The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Fifth Chapter for Recitation
4) If, monks, a group of laywomen approach to see Ānanda their
minds are uplifted through seeing (him), and if Ānanda speaks
words of welcome, their minds are uplifted with the speech, but
that group of laywomen are dissatisfied if at that time Ānanda
remains silent.
There are the four wonderful and marvellous things, monks, about
Ānanda.”
[37: Kusinārā's History] 157
After this was said, venerable Ānanda addressed the Gracious One,
(saying): “Reverend Sir, may the Gracious One not attain Final
Emancipation in this small town, this barren town, this branch town.
There are, reverend Sir, other great towns, such as: Campā, Rājagaha,
Sāvatthī, Sāketa, Kosambī, Bārāṇasī 158 - let the Gracious One attain
Final Emancipation there. There are many wealthy Nobles there,
wealthy brahmins, wealthy householders, who are devoted to the
Realised One, and will worshipfully (dispose of) the Realised One's
body.”
157 cf. the opening of Mahāsudassanasuttaṁ (DN 17). According to Yang-Gyu
An (p. 167) in the other versions of this discourse the whole of
Mahāsudassanasuttaṁ is included at this point.
158 These are all major cities of their various countries. Campā in Aṅgā,
Rājagaha in Magadhā, Sāvatthī in Northern Kosala, Sāketa in Southern
Kosala, Kosambī in Vaṁsā, Bārāṇasī in Kāsī.
158