[189] The Venerable Ānanda heard: "The Blessed One, it seems, declares, concerning the devotees (paricārakā) in the countries all around who have passed away and died, their places of rebirth—among the Kāsis and Kosalas, the Vajjīs and Mallas, the Cetis and Vaṃsas, the Kurus and Pañcālas, the Macchas and Sūrasenas—'So-and-so has been reborn in such-and-such a place; so-and-so has been reborn in such-and-such a place. More than fifty devotees of Nādika who have passed away and died, with the destruction of the five lower fetters (orambhāgiya-saṃyojana), are spontaneously reborn (opapātika); they attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world. More than ninety devotees of Nādika who have passed away and died, with the destruction of three fetters and the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, are once-returners (sakadāgāmī); having come back to this world only once, they will make an end of suffering (dukkha). More than five hundred devotees of Nādika who have passed away and died, with the destruction of three fetters, are stream-enterers (sotāpanna), not subject to falling into states of woe, fixed in destiny, having awakening as their final goal.' And on that account the devotees of Nādika were pleased, gladdened, filled with rapture and joy, having heard the Blessed One's answering of the question."
Then this occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "But there were also these Magadhan devotees—both many in number and of long standing—who have passed away and died. One would think Aṅga and Magadha were empty of Magadhan devotees who have passed away and died. Yet they too had confidence in the Buddha, confidence in the Dhamma, confidence in the Saṅgha, and were fulfillers of virtue (sīla); and those who have passed away and died have not been declared by the Blessed One. A declaration concerning them too would be good: many people would gain confidence, and thence would go to a good destination (sugati). There was also this King of Magadha, Seniya Bimbisāra, righteous, a righteous king, a benefactor to brahmins and householders, to townsfolk and to country folk; indeed, people go about singing his praises: 'That righteous king, that king of righteousness, who made us happy, has died. We dwelt in comfort in the realm of that righteous king, that king of righteousness.' He too had confidence in the Buddha, confidence in the Dhamma, confidence in the Saṅgha, and was a fulfiller of virtue; indeed, people say: 'Even up to the time of his death, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha died singing the praises of the Blessed One.' He, having passed away and died, has not been declared by the Blessed One. A declaration concerning him too would be good: many people would gain confidence, and thence would go to a good destination. Moreover, the Blessed One's full awakening (sambodhi) took place in Magadha. Where the Blessed One's full awakening took place in Magadha—how could the Blessed One not declare, as to their rebirths, the Magadhan devotees there who have passed away and died? And if the Blessed One were not to declare, as to their rebirths, the Magadhan devotees who have passed away and died, the Magadhan devotees would thereby be downcast; and how could the Blessed One not declare those over whose case the Magadhan devotees would be downcast?"
Having pondered this matter concerning the Magadhan devotees alone in seclusion, the Venerable Ānanda, rising as night gave way to dawn, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "I have heard this, venerable sir: 'The Blessed One, it seems, declares, concerning the devotees in the countries all around who have passed away and died, their places of rebirth—among the Kāsis and Kosalas, the Vajjīs and Mallas, the Cetis and Vaṃsas, the Kurus and Pañcālas, the Macchas and Sūrasenas—"So-and-so has been reborn in such-and-such a place; so-and-so has been reborn in such-and-such a place. More than fifty devotees of Nādika who have passed away and died, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are spontaneously reborn; they attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world. More than ninety devotees of Nādika who have passed away and died, with the destruction of three fetters and the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, are once-returners; having come back to this world only once, they will make an end of suffering. More than five hundred devotees of Nādika who have passed away and died, with the destruction of three fetters, are stream-enterers, not subject to falling into states of woe, fixed in destiny, having awakening as their final goal." And on that account the devotees of Nādika were pleased, gladdened, filled with rapture and joy, having heard the Blessed One's answering of the question.' But, venerable sir, there were also these Magadhan devotees—both many in number and of long standing—who have passed away and died. One would think Aṅga and Magadha were empty of Magadhan devotees who have passed away and died. Yet they too, venerable sir, had confidence in the Buddha, confidence in the Dhamma, confidence in the Saṅgha, and were fulfillers of virtue; and those who have passed away and died have not been declared by the Blessed One. A declaration concerning them too would be good: many people would gain confidence, and thence would go to a good destination. There was also, venerable sir, this King of Magadha, Seniya Bimbisāra, righteous, a righteous king, a benefactor to brahmins and householders, to townsfolk and to country folk; indeed, people go about singing his praises: 'That righteous king, that king of righteousness, who made us happy, has died. We dwelt in comfort in the realm of that righteous king, that king of righteousness.' He too, venerable sir, had confidence in the Buddha, confidence in the Dhamma, confidence in the Saṅgha, and was a fulfiller of virtue; indeed, people say: 'Even up to the time of his death, King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha died singing the praises of the Blessed One.' He, having passed away and died, has not been declared by the Blessed One. A declaration concerning him too would be good: many people would gain confidence, and thence would go to a good destination. Moreover, venerable sir, the Blessed One's full awakening took place in Magadha. Where the Blessed One's full awakening took place in Magadha, venerable sir—how could the Blessed One not declare, as to their rebirths, the Magadhan devotees there who have passed away and died? And if, venerable sir, the Blessed One were not to declare, as to their rebirths, the Magadhan devotees who have passed away and died, the Magadhan devotees would thereby be downcast; and how could the Blessed One not declare those over whose case the Magadhan devotees would be downcast?"
Having made this suggestion concerning the Magadhan devotees face to face with the Blessed One, the Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side towards him, and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.