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Like a lion on a golden mountain peak, In the assemblies, skilled, he spoke The unshakable teachings, the king of sages; 6. Having approached the Ambalaṭṭhika, Dwelling, the Blessed One, from that city, Like a branch adorned with new shoots, His form radiant with minor marks; 7. Thus, morality-cultivated concentration, Fruitful, and wisdom cultivated by the mind, Fruitful," thus the wheel of Dhamma turned, Then he approached Nālandā with the community; 8. There, in the mango grove, as he pleased, Dwelling, approaching him, the elder Nāga, With folded hands, a lotus bud on his head, Sāriputta worshiped the moon-like feet; 9. Having well-seated the unattached knowledge, The Blessed One, praising him abundantly, Like a lion roaring, fearless speech, The Blessed One approved that speech; 10. Speaking, connected with higher morality, three knowledges, Having lived there, With the community of ascetics preceding him, he then Went to Pāṭaligāma, the wise one; 11. The sage, for the compassion of the Pāṭaligāma lay followers, In the well-built residence, Dwelling, with listening ears and folded hands, he gave The sweet essence of the Dhamma nectar; 12. Soon after the lay followers had departed, The Blessed One, among those Pāṭaligāma residents, Into the empty dwelling, without another, Having entered, he made the lion's rest; 13. For the city of the king, the lord of Magadha, There, Sunidha and Vassakāra, Ministers, having consulted with the gods, Thus at that time they completed it. 14. Seeing with his divine eye, The Blessed One, Ānanda, said, "This will be, An Āryan center, a trade route," "A city named Pāṭaliputta, a road." 15. Through dissension, or fire, Or water, of Pāṭaliputta, There will be danger sometime, The Sage declared to the Videha Sage three times. 16. That very day Sunīdha and Vassakāra Approached the Blessed One, Their heads touched by the Jinā's feet, They shone as if anointed for a moment. 17. With firm, essential qualities, like a righteous king, Like a taut bow, standing with bent tip, Both then invited The Well-gone One for a meal today. 18. Knowing their acceptance, With prepared, excellent foods, They satisfied the Blessed One with his Saṅgha, Dwelling in the lotus abode, with their own hands. 19. Then the Blessed One, Sunīdha and Vassakāra, Having eaten, with hands removed from the bowl, Rejoiced, having drunk the Dhamma drink, Their hearts filled with abundant joy. 20. As the righteous king departed, followed by people, The Blessed One preceded by monks, The wide city gate, Became visible with its broad lower surface. 21. Thus, this gate touched by the feet of Gotama Buddha, Is called the Gotama Gate, There he crossed where crows drink, The Sage, the Gaṅgā river with its high waves. 22. Of the deep river, Agitated by dense wind-broken waves, He crossed where desire is destroyed, Thus this became known as Gotama's Ferry. 23. The Well-gone One, having crossed to the far shore, having crossed the flood, Seeing the people with his disciples, Seeking rafts or boats for crossing, Uttered this joyful verse. 24. The Guide of Men, where the earth is beautiful, Where there is no space for crown-like huts, He approached Koṭigāma, His feet adorned with newly risen lotus-like shoes. 25. "I am the Awakened One, the true Dhamma, There is no rebirth for me," he said; There he advised the inhabitants with three trainings, Connected with the Paṭisambhidā. He went to Nātika village, The Sage. Asked a question by Ānanda, He explained the Mirror of the Dhamma, A way to review one's destiny. The great Sage, the doer of Arahant qualities, Dwelling there in Giñjaka's abode, The master of the three Piṭakas, Spoke further on morality and such. The Well-gone One, together with the Saṅgha, Then went to Vesālī, the city's path. There, dwelling in the Mango Grove, the master, Spoke the Dhamma, supreme in mindfulness and wisdom. "The elephant of the Conqueror's fragrance, My Ambapālī, the courtesan, is in the Mango Grove," Hearing this, she ascended a fine vehicle, Her breasts heavy, her devotion overflowing. The courtesan, then, sat with hands clasped, As if weighed down by the burden of her full breasts. With a voice sweet as the Karavīka bird, The Teacher spoke sweetly to her of the Dhamma. Having accepted the invitation to a meal, Expressing delight with sweet words, Having circumambulated the Lord of Sages, She went to her mansion like a swan maiden. Clad in untouched blue, yellow, red, White, and madder-dyed garments, Well-dressed and well-covered, she ascended A fine vehicle, like a daughter of the gods. Then the Licchavi princes, Approaching and bowing to the King of Dhamma, Sat down on the riverbank of the nail-ray bridge, To rest from the journey. The Licchavis shone, a mass of lotus pollen, With scattered garlands of bee-like diadems, Like lotuses blooming in the sun's rays, Fragrant rice, untouched