rather, seeing how the world is pressed by throngs of grief, we ought to encourage in us love, and as the world produces grief on grief, so should we add as antidotes unnumbered remedies.”  Tathagata, illustrious in expedients, according to the disease, thus briefly spoke; even as a good physician in the world, according to the disease, prescribes his medicine.  And now the Likkhavis, hearing the sermon preached by Buddha, arose forthwith and bowed at Buddha’s feet, and joyfully they placed them on their heads.  Then they asked both Buddha and the congregation on the morrow to accept their poor religious offerings.  But Buddha told them that already Amra had invited him.  On this the Likkhavis, harboring thoughts of pride and disappointment, said:  “Why should that one take away our profit?” But, knowing Buddha’s heart to be impartial and fair, they once again regained their cheerfulness.  Tathagata, moreover, nobly seizing the occasion, appeasing them, produced within a joyful heart; and so subdued, their grandeur of appearance came again, as when a snake subdued by charms glistens with shining skin.  And now, the night being passed, the signs of dawn appearing, Buddha and the great assembly go to the abode of Amra, and having received her entertainment, they went on to the village of Pi-nau, and there he rested during the rainy season; the three months’ rest being ended, again he returned to Vaisali, and dwelt beside the Monkey Tank; sitting there in a shady grove, he shed a flood of glory from his person; aroused thereby, Mara Pisuna came to the place where Buddha was, and with closed palms exhorted him thus:  “Formerly, beside the Nairangana river, when you had accomplished your true and steadfast aim, you said, ’When I have done all I have to do, then will I pass at once to Nirvana’; and now you have done all you have to do, you should, as then you said, pass to Nirvana.”

Then Buddha spake to Pisuna:  “The time of my complete deliverance is at hand, but let three months elapse, and I shall reach Nirvana.”  Then Mara, knowing that Tathagata had fixed the time for his emancipation, his earnest wish being thus fulfilled, joyous returned to his abode in heaven.  Tathagata, seated beneath a tree, straightway was lost in ecstasy, and willingly rejected his allotted years, and by his spiritual power fixed the remnant of his life.  On this, Tathagata thus giving up his years, the great earth shook and quaked through all the limits of the universe; great flames of fire were seen around, the tops of Sumeru were shaken, from heaven there rained showers of flying stones, a whirling tempest rose on every side, the trees were rooted up and fell, heavenly music rose with plaintive notes, whilst angels for a time were joyless.  Buddha rising from out his ecstasy, announced to all the world:  “Now have I given up my term of years; I live henceforth by power of faith; my body like a broken chariot stands, no further cause of ‘coming’ or of ‘going’; completely freed from the three worlds, I go enfranchised, as a chicken from its egg.”