Udāna 8: Pāṭaligāmiyavaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourse) about the Pāṭalī Villagers
10: The Second Discourse about Dabba
Thus I heard:
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
There it was that the Fortunate One addressed the monks, (saying): “Monks!” “Reverend Sir!” those monks replied to the Fortunate One, and the Fortunate One said this: “While venerable Dabba Mallaputta, monks - after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament, entering the fire-element, and emerging - was attaining Complete Emancipation, his body burning and being consumed, there was no charcoal and no ash evident.
Just as while ghee or oil is burning and being consumed there is no charcoal and no ash evident, so also while venerable Dabba Mallaputta - after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament, entering the fire-element, and emerging - was attaining Complete Emancipation, his body burning and being consumed, there was no charcoal and no ash evident.”
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“Just as for an iron bar, which is struck by fire and heat,
And gradually cooling, the destiny (of that heat) is not known,
So it is for those perfectly free, who have crossed over the flood of bondage to sense pleasures:
There is no known destiny for those who have attained unagitated happiness.”
The Text of the Udāna is Complete