King Ajātasattu of Magadha, at Rājagaha, hears that the Buddha has passed away at Kusinārā and at once sends envoys (see the next entry). The Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and the later commentaries of the Southern tradition further record that the ministers, fearing the king could not bear the news, made arrangements in advance. Pali Canon
Different Accounts
The Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya says Mahākassapa had the minister Vassakāra paint the events of the Buddha's life in a park and prepare eight large vessels (caskets) filled with ghee and scented water; when the king fainted on seeing the paintings he was placed in a casket and so revived. When the king set out on an elephant he fell off twice, and sent a minister instead.
More differences between accounts (2)
The later commentaries of the Southern tradition say the ministers had the king immersed in a trough of sweet liquid; the king fainted three times, and on reviving went to mourn in the mango grove of the physician Jīvaka.
The Tibetan Vinaya says that when the king set out on an elephant and then changed to a horse, he fainted each time on recollecting the Buddha's virtues.
Dating
The Buddha has already passed away (aged eighty at his passing); this is still counted in Year 45 after the Awakening, after the ; the number of days after the passing is unknown; inferred from the sequence of events, only the year is known.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
The episode of “Ajātasattu sending envoys” is recorded by five schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese sutras and Vinaya transmitted by the Dharmaguptaka, 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. The “fainting episode” within it is recorded only in the Chinese Kṣudrakavastu of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Inferred from the sequence of events (neither the canonical texts nor the commentaries give the time; the year is worked out from the order of this event and those around it). Time precision: year only.
Sources
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 297b3–298a2
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.401c
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 298a2
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:6.24.1–6.24.4
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.399b–400a
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 Sv，§236