The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The First Chapter for Recitation
Now at that time the Magadhan chief ministers Sunīdha and Vassakāra
were following close behind the Gracious One, (thinking): “That gate
by which the ascetic Gotama leaves will get the name the Gotama
Gate, and that ford by which he crosses the river Ganges will get the
name the Gotama Ford.”
Then that gate by which the Gracious One left got the name the
Gotama Gate. Then the Gracious One approached the river Ganges.
Now at that time the river Ganges was full to the brim, and could be
drunk from by crows (perched on the bank). Some of the people were
seeking boats, some were seeking floats, and some were binding rafts,
desiring to go from this shore to the shore beyond.
Then the Gracious One, just as a strong man might stretch out a bent
arm, or bend in an outstretched arm, so did he vanish from the near
bank of the river Ganges, and reappeared on the far bank, 51 together
with the Community of monks.
The Gracious One saw those people, some seeking boats, some seeking
floats, and some binding rafts, desiring to go from this shore to the
shore beyond.
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on
that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
51 This would have been in Vajjian territory probably near to Ukkācelā which
was just across the waters from Pāṭaligāma.
45