17: Ananda’s Failure

Mahāparinibbānasuttaṁ
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Tatiyabhāṇavāraṁ]
[The Third Chapter for Recitation]

[17: Ānandassa Vipatti] cf. Āyusaṅkhāravossajanasuttaṁ, Part Two (Udāna 6.1); Cetiyasuttaṁ (SN 51:10); Bhūmicālasuttaṁ (Part One) (AN Bk. 8:70).
[Ānanda’s Failure]

Atha kho Bhagavā, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā,
Then the Fortunate One, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacīvaram-ādāya, Vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Vesāliyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā, pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto,
After walking for alms in Vesālī, and returning from the alms-round after the meal,

āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ āmantesi:
he addressed venerable Ānanda, (saying):

“Gaṇhāhi Ānanda nisīdanaṁ,
“Take up the sitting mat, Ānanda,

yena Cāpālaṁ Cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkamissāma divā vihārāyā.” ti
we will approach the Cāpāla shrine to dwell for the day.”

“Evaṁ Bhante,” ti kho āyasmā Ānando Bhagavato paṭissutvā,
“Very well, reverend Sir,” said venerable Ānanda, and after replying to the Fortunate One,

nisīdanaṁ ādāya Bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.
and taking the sitting mat, he followed along close behind the Fortunate One.

Atha kho Bhagavā yena Cāpālaṁ Cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami,
Then the Fortunate One approached the Cāpāla shrine,

upasaṅkamitvā, paññatte āsane nisīdi,
and after approaching, he sat down on the prepared seat,

āyasmā pi kho Ānando Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekam-antaṁ nisīdi.
and also venerable Ānanda, after worshipping the Fortunate One, sat down on one side.

Ekam-antaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ Bhagavā etad-avoca:
While sitting on one side the Fortunate One said this to venerable Ānanda:

“Ramaṇīyā Ānanda Vesālī, ramaṇīyaṁ Udenaṁ Cetiyaṁ,
“Delightful, Ānanda, is Vesālī, delightful is the Udena shrine,

ramaṇīyaṁ Gotamakaṁ Cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ Sattambaṁ Cetiyaṁ,
delightful is the Gotamaka shrine, delightful is the Sattamba shrine,

ramaṇīyaṁ Bahuputtaṁ Cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ Sārandadaṁ Cetiyaṁ,
delightful is the Many Sons’ shrine, delightful is the Sārandada shrine,

ramaṇīyaṁ Cāpālaṁ Cetiyaṁ.
delightful is the Cāpāla shrine. All these Shrines were in the Vajjī Territories, and it very much looks like they were being used as (temporary) monasteries for samaṇas residing there. If this is correct then it throws some light on the 6th condition which prevents decline for the Vajjīs listed in Section 2 above. According to Pāthikasuttaṁ (DN 24), the Udena Shrine was to the east of Vesālī; Gotamaka to the south, Sattamba to the west, and Bahuputta to the north of the city.

Yassa kassaci Ānanda cattāro Iddhipādā bhāvitā,
* Whoever has developed, Ānanda,

bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā,
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power, The Four Paths to Power are concentration of desire accompanied by the process of striving (chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgata); concentration of energy accompanied by the process of striving (viriya-); concentration of mind accompanied by the process of striving (citta-), and concentration of investigation accompanied by the process of striving (vimaṁsa-). They form one section of the 37 Things on the Side of Awakening (Bodhipakkhiyadhammā), see below Section 26.

so ākaṅkhamāno Ānanda kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.
could, if he wanted, Ānanda, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan. Commentary: Ettha ca kappan-ti āyukappaṁ ... idam-eva aṭṭhakathāyam niyamitaṁ; herein span means lifespan ... this is fixed by the Commentary. There has been some dispute about whether kappa here means lifespan or aeon. However it seems quite incredible to me that the Buddha, when his body was already broken down and falling ill, should have made such a nonsensical claim as to be able to live for an aeon!

Tathāgatassa kho Ānanda cattāro Iddhipādā bhāvitā,
* The Realised One has developed, Ānanda,

bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā.
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power.

So ākaṅkhamāno Ānanda Tathāgato
If he wanted, Ānanda, the Realised One

kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.” ti
could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.”

Evam-pi kho āyasmā Ānando Bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne,
But venerable Ānanda, despite such a gross hint being made by the Fortunate One,

oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne, nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ,
such a gross suggestion being made, was unable to penetrate it,

na Bhagavantaṁ yāci:
and did not beg the Fortunate One, (saying):

“Tiṭṭhatu Bhante Bhagavā kappaṁ tiṭṭhatu Sugato kappaṁ,
“May the Fortunate One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, may the Happy One remain for the lifespan,

bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya,
for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world,

atthāya hitāya sukhāya Devamanussānan”-ti,
for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men,”

yathā taṁ Mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
like one whose mind was possessed by Māra.

Dutiyam-pi kho Bhagavā āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ āmantesi:
For a second time the Fortunate One addressed venerable Ānanda, (saying):

“Ramaṇīyā Ānanda Vesālī, ramaṇīyaṁ Udenaṁ Cetiyaṁ,
“Delightful, Ānanda, is Vesālī, delightful is the Udena shrine,

ramaṇīyaṁ Gotamakaṁ Cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ Sattambaṁ Cetiyaṁ,
delightful is the Gotamaka shrine, delightful is the Sattamba shrine,

ramanīyaṁ Bahuputtaṁ Cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ Sārandadaṁ Cetiyaṁ,
delightful is the Many Sons’ shrine, delightful is the Sārandada shrine,

ramaṇīyaṁ Cāpālaṁ Cetiyaṁ.
delightful is the Cāpāla shrine.

Yassa kassaci Ānanda cattāro Iddhipādā bhāvitā,
* Whoever has developed, Ānanda,

bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā,
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power,

so ākaṅkhamāno kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.
could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.

Tathāgatassa kho Ānanda cattāro Iddhipādā bhāvitā,
* The Realised One has developed, Ānanda,

bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā.
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power.

So ākaṅkhamāno Ānanda Tathāgato
If he wanted, Ānanda, the Realised One

kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.” ti
could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.”

Evam-pi kho āyasmā Ānando Bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne,
But venerable Ānanda, despite such a gross hint being made by the Fortunate One,

oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne, nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ,
such a gross suggestion being made, was unable to penetrate it,

na Bhagavantaṁ yāci:
and did not beg the Fortunate One, (saying):

“Tiṭṭhatu Bhante Bhagavā kappaṁ, tiṭṭhatu Sugato kappaṁ,
“May the Fortunate One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, may the Happy One remain for the lifespan,

bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya,
for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world,

atthāya hitāya sukhāya Devamanussānan”-ti,
for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men,”

yathā taṁ Mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
like one whose mind was possessed by Māra.

Tatiyam-pi kho Bhagavā āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ āmantesi:
For a third time the Fortunate One addressed venerable Ānanda, (saying):