[749] Then, Bhāradvāja, this occurred to me: 'Suppose I were to meditate on the breathless meditation (appāṇaka jhāna).' So, Bhāradvāja, I stopped the in-breaths and out-breaths through my mouth, my nose, and my ear canals. When the in-breaths and out-breaths were stopped through my mouth, my nose, and my ear canals, there was an intense burning in my body. Just as if strong men, having seized a weaker man by both arms, were to scorch him over a pit of glowing coals, even so, Bhāradvāja, when the in-breaths and out-breaths were stopped through my mouth, my nose, and my ear canals, there was an intense burning in my body. Yet, Bhāradvāja, my energy (vīriya) was aroused and unflagging, and my mindfulness (sati) was established and unmuddled; but my body was overwrought and not tranquil, for I was overwhelmed by that painful striving. Then indeed, Bhāradvāja, deities saw me and said thus: 'The ascetic Gotama has died.' Some deities said thus: 'The ascetic Gotama has not died, but he is dying.' Some deities said thus: 'The ascetic Gotama has not died, nor is he dying; the ascetic Gotama is an arahant, for such is the dwelling of an arahant.'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.