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

33. Now at that time a man named Pukkusa[1] a young Mallian, a disciple of Âlâra Kâlâma's, was passing along the high road from Kusinârâ to Pâvâ. 34. And Pukkusa, the young Mallian, saw the Blessed One seated at the foot of a tree. On seeing him, he went up to the place where the Blessed One was, and when he had come there he saluted the Blessed One, and took his rest respectfully on one side. And when he was seated [1. The Pukkusa caste was one of the lower castes of Sûdras. Compare Assâlâyana Sutta (Pischel), pp. 13, 35; Burnouf's 'Introduction,' &c., pp. 144, 208; Lalita Vistara XXI, 17. But Buddhaghosa says Pukkusa must here be simply a name, as the Mallas were of the Khattiya caste. He adds that this Pukkusa was the owner of the five hundred carts that had just passed by; and that Âlâra Kâlâma was called Âlâra because he was Dîgha-pingalo, Kâlâma being his family name.] p. 76 Pukkusa, the young Mallian, said to the Blessed One: 'How wonderful a thing is it, Lord! and how marvellous, that those who have gone forth out of the world should pass their time in a state of mind so calm!' 35. 'Formerly, Lord, Âlâra Kâlâma a was once walking along the high road; and leaving the road he sat himself down under a certain tree to rest during the heat of the day. Now, Lord, five hundred carts passed by one after the other, each close to Âlâra Kâlâma. And a certain man, who was following close behind that caravan of carts, went up to the place where Âlâra Kâlâma, was, and when he was come there he spake as follows to Âlâra Kâlâma: