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

58. Then the Blessed One perceiving how the matter stood, uttered, even at that time, this hymn of exultation: To him who gives shall virtue be increased; In him who curbs himself, no anger can arise; The righteous man casts off all sinfulness, And by the rooting out of lust, and bitterness, And all delusion, doth to Nirvâna reach!' ------------------------ End of the Fourth Portion for Recitation, containing the Episode of Âlâra. p. 85 CHAPTER V. 1. Now the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ânanda, and said: 'Come, Ânanda, let us go on to the Sâla Grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinârâ, on the further side of the river Hiranyavatî.' 'Even so, Lord!' said the venerable Ânanda, in assent, to the Blessed One. 2. And the Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to the Sâla Grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinârâ, on the further side of the river Hiranyavatî: and when he had come there he addressed the venerable Ânanda, and said: "Spread over for me, I pray you, Ânanda, the couch with its head to the north, between the twin Sâla trees[1]. I am weary, Ânanda, and would lie down.' 'Even so, Lord!' said the venerable Ânanda, in assent, to the Blessed One. And he spread a [1. According to the commentator 'tradition says that there was a row of Sâla trees at the head (sîsa) of that couch (mañka), and another at its foot, one young Sâla tree being close to its head, and another close to its foot. The twin Sâla trees were so called because the two trees were equally grown in respect of the roots, trunks, branches, and leaves. There was a couch there in the park for the special use of the (periodically elected) râga of the Mallas, and it was this couch which the Blessed One asked Ânanda to make ready.' There is no further explanation of the term uttara-sîsakam, which may have been the name for a slab of wood or stone reserved on great occasions for the use of the leaders of the neighbouring republic, but available at other times for passers by.]