And so with music and with dancing through the day and night
they made merry, and sang. And now the Arhats numbering five hundred,
having forever lost their master's presence, reflecting there was now no
ground of certainty, returned to Gridhrakuta mount; assembling in King
Sakra's cavern, they collected there the Sutra Pitaka; all the assembly
agreeing that the venerable Ananda should say, for the sake of the
congregation, the sermons of Tathagata from first to last: "Great and
small, whatever you have heard from the mouth of the deceased Muni."
Then Ananda in the great assembly ascending the lion throne, declared in
order what the lord had preached, uttering the words "Thus have I
heard."
The whole assembly, bathed in tears, were deeply moved as he pronounced
the words "I heard"; and so he announced the law as to the time, as to
the place, as to the person; as he spoke, so was it written down from
first to last, the complete Sutra Pitaka. By diligent attention in the
use of means, practising wisdom, all these Arhats obtained Nirvana;
those now able so to do, or hereafter able, shall attain Nirvana in the
same way. King Asoka born in the world when strong, caused much sorrow;
when feeble, then he banished sorrow; as the Asoka-flower tree, ruling
over Gambudvipa, his heart forever put an end to sorrow, when brought to
entire faith in the true law; therefore he was called "the King who
frees from sorrow.
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