[614] Then the Venerable Mahākassapa addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, on one occasion I was travelling on the highway from Pāvā to Kusinārā together with a great Saṅgha of bhikkhus, some five hundred bhikkhus. Then, friends, I turned aside from the road and sat down at the foot of a certain tree. Now on that occasion a certain Ājīvaka, having taken a mandārava flower from Kusinārā, was travelling on the highway to Pāvā. I saw, friends, that Ājīvaka coming from afar, and having seen him I said to that Ājīvaka: 'Friend, do you know our Teacher?' 'Yes, friend, I know. Today it is seven days since the ascetic Gotama attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuta). It was from there that this mandārava flower was taken by me.'
"Thereupon, friends, those bhikkhus who were not free from lust — some, stretching forth their arms, wept; they fell down as though their feet had been cut off; they rolled back and forth, [crying]: 'Too soon has the Blessed One attained final Nibbāna! Too soon has the Fortunate One (Sugata) attained final Nibbāna! Too soon has the Eye in the world vanished!' But those bhikkhus who were free from lust, with mindfulness and clear comprehension, endured it, [reflecting]: 'Conditioned things are impermanent — how could it be obtained otherwise here?'
"Then, friends, I said to those bhikkhus: 'Enough, friends, do not sorrow, do not lament. Has this not been declared beforehand by the Blessed One — that from all that is dear and pleasing there is difference, separation, and alteration? How, friends, could it be obtained here that what is born, come to be, conditioned, and subject to disintegration should not disintegrate? Such a thing is not possible.'
"Now on that occasion, friends, one named Subhadda, who had gone forth in old age, was seated in that assembly. Then, friends, Subhadda, who had gone forth in old age, said to those bhikkhus: 'Enough, friends, do not sorrow, do not lament. We are well rid of that Great Ascetic. We were oppressed by [his saying]: "This is allowable for you; this is not allowable for you." But now we shall do whatever we wish, and whatever we do not wish, that we shall not do.'
"Come, friends, let us recite together (saṅgāyāma) the Dhamma and the Vinaya, before what is not Dhamma shines forth and the Dhamma is set aside, before what is not Vinaya shines forth and the Vinaya is set aside; before those who speak what is not Dhamma become strong and those who speak Dhamma become weak, before those who speak what is not Vinaya become strong and those who speak Vinaya become weak."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.