Mahaparinibbanasuttam (DN 16) - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The Third Chapter for Recitation - 118
[23: Ānandassa Aparaddhaṁ] 149
[Ānanda’s Fault]
Ekam-idāhaṁ Ānanda samayaṁ Uruvelāyaṁ viharāmi,
At one time Ānanda I was living at Uruvelā,
najjā nerañjarāya tīre Ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
on the bank of the river Nerañjarā, at the root of the Goatherd’s Banyan tree, in the first
(period) after attaining Awakening. 150
Atha kho Ānanda Māro Pāpimā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami,
Then, Ānanda, the Wicked Māra approached me,
upasaṅkamitvā ekam-antaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
and after approaching he stood on one side.
Ekam-antaṁ ṭhito kho Ānanda Māro Pāpimā maṁ etad-avoca:
While standing to one side, Ānanda, the Wicked Māra said this to me:
“Parinibbātu dāni Bhante Bhagavā, Parinibbātu Sugato,
“May the Gracious One attain Final Emancipation now, reverend Sir, may the Fortunate
One attain Final Emancipation,
Parinibbānakālo dāni Bhante Bhagavato.” ti
now is the time, reverend Sir, for the Gracious One’s Final Emancipation.”
Evaṁ vutte ahaṁ Ānanda Māraṁ Pāpimantaṁ etad-avocaṁ:
After this was said, Ānanda, I said this to the Wicked Māra:
“Na tāvāhaṁ Pāpima Parinibbāyissāmi,
“I will not attain Final Emancipation, Wicked One,
yāva me bhikkhū na sāvakā bhavissanti,
for as long as my monks are not (true) disciples,
viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā,
accomplished, disciplined, confident, learned,
Dhammadharā Dhammānudhammapaṭipannā,
bearers of the Teaching, practising in conformity with the Teaching,
sāmīcipaṭipannā anudhammacārino,
correct in their practice, living in conformity with the Teaching,
149 For the beginning see 17: Giving up the Life Process above.
150 The Commentary explains that this was in the eighth week after attaining the Final
Awakening in the vicinity of the Bodhi Tree (Sambodhipattiyā aṭṭhame sattāhe Bodhimaṇḍe).