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But this is indeed more difficult and harder to achieve: for one who, being conscious and awake, when the sky rains, when the sky thunders, when lightning flashes, when a thunderbolt strikes, would neither see nor hear the sound. Once, Pukkusa, I was staying in Ātumā, in a straw shed. At that time, when the sky rained, when the sky thundered, when lightning flashed, when a thunderbolt struck, not far from the straw shed, two farmer brothers were killed, and four oxen. Then, Pukkusa, a large crowd from Ātumā came out and went to where those two farmer brothers and four oxen were killed. At that time, Pukkusa, I had come out of the straw shed and was walking in the open air near the straw shed door. Then, Pukkusa, a certain man from that crowd came to me; having approached and greeted me, he stood to one side. I, Pukkusa, said to that man standing to one side: ‘What, friend, is this large crowd gathered for?’ ‘Just now, venerable sir, when the sky rained, when the sky thundered, when lightning flashed, when a thunderbolt struck, two farmer brothers were killed and four oxen. That is why this large crowd is gathered here. But where were you, venerable sir?’ ‘I was right here, friend.’ ‘But what did you see, venerable sir?’ ‘I saw nothing, friend.’ he said. 'But, Venerable Sir, did you hear a sound?' 'Indeed, friend, I did not hear a sound.' 'But, Venerable Sir, were you asleep?' 'Indeed, friend, I was not asleep.' 'But, Venerable Sir, were you conscious?' 'Yes, friend.' 'So you, Venerable Sir, being conscious, awake, while it was raining, while it was thundering, while lightning was flashing, while thunderbolts were striking, neither saw nor heard a sound?' 'Yes, friend.' Then, Pukkusa, it occurred to that man: 'Oh, how wonderful, oh, how amazing, oh, how peacefully these renunciants dwell. For indeed, being conscious, awake, while it is raining, while it is thundering, while lightning is flashing, while thunderbolts are striking, he neither sees nor hears a sound.' Having expressed great faith in me, having saluted me, having circumambulated me, he departed. When this was said, Pukkusa the Mallian said to the Blessed One: "Venerable Sir, that faith I had in Āḷāra Kālāma, I now scatter it to a great wind, or wash it away in a swift-flowing river. Excellent, Venerable Sir! Excellent, Venerable Sir! Just as, Venerable Sir, one might set upright what was overturned, or reveal what was hidden, or show the way to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms; even so has the Dhamma been made clear by the Blessed One in many ways. I go for refuge to the Blessed One, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of bhikkhus. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth as long as life lasts." 194. Then Pukkusa the Mallian addressed a certain man: "Come now, my good man, bring me a pair of golden-colored robes, well-polished, fit to be worn." "Yes, Venerable Sir," that man replied to Pukkusa the Mallian, and brought that pair of golden-colored robes, well-polished, fit to be worn. Then indeed Pukkusa the Mallian's son presented that pair of golden-colored robes, fit for wearing, to the Blessed One: "This, venerable sir, is a pair of golden-colored robes, fit for wearing. May the Blessed One accept it from me, out of compassion." "In that case, Pukkusa, clothe me with one, and Ānanda with the other." "Yes, venerable sir," Pukkusa the Mallian's son replied to the Blessed One, and clothed the Blessed One with one, and the venerable Ānanda with the other. Then indeed the Blessed One instructed Pukkusa the Mallian's son with a talk on the Dhamma, encouraged him, roused him, and gladdened him. Then indeed Pukkusa the Mallian's son, instructed, encouraged, roused, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat, saluted the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise, and departed. 195. Then indeed the venerable Ānanda, not long after Pukkusa the Mallian's son had departed, placed that pair of golden-colored robes, fit for wearing, upon the Blessed One's body. When placed upon the Blessed One's body, it appeared as if dull, as if without luster. Then indeed the venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, venerable sir! It is amazing, venerable sir! How pure, venerable sir, how radiant is the skin color of the Tathāgata! This pair of golden-colored robes, fit for wearing, venerable sir, when placed upon the Blessed One's body, appears as if dull, as if without luster!" "So it is, Ānanda! So it is, Ānanda! On two occasions, the Tathāgata's body becomes exceedingly pure, his skin color exceedingly radiant. Which two? The night, Ānanda, when the Tathāgata fully awakens to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment; and the night, Ānanda, when he passes away into the Nibbāna-element with no remainder of clinging. On these two occasions, Ānanda, the Tathāgata's body becomes exceedingly pure, his skin color exceedingly radiant. And today, Ānanda, in the last watch of the night, in the Sāla Grove of the Mallas in Upavattana, near Kusinārā, between the twin Sāla trees, Then the Tathāgata's final passing will be. "Come, Ānanda, we will go to where the Kakudhā river is." "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. A pair of robes, golden-hued, Pukkusa brought forth. Covered by them, the Teacher, Golden-colored, shone brightly. 