings at the various shrines, adorning them as any golden mountain'. And so with music and with dancing through the day and night they made merry, and sang. 2286
And now the Arhats numbering five hundred, having for ever lost their master's presence, reflecting there was now no ground of certainty, returned to Gridhrakūta mount; 2287
Assembling in king Sakra's cavern?, they collected there the Satra Pitaka; all the assembly agreeing that the venerable Ånanda 2288
Should say (recite), for the sake of the congregation, the sermons of Tathāgata from first to last, Great and small, whatever you have heard from the mouth of the deceased Muni.' 2289
Then Ånanda in the great assembly ascending the lion throne, declared in order what the lord had preached, uttering the words "Thus have I heard.' 2290
The whole assembly, bathed in tears, were deeply moved as he pronounced the words 'I heard ;' and so he announced the law as to the time, as to the place, as to the person ; 2291
As he spoke, so was it written down from first to last, the complete Sūtra Pitaka? By diligent
· Or, as the Golden Mountain, i. e. Sumeru.
Indra silagriha. * Here we have a short account of the first Buddhist Council, called the Council of the 500. It forms no part of the Maha-parinibbâna-Sutta, although it is found in the Vinaya Pitaka. Compare Oldenberg, Vinaya Pitakam, Introduction.
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