Saṃyutta Nikāya
V: Mahā-Vagga
47. Sati-Paṭṭhāna Saṃyutta
2. Nālandā Vagga
Sutta 13
Cuṇḍa Suttaṃ
About Cuṇḍa (Sāriputta's Passing Away)
Translated from the Pali by Nyanaponika Thera.
For free distribution only.
From The Life of Sāriputta (WH 90),
compiled and translated from the Pali texts by Nyanaponika Thera
(Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1987).
Copyright ©1987 Buddhist Publication Society.
Used with permission.
[1][pts][bodh][than] Once the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. At that time the Venerable Sāriputta was at Nalaka village in the Magadha country, and was sick, suffering, gravely ill. The Novice Cunda was his attendant.
And the Venerable Sāriputta passed away finally through that very illness. Then the Novice Cunda took the almsbowl and robes of the Venerable Sāriputta and went to Sāvatthi, to the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There he betook himself to the Venerable Ānanda and, having saluted him, seated himself at one side. Thus seated, he spoke to the Venerable Ānanda saying: "Venerable sir, the Venerable Sāriputta has had his final passing away. These are his bowl and robes."
"On this matter, Cunda, we ought to see the Blessed One. Let us go, friend Cunda, and meet the Master. Having met him, we shall acquaint the Blessed One with that fact."
"Yes, Venerable sir," said the Novice Cunda.
They went to see the Blessed One, and having arrived there and saluted the Master, they seated themselves at one side. Then the Venerable Ānanda addressed the Blessed One:
"O Lord, the Novice Cunda has told me this: 'The Venerable Sāriputta has had his final passing away. These are his bowl and robes.' Then, O Lord, my own body became weak as a creeper; everything around became dim and things were no longer clear to me, when I heard about the final passing away of the Venerable Sāriputta."
"How is this, Ānanda? When Sāriputta had his final passing away, did he take from you your portion of virtue, or your portion of concentration, or your portion of the knowledge and vision of deliverance?"
"Not so, Lord. When the Venerable Sāriputta had his final passing away he did not take my portion of virtue... concentration... wisdom... deliverance, or my portion of the knowledge and vision of deliverance. But O Lord, the Venerable Sāriputta has been to me a mentor, teacher, and instructor, one who rouses, inspires and gladdens, untiring in preaching Dhamma, a helper of his fellow monks. And we remember how vitalizing, enjoyable and helpful his Dhamma instruction was."
"Have I not taught you aforetime, Ānanda, that it is the nature of all things near and dear to us that we must suffer separation from them, and be severed from them? Of that which is born, come to being, put together, and so is subject to dissolution, how should it be said that is should not depart? That, indeed, is not possible. It is, Ānanda, as though from a mighty hardwood tree a large branch should break off, so has Sāriputta now had his final passing away from this great and sound community of bhikkhus. Indeed, Ānanda, of that which is born, come to being, put together, and so is subject to dissolution, how should it be said that it should not depart? This, indeed, is not possible.
"Therefore, Ānanda, be ye an island unto yourself, a refuge unto yourself, seeking no external refuge; with the Teaching as your island, the Teaching your refuge, seeking no other refuge."
See also:
DN 16,
SN XLVII.14.
