After the Buddha's passing, , Sakka, and the disciples Anuruddha, Ānanda and others each speak a . The who have not yet abandoned desire weep and wail, while those who have abandoned it bear their grief; Anuruddha urges everyone to stop weeping, and says that the gods too are weeping. Pali Canon
Different Accounts
The Chinese Youxing jing has the most speakers of verses, more than ten, including Brahmā, Sakka, Vessavaṇa (the Great King who guards the north) and the Buddha's mother Māyā.
More differences between accounts (2)
Sakka's verse: the Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Saṃyukta Āgama, the Bieyi za ahan jing and the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra translated by Faxian have “All conditioned things are impermanent; their nature is to arise and pass away” (all things are impermanent; all arise and then cease). Taishō Canon
The Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya says the great disciple Mahākassapa felt the earthquake in the Bamboo Grove at Rājagaha and so knew that the Buddha had passed away.
Dating
The Buddha has already passed away (aged eighty at his passing); this is still counted in Year 45 after the Awakening, after the ; from the night of the passing until dawn, stated in the canonical text, so it can be fixed to that night.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
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.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time). Time precision: fixed to the day.
Sources
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 289b7–292a7
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.399b
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 291b2–291b4
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:6.10.1–6.11.14
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.26c–27c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.172c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.188c–189a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.205a
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.399c–400b