196. Then the Blessed One, together with a large community of bhikkhus, went to where the Kakudhā river was; having gone there, having entered the Kakudhā river, having bathed and drunk, having come out, he went to where the mango grove was. Having gone there, he addressed the venerable Cundaka: "Come now, Cundaka, spread out for me the four-folded outer robe. I am weary, Cundaka, I will lie down." "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Cundaka replied to the Blessed One and spread out the four-folded outer robe. Then the Blessed One lay down on his right side in the lion's posture, placing one foot over the other, mindful and clearly comprehending, having fixed his mind on the thought of rising. The venerable Cundaka, however, sat right there in front of the Blessed One. The Buddha went to the Kakudhā river, With clear, pleasant, and pure water. The Teacher entered, though not weary, The Tathāgata, unequalled in the world. Having bathed and drunk, the Teacher emerged, Honored in the midst of the bhikkhu community. The speaker, the proclaimer, the Blessed One in this Dhamma, The Great Seer went to the mango grove. He addressed the bhikkhu named Cundaka: "Spread out for me the four-folded robe for lying down." He, Cundaka, thus urged by the developed one, Spread out the four-folded robe quickly. The Teacher lay down, though not weary, And Cunda sat there in front. 197. Then the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ānanda: "It might be, Ānanda, that someone might cause remorse to Cunda, the smith's son— ‘To your loss, friend Cunda, to your ill-gain, that the Tathāgata, having partaken of your last alms-food, attained final Nibbāna.’ Thus, Ananda, the remorse of Cunda the smith's son should be allayed: ‘To your gain, friend Cunda, to your well-gain, that the Tathāgata, having partaken of your last alms-food, attained final Nibbāna. This I have heard directly from the Blessed One, friend Cunda, received directly from him – These two alms-foods are equal in fruit, equal in result, far more fruitful and more beneficial than any other alms-foods. Which two? That alms-food having partaken of which the Tathāgata awakens to unsurpassed perfect self-awakening, and that alms-food having partaken of which the Tathāgata attains final Nibbāna in the Nibbāna-element with no fuel remaining. These two alms-foods are equal in fruit, equal in result, far more fruitful and more beneficial than any other alms-foods. Life-enhancing kamma has been accumulated by venerable Cunda the smith's son, beauty-enhancing kamma has been accumulated by venerable Cunda the smith's son, happiness-enhancing kamma has been accumulated by venerable Cunda the smith's son, fame-enhancing kamma has been accumulated by venerable Cunda the smith's son, heaven-enhancing kamma has been accumulated by venerable Cunda the smith's son, sovereignty-enhancing kamma has been accumulated by venerable Cunda the smith's son.’ Thus, Ananda, the remorse of Cunda the smith's son should be allayed. Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: For one who gives, merit grows, From restraint, enmity does not accumulate; The skillful one abandons evil, Through destruction of lust, hatred, and delusion, one is extinguished. The Fourth Recitation Section. The Twin Sāla Trees 198. Then the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda,” Well then, to the further bank of the H Hiraññavatī River, to the Sāla Grove of the Mallas, Upavattana, near Kusinārā, we will go." "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with a great company of bhikkhus, went to the further bank of the Hiraññavatī River, to the Sāla Grove of the Mallas, Upavattana, near Kusinārā. Having arrived, he addressed the venerable Ānanda: "Come now, Ānanda, prepare for me a couch between the twin sāla trees, with its head to the north. I am weary, Ānanda, I will lie down." "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and prepared a couch between the twin sāla trees, with its head to the north. Then the Blessed One lay down on his right side, in the lion's posture, placing one foot on the other, mindful and clearly comprehending. Now at that time, the twin sāla trees were in full bloom, though it was out of season. They showered down, covered over, and scattered their blossoms upon the Tathāgata's body, in homage to the Tathāgata. Divine mandārava flowers also fell from the sky.