When Chunda, the worker in metals, heard that the Blessed One had
come to Pāvā and was staying in his mango grove, he came to the
Buddha and respectfully invited him and the brethren to take
their meal at his house. And Chunda prepared rice-cakes and a
dish of dried boar's meat. 2
When the Blessed One had eaten the food prepared by Chunda, the
worker in metals, there fell upon him a dire sickness, and sharp
pain came upon him even unto death. But the Blessed One, mindful
and self-possessed, bore it without complaint. 3
And the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ānanda, and said:
"Come, Ānanda, let us go on to Kusinārā." 4
On his way the Blessed One grew tired, and he went aside from the
road to rest at the foot of a tree, and said: "Fold the robe, I
pray thee, Ānanda, and spread it out for me. I am weary, Ānanda,
and must rest awhile!" 5
"Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ānanda; and he spread out
the robe folded fourfold. 6
The Blessed One seated himself, and when he was seated he
addressed the venerable Ānanda, and said: "Fetch me some water, I
pray thee, Ānanda. I am thirsty, Ānanda, and would drink." 7
When he had thus spoken, the venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed
One: "But just now, Lord, five hundred carts have gone across the
brook and have stirred the water; but a river, O Lord, is not far
off. Its water is clear and pleasant, cool and transparent, and
it is easy to get down to it. There the Blessed One may both
drink water and cool his limbs." 8
A second time the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ānanda,
saying: "Fetch me some water, I pray thee Ānanda, I am thirsty,
Ānanda, and would drink." 9
And a second time the venerable Ānanda said: "Let us go to the
river." 10
Then the third time the Blessed One addressed the venerable
Ānanda, and said: "Fetch me some water, I pray thee, Ānanda, I am
thirsty, Ānanda, and would drink." 11
"Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ānanda in assent to the
Blessed One; and, taking a bowl, he went down to the streamlet.
And lo! the streamlet, which, stirred up by wheels, had become
muddy, when the venerable Ānanda came up to it, flowed clear and
bright and free from all turbidity. And he thought: "How
wonderful, how marvelous is the great might and power of the
Tathāgata!" 12
Ānanda brought the water in the bowl to the Lord, saying: "Let
the Blessed One take the bowl. Let the Happy One drink the water.
Let the Teacher of men and gods quench his thirst." 13