The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Sixth Chapter for Recitation
“Your intention, Vāseṭṭhas, is: ‘We, while honouring, respecting,
revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body, with dance, song,
music, garlands, and perfumes, after taking it out of the City by the
South, on the outside of the City to the South, will burn the Gracious
One's body.’
The Divinities' intention, Vāseṭṭhas, is: ‘We, while honouring,
respecting, revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body, with
the Divinities' dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, after
carrying it to the North of the City by the North, and re-entering the
City by the North Gate, and carrying it to the middle of the City by
the middle, and going out by the Eastern Gate, to the East of the City,
at the Mallas' Shrine called the Bonded Coronet, there let us burn the
Gracious One's body.”
“Let us do according to the Divinities' intention, reverend Sir.”
* * *
Now at that time the whole of Kusinārā, including the dirty rubbish
heaps, was covered knee-deep with (Divine) Coral Tree flowers. Then
the Divinities and the Mallas of Kusinārā while honouring, respecting,
revering, and worshipping the Gracious One's body with the Divinities'
and mens' dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes, after carrying it
to the North of the City by the North, and re-entering the City by the
North Gate, and carrying it to the middle of the City by the middle,
and going out by the Eastern Gate, to the East of the City, at the
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