z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 08.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 553
HIS END
553
“ You speak out of assurance, Ananda. But in the Tathagata there is knowledge of the fact. There is not in any one brother a single doubt or perplexity as to this. Of these five hundred brethren of mine, Ananda, even he who is the most backward is a stream-winner, one who is assured from the Downfall, assured of reaching the Supreme Wisdom.”
Then said the Exalted One to the brethren :
“Come now, brethren, I do remind ye, ‘Subject to decay are all compounded things.’ Do ye abide in heedfulness.”
Those were the last words of the Exalted One.
§ 4. Ananda in Grief
As age advanced the Blessed Lord required a personal attendant to look after him.
He first chose Nanda. After Nanda he chose Ananda who served as his personal attendant till his death.
Ananda was his constant and dearest companion, not merely an attendant.
When the Blessed One came to Kushinara and rested between the Sal trees, he saw that his end was coming near, and felt that it was time he took Ananda into confidence.
So he called Ananda and said: “And now this Ananda, at the third watch of the night, in the Uppavana of Kushinara, between the twin Sal trees, the utter passing away of the Tathagata will take place.”
And when he had thus spoken the venerable Ananda addressed the Blessed One, and said: “Vouchsafe, Lord, to remain during the Kalpa, O Blessed One!, for the good and the happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for the world, for the good and the gain and the weal of gods and men.”
Three times did Ananda make his plea. “Enough now, Ananda, beseech not the Tathagata ! ” was the reply. “ The time for making such request is past.”
“I, Ananda, am now grown old, and full of
VII