[106] "Ānanda, at one time I was staying right here in Vesālī, at the Gotamaka Shrine … I was staying right here in Vesālī, at the Sattamba Shrine. I was staying right here in Vesālī, at the Bahuputta Shrine. I was staying right here in Vesālī, at the Sārandada Shrine. And just now, Ānanda, today at the Pāvāla Shrine I addressed you: 'Ānanda, Vesālī is delightful; delightful is the Udena Shrine, delightful the Gotamaka Shrine, delightful the Sattamba Shrine, delightful the Bahuputta Shrine, delightful the Sārandada Shrine, delightful the Pāvāla Shrine. 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, could, if he so wished, remain for the aeon (kappa) or for the remainder of the aeon. 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 so wished, could remain for the aeon or for the remainder of the aeon.' Even when so plain a hint was thus being given by the Tathāgata, so plain an intimation being made, you were unable to penetrate it; you did not beseech the Tathāgata: 'Let the Blessed One remain for the aeon! Let the Sublime One (sugata) remain for the aeon—for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of devas and human beings!' If, Ānanda, you had beseeched the Tathāgata, the Tathāgata would have refused your words only twice, but the third time he would have consented. Therefore, Ānanda, this misdeed is yours alone; this fault is yours alone.
"Have I not, Ānanda, told you already beforehand that from all that is dear and beloved there must be difference, separation, and alteration? How, Ānanda, could this be obtained here: 'May that which is born, come to be, conditioned, and of a nature to disintegrate, not disintegrate!'—such a thing is not possible. Now that, Ānanda, which the Tathāgata has given up, cast out, released, abandoned, and relinquished—the life-formation (āyusaṅkhāra) has been surrendered; the word has been spoken once and for all: 'Before long the final Nibbāna (parinibbāna) of the Tathāgata will come to pass; three months hence the Tathāgata will attain final Nibbāna'—that the Tathāgata should, for the sake of life, take that back again: such a thing is not possible. Come, Ānanda, let us go to the Great Wood (Mahāvana), to the Hall with the Peaked Gable (Kūṭāgārasālā)."
"Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with the venerable Ānanda, went to the Great Wood, to the Hall with the Peaked Gable; and having arrived, he addressed the venerable Ānanda: "Go, Ānanda; assemble in the attendance hall all the bhikkhus who dwell in dependence upon Vesālī." "Yes, venerable sir," the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One; and having assembled in the attendance hall all the bhikkhus dwelling in dependence upon Vesālī, he approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he stood to one side. Standing to one side, the venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the Saṅgha of bhikkhus has assembled. Let the Blessed One now do as he deems it timely."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.