[153] Now at that time eight foremost Mallas (mallā pāmokkhā), having washed their heads and clad in new garments, thinking, "We shall lift up the body of the Blessed One," were unable to lift it. Then the Mallas of Kusinārā said to the Venerable Anuruddha: "What, venerable Anuruddha, is the cause, what is the reason, that these eight foremost Mallas, having washed their heads and clad in new garments, thinking, 'We shall lift up the body of the Blessed One,' are unable to lift it?"
"Vāseṭṭhas, your intention is one thing; the intention of the deities is another."
"But what, venerable sir, is the intention of the deities?"
"Vāseṭṭhas, your intention is this: 'Honoring, revering, respecting, and venerating the body of the Blessed One with dances, songs, music, garlands, and scents, we shall carry it by the southern way to the south of the city, and, going by the outer way to the outside, we shall cremate the body of the Blessed One to the south of the city.' But the intention of the deities is this: 'Honoring, revering, respecting, and venerating the body of the Blessed One with celestial dances, songs, music, garlands, and scents, we shall carry it by the northern way to the north of the city; having entered the city by the northern gate, we shall carry it through the very midst of the city; having gone out by the eastern gate, to the east of the city there is the shrine of the Mallas named Makuṭabandhana — there we shall cremate the body of the Blessed One.'"
"Venerable sir, let it be according to the intention of the deities."
Now at that time Kusinārā was strewn knee-deep with mandārava flowers, even as far as the junctions of the houses, the sewage pools, and the rubbish heaps. Then the deities and the Mallas of Kusinārā, honoring, revering, respecting, and venerating the body of the Blessed One with dances, songs, music, garlands, and scents, both celestial and human, carried it by the northern way to the north of the city; having entered the city by the northern gate, they carried it through the very midst of the city; having gone out by the eastern gate, to the east of the city, at the shrine of the Mallas named Makuṭabandhana — there they laid down the body of the Blessed One.
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā said to the Venerable Ānanda: "How, venerable Ānanda, are we to proceed with regard to the body of the Tathāgata?"
"Vāseṭṭhas, as they proceed with regard to the body of a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti), so should one proceed with regard to the body of the Tathāgata."
"But how, venerable Ānanda, do they proceed with regard to the body of a wheel-turning monarch?"
"Vāseṭṭhas, they wrap the body of a wheel-turning monarch in new cloth; having wrapped it in new cloth, they wrap it in carded cotton; having wrapped it in carded cotton, they wrap it in new cloth. Proceeding in this manner, having wrapped the body of the wheel-turning monarch in five hundred pairs of cloths, they place it in an iron trough of oil, cover it over with another iron trough, build a pyre of all fragrant substances, and cremate the body of the wheel-turning monarch; and at a crossroads of four great highways they build a stūpa for the wheel-turning monarch. Thus, Vāseṭṭhas, do they proceed with regard to the body of a wheel-turning monarch. As they proceed with regard to the body of a wheel-turning monarch, so should one proceed with regard to the body of the Tathāgata; at a crossroads of four great highways a stūpa should be built for the Tathāgata. And whoever shall there place a garland, a scent, or scented powder, or shall pay homage, or shall bring confidence to their mind (citta), that will be for their welfare and happiness for a long time."
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā gave orders to their men: "Then, good men, gather together the carded cotton of the Mallas." Then the Mallas of Kusinārā wrapped the body of the Blessed One in new cloth; having wrapped it in new cloth, they wrapped it in carded cotton; having wrapped it in carded cotton, they wrapped it in new cloth. Proceeding in this manner, having wrapped the body of the Blessed One in five hundred pairs of cloths, they placed it in an iron trough of oil, covered it over with another iron trough, built a pyre of all fragrant substances, and raised the body of the Blessed One onto the pyre.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.