Mahaparinibbanasuttam (DN 16) - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The Second Chapter for Recitation - 82
Atha kho Bhagavā taṁ ābādhaṁ viriyena paṭippaṇāmetvā,
Then the Gracious One having energetically dismissed that affliction
jīvitasaṅkhāraṁ adhiṭṭhāya vihāsi.
lived on after determining 112 the lifespan. 113
Atha kho Bhagavato so ābādho paṭippassambhi.
Then the Gracious One’s affliction abated.
Atha kho Bhagavā gilānā vuṭṭhito,
Then, the Gracious One, having risen from that sickness,
aciravuṭṭhito Gelaññā Vihārā nikkhamma
not long after rising, departed from the Sick Room
Vihārapacchāyāyaṁ paññatte āsane nisīdi.
and sat down on the prepared seat in front of that Room.
Atha kho āyasmā Ānando yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkami,
Then venerable Ānanda approached the Gracious One,
upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekam-antaṁ nisīdi.
and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.
Ekam-antaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā Ānando Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
While sitting on one side venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One:
“Diṭṭho me Bhante Bhagavato phāsu,
“I have seen, reverend Sir, the Gracious One comfortable,
112 Comm: samāpattivikkhambhitā vedanā dasamāse na uppajji yeva; the feelings
suppressed by the attainment did not arise again for a further 10 months. From the
beginning of the Rains Retreat in July until just before his Final Emancipation in May
the following year is 10 months, so we can infer that the Commentary believes the
illness occurred at the beginning of the retreat.
113 Comm: ettha jīvitam-pi jīvitasaṅkhāro ... phalasamāpattidhammo pi jīvitasaṅkhāro, so
idha adhippeto; here the lifespan means life ... the lifespan (can) also mean the
attainment of fruition, this is the designation here. This seems contradictory, and I know
of no other place where jīvitasaṅkhāra is defined as fruition attainment. The latter is
probably meant to guard against the idea that the Buddha had determined the length of
life, before the temptation by Māra, which comes later in the story, where he gives up
the life-process (ayusaṅkhāra).