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

63. 'But now, Ânanda, have I not formerly[1] declared [1. That patigakk' eva means 'formerly, already' is clear from Mahâ Vagga I, 7, 1; X, 2, 3, though its derivation would seem to render the meaning 'frequently, recurringly' more natural. The {footnote p. 59} phrase occurs pretty often. Trenckner (milinda-pañham, p. 422) proposes a correction into patikakk' eva. Paluggîti just below is noteworthy as an unusual contraction of palugge iti.] p. 59 to you that it is in the very nature of all things, near and dear unto us, that we must divide ourselves from them, leave them, sever ourselves from them? How then, Ânanda, can this be possible--whereas anything whatever born, brought into being, and organised, contains within itself the inherent necessity of dissolution--how then can this be possible that such a being should not be dissolved? No such condition can exist! And this mortal being, Ânanda, has been relinquished, cast away, renounced, rejected, and abandoned by the Tathâgata. The remaining sum of life has been surrendered by him. Verily, the word has gone forth from the Tathâgata, saying, "The final extinction of the Tathâgata shall take place before long. At the end of three months from this time the Tathâgata will die!" That the Tathâgata for the sake of living should repent him again of that saying--this can no wise be[1]!' ------------------------ 64. 'Come, Ânanda, let us go to the Kûtâgâra Hall, to the Mahâvana.'