[102] "Ānanda, on one occasion, when I was first fully awakened, I was dwelling at Uruvelā, on the bank of the river Nerañjarā, at the foot of the Goatherd's Banyan (Ajapāla-nigrodha). Then, Ānanda, Māra the Evil One approached me; having approached, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Ānanda, Māra the Evil One said to me: 'Venerable sir, let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna (parinibbāna); let the Sublime One (Sugata) attain final Nibbāna; now, venerable sir, is the time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna.' When this was said, Ānanda, I said to Māra the Evil One: 'Evil One, I shall not attain final Nibbāna so long as my bhikkhu disciples have not become competent, disciplined, confident, deeply learned, bearers of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing rightly, conducting themselves in conformity with the Dhamma; so long as they have not, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, declared it, taught it, made it known, established it, disclosed it, analyzed it, and made it plain; so long as they have not, having thoroughly refuted by reasoned means the doctrines of others that have arisen, taught the Dhamma with its marvels (sappāṭihāriya). Evil One, I shall not attain final Nibbāna so long as my bhikkhunī disciples have not become competent, disciplined, confident, deeply learned, bearers of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing rightly, conducting themselves in conformity with the Dhamma; so long as they have not, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, declared it, taught it, made it known, established it, disclosed it, analyzed it, and made it plain; so long as they have not, having thoroughly refuted by reasoned means the doctrines of others that have arisen, taught the Dhamma with its marvels. Evil One, I shall not attain final Nibbāna so long as my layman disciples have not become competent, disciplined, confident, deeply learned, bearers of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing rightly, conducting themselves in conformity with the Dhamma; so long as they have not, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, declared it, taught it, made it known, established it, disclosed it, analyzed it, and made it plain; so long as they have not, having thoroughly refuted by reasoned means the doctrines of others that have arisen, taught the Dhamma with its marvels. Evil One, I shall not attain final Nibbāna so long as my laywoman disciples have not become competent, disciplined, confident, deeply learned, bearers of the Dhamma, practicing in accordance with the Dhamma, practicing rightly, conducting themselves in conformity with the Dhamma; so long as they have not, having learned their own teacher's doctrine, declared it, taught it, made it known, established it, disclosed it, analyzed it, and made it plain; so long as they have not, having thoroughly refuted by reasoned means the doctrines of others that have arisen, taught the Dhamma with its marvels. Evil One, I shall not attain final Nibbāna so long as this holy life (brahmacariya) of mine has not become successful and prosperous, widespread, known to many, grown broad, until it is well proclaimed among gods and humans.'
"Just now, Ānanda, today at the Pāvāla Shrine, Māra the Evil One approached me; having approached, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, Ānanda, Māra the Evil One said to me: 'Venerable sir, let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna; let the Sublime One attain final Nibbāna; now, venerable sir, is the time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna. Moreover, venerable sir, this statement was spoken by the Blessed One: "Evil One, I shall not attain final Nibbāna so long as my bhikkhu disciples have not become … so long as my bhikkhunī disciples have not become … so long as my layman disciples have not become … so long as my laywoman disciples have not become … so long as this holy life of mine has not become successful and prosperous, widespread, known to many, grown broad, until it is well proclaimed among gods and humans." But now, venerable sir, the Blessed One's holy life has become successful and prosperous, widespread, known to many, grown broad, well proclaimed among gods and humans. Venerable sir, let the Blessed One now attain final Nibbāna; let the Sublime One attain final Nibbāna; now, venerable sir, is the time for the Blessed One's final Nibbāna.'
"When this was said, Ānanda, I said to Māra the Evil One: 'Be at ease, Evil One. The final Nibbāna of the Tathāgata will not be long: at the end of three months from now, the Tathāgata will attain final Nibbāna.' Just now, Ānanda, today at the Pāvāla Shrine, the Tathāgata, with mindfulness and clear comprehension, has relinquished the life-formation (āyusaṅkhāra)."
When this was said, the venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One remain for the eon (kappa); may the Sublime One remain for the eon—for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans."
"Enough now, Ānanda; do not entreat the Tathāgata. Now, Ānanda, is not the time for entreating the Tathāgata."
A second time the venerable Ānanda … A third time the venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, may the Blessed One remain for the eon; may the Sublime One remain for the eon—for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans."
"Ānanda, do you have faith in the awakening of the Tathāgata?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Then why, Ānanda, do you press the Tathāgata even to the third time?"
"Venerable sir, I have heard this from the Blessed One's own presence, received it in his own presence: 'Whoever, Ānanda, has developed the four bases of spiritual power (iddhipāda)—cultivated them, made them a vehicle, made them a foundation, established them, consolidated them, and thoroughly undertaken them—that person, if he wished, could remain for an eon or the remainder of an eon. The Tathāgata, Ānanda, has developed the four bases of spiritual power—cultivated them, made them a vehicle, made them a foundation, established them, consolidated them, and thoroughly undertaken them. The Tathāgata, Ānanda, if he wished, could remain for an eon or the remainder of an eon.'"
"Do you have faith, Ānanda?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Therefore, Ānanda, this is your misdeed alone; this is your fault alone: in that, when so plain a hint was being given by the Tathāgata, when so plain a sign was being made, you were unable to penetrate it, and did not entreat the Tathāgata: 'May the Blessed One remain for the eon; may the Sublime One remain for the eon—for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.' If you had entreated the Tathāgata, Ānanda, the Tathāgata would have refused your words twice only, and then, at the third time, he would have consented. Therefore, Ānanda, this is your misdeed alone; this is your fault alone."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.