The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Sixth Chapter for Recitation
after water rose from a well, 194 the Gracious One's funeral pyre was
extinguished. Also the Mallas from Kusinārā extinguished the Gracious
One's funeral pyre with all types of fragrant water. 195
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā, after making an enclosure of spears in
the Council Hall, 196 and surrounding the Gracious One's bodily relics
with bows, honoured, respected, revered, and worshipped (it) with
dance, song, music, garlands, and perfumes.
[44: The Distribution of the Relics]
The Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, heard: “The
Gracious One, it seems, has attained Final Emancipation in Kusinārā.”
Then the Magadhan King Ajātasattu, the son of Lady Wisdom, sent a
message to the Mallas of Kusinārā, (saying): “The Gracious One was a
194 The Commentary first says the water came from the Sāla trees, which is
hard to understand, but in the same comment continues: samantā pathaviṁ
bhinditvā pi naṅgalasīsamattā udakavaṭṭi phalikavaṭaṁsakasadisā uggantvā
citakam-eva gaṇhanti; having broken through the earth all round like the
head of a plough, a jet of water, like a crystal crown, having risen caught
hold of the pyre. This makes me think that the water may have come from
a well (lit: [water]-hall), and I translate it as such. However, I have not
found the expression used in this way elsewhere, so the meaning remains
doubtful.
195 These lines seem to record three disparate accounts of how the pyre was
eventually extinguished.
196 Comm: tattha sattipañjaraṁ katvā ti sattihatthehi purisehi parikkhipāpetvā;
here after making an enclosure of spears means having made an enclosure
of people with spears in their hands.
190