[152] Now at that time the Mallas of Kusinārā were assembled in the council hall on some business. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the council hall of the Mallas of Kusinārā, and having approached, he announced to the Mallas of Kusinārā: "Vāsiṭṭhas, the Blessed One has attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuta). Do now what you think it is time to do." Having heard this from the Venerable Ānanda, the Mallas, the sons of the Mallas, the daughters-in-law of the Mallas, and the wives of the Mallas were stricken with anguish, dejected, their hearts filled with pain; some, dishevelling their hair, wept; stretching forth their arms, they wept; they fell down as though their feet were cut off; they rolled back and forth, crying: "Too soon has the Blessed One attained final Nibbāna! Too soon has the Sugata attained final Nibbāna! Too soon has the Eye in the World vanished!"
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā commanded their men: "In that case, good men, gather together the perfumes and garlands and all the musical instruments in Kusinārā." Then the Mallas of Kusinārā, taking the perfumes and garlands and all the musical instruments, together with five hundred pairs of cloth, went to the Upavattana sāla grove of the Mallas, to where the body of the Blessed One lay; and having approached, honoring, revering, esteeming, and venerating the body of the Blessed One with dances, songs, music, garlands, and perfumes, making canopies of cloth and preparing circular pavilions, they passed that day in this manner. Then it occurred to the Mallas of Kusinārā: "It is now far too late today to cremate the body of the Blessed One; tomorrow we shall cremate the body of the Blessed One." Then the Mallas of Kusinārā, honoring, revering, esteeming, and venerating the body of the Blessed One with dances, songs, music, garlands, and perfumes, making canopies of cloth and preparing circular pavilions, passed the second day too; they passed the third day too; they passed the fourth day too; they passed the fifth day too; they passed the sixth day too. Then on the seventh day it occurred to the Mallas of Kusinārā: "Honoring, revering, esteeming, and venerating the body of the Blessed One with dances, songs, music, garlands, and perfumes, let us carry it by the southern way to the south of the city and, going by the outer way to the outside, cremate the body of the Blessed One to the south of the city."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.