Mahâ-Parinibbâna-Suttanta: The Book of the Great Decease

21. And when they had ridden as far as the ground was passable for carriages, the Likkhavis alighted there, and then went on on foot to the place where the Blessed One was, and took their seats respectfully by his side. And when they were thus seated the Blessed One instructed and roused and incited and gladdened them with religious discourse[2]. 22. Then they instructed and roused and incited and gladdened with his words, addressed the Blessed One, and said, 'May the Blessed One do us the honour of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at our house to-morrow?' 'O Likkhavis, I have promised to dine to-morrow with Ambapâli the courtezan,' was the reply. [1. The Tâvatimsa-devâ are the gods in the heaven of the Great Thirty-Three, the principal deities of the Vedic Pantheon. Buddhaghosa says, 'Imam Likkhavi-parisam tumhâkam kittena Tâvatimsa-parisam upasamharatha upanetha alliyâpetha: Yath' eva hi Tâvatimsâ abhirûpa pâsâdikâ nîlâdi-nâna-vannâ evañ k' ime Likkhavi-râgâno pîti. Tâvatimsehi samake katvâ passathâ ti attho.' 2 The Mâlâlankâra-vatthu gives the substance of the discourse on this occasion. 'The princes had come in their finest and richest dress; in their appearance they vied in beauty with the nats (or angels). But foreseeing the ruin and misery that was soon to come upon them all, the Buddha exhorted his disciples to entertain a thorough contempt for things that are dazzling to the eyes, but essentially perishable and unreal in their nature.'--Bigandet, 2nd ed. p. 260.]