The wanderer Subhadda hears that the Buddha will pass away this night and hurries to ask about the teachings of the six non-Buddhist teachers; Ānanda turns him away three times, but the Buddha lets him in. The Buddha says that only in a teaching that has the are the four stages of realization to be found. Subhadda asks to go forth and attains that night; he is the last disciple the Buddha converted in person. Taishō Canon
More sources (5)
Pali Canon
More sources (2)
Different Accounts
The Chinese Youxing jing, most other Chinese versions and the Tibetan Vinaya say that after attaining arahantship he passed away before the Buddha; the Pali canon of the Southern tradition does not say so.
More differences between accounts (3)
Age: several Chinese versions and the Tibetan Vinaya say Subhadda was one hundred and twenty; the Pali canon of the Southern tradition does not record it. Taishō Canon
More sources (2)
The Buddha's own account of the years since his going forth: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition says he went forth at twenty-nine, more than fifty years ago; the Chinese Bieyi za ahan jing says he went forth at thirty-one; the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing say he taught for forty-nine years. Taishō Canon
More sources (2)
The later commentaries of the Southern tradition say Ānanda first shaved his head and gave him the refuges, and the Buddha then gave him full ordination.
Dating
Year 45 after the Awakening, the Buddha aged seventy-nine to eighty, after the , on the night of the passing; the night is stated in the canonical text, and the later commentaries say the middle watch; it can be fixed to this night.
Related Entries
- Year
- Places
- People
- Discourses
Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
The episode of “Subhadda's going forth” is recorded by five schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dīrgha Āgama, the Chinese Kṣudrakavastu of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing and the Chinese three-fascicle Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. Attested across multiple schools. “Passing away before the Buddha” within it is recorded by four schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time); commentarial dating (the canonical texts give no date; later commentaries record it). Time precision: fixed to the day.
Sources
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 279a6–282b4
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.204a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.171c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.187a
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 279a6–279a7
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 282b2
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:5.23.1–5.30.8
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:5.27.5–5.27.7
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.25a–b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.25a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.25b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.171c–172b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.187b–188a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.203b–204b
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.396a–397a
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.100 p.413b–c
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.100 p.413c
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.125 p.752a–c
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.192 p.47a–c
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.193 p.106b
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16Entire text
- SuttaCentral 對應表SuttaCentral 對應表 sf245#wal40.29–40.30
- 轉引自現代整理本轉引自現代整理本
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Sv，§198
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:5.30.4–5.30.8
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Sv，§214
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.172a–b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.187c–188a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.204b
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.397a
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.125 p.752c
- 大正藏大正藏 T04 no.192 p.47c