by the threshing floor. Having made their rare intention fruitless, Their invitations rendered useless, With dustless feet and saffron turbans, They departed, ascending their chariots to the city. The Great Sage, with the Saṅgha, Descended at the gate of the people's eyes, To the pure and stainless place. The Great Sage went to the courtesan's house in the morning, His feet treading on lotus-like ground. At the end of the meal, The courtesan, with hands clasped, sat down and listened to the Dhamma. Having listened well, she gave to the Well-gone One, The Mango Grove, with abundant faith, together with his disciples. Having accepted the mango grove, the sage, Dwelled there, teaching the Dhamma, Supreme in morality, mind, and wisdom, He went to Beluvagāmaka. 39. "Here I will dwell alone, monks, You, with fellow ascetics, Approach me for the rains, in these months," The sage spoke thus in Vesālī. 40. Having conquered Māra's forces in Beluva, Then, as the rains began, a terrible disease, Arose, near unto death, Intense, bitter bodily pains. 41. Perfect in forbearance and patience, Then, balanced between pleasure and pain, The Blessed One, unperturbed in form, Endured, mindful and fully aware. 42. Without regard for the Sangha, Without informing his attendant, "If I were to attain the elementless Nibbāna here and now." 43. With effort, he suppressed, The powerful, unbearable disease, Restoring what was worthy of restoration, He maintained his life force. 44. Then the Blessed One, having attained samādhi, Having calmed the painful feeling, Lived in great insight, The pain did not return. 45. The Kinsman of the Sun, having left the monastery, In the outer shade of the acacia grove, Sat down on a prepared seat, Quickly recovering from his illness. 46. Having conquered birth, old age, and disease, he sat, Where Ānanda the ascetic approached, "May I see you well, Are you comfortable and well?" he said. 47. "Because of your severe illness, venerable sir, My body felt as if struck by a club, All directions seemed unclear, The teachings did not come to mind," he said. 48. "Moreover, there was this thought for me, A solace for my disciples, 'The Blessed One will not attain the elementless Nibbāna without saying something to us.'" 49. "Having made no distinction between inner and outer, Has not the Dhamma been proclaimed by Ānanda? There is no closed fist in the Tathāgata, What does the Sangha expect of me?" 50. "Now I am eighty..." I am in the rainy season. The Tathāgata's body is worn out, Like an old cart, rickety with age, Held together with straps of bark. When, through the cessation of perception and feeling, He attains the signless liberation, concentration, Then this body, Subject to decay, is exceedingly comfortable. Be lamps unto yourselves, Refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge. Those who are earnest, even as I have taught, Will be highest, if they long for learning. Again, the Blessed One, having spent the rainy season there, Returned to the Jetavana Monastery, Then Sāriputta, the general of the Dhamma army, Approached and paid homage to the Teacher. Having performed various feats of psychic power, The ascetic, having been given leave by the Sage, Said, "This is your last sight of me," And departed with five hundred like the Teacher. Having bowed down and circumambulated The Blessed One, and having approached his mother's house, He lay down on a prepared couch in the upper chamber, And passed away; then there was an earthquake. Then the Elder Nāga named Kolita Passed away, having been given leave, Again, having distributed the bodily relics, The Sage had cetiyas built for them. The Sage, pleasing to the eyes of the people, Gradually arrived at Vesāli, Well-clad and well-robed, in the families He went for alms, like an elephant, freely wandering. The Blessed One, having finished his morning meal, Wishing to spend the day in solitude, Ānanda, Said, "Take a seat," And went to the Cāpāla Shrine. Then the Blessed One sat down, and His attendant approached him, And having paid homage, sat down and said, "The Udena Shrine is delightful." "The four paths to psychic power of the Sugata, Have been well developed, well cultivated by the bhikkhu, And if he wished, the Sage could remain For a kappa, if he so desired." With a heart filled with compassion, The Sage, having conquered Māra, spoke thus three times, While the Sage was making a straightforward Declaration of a sign of great light. His mind was overwhelmed, as if by another, His mind was confused by the harsh Māra. He did not comprehend it, nor did he request, "May the Blessed One remain for as long as life lasts." 63. "Why do you hesitate? Now is the time." Having spoken thus to the ascetic Ānanda, The Lord of Compassion, for a moment, Sat not far away at the foot of a tree. 64. Approaching the Buddha was his kinsman Bodhi, The Buddha, with whom his kinsman was infatuated,