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　　And, again, one is able to censure and extinguish The species of asuras.

　　Like mustard seeds landing on a needle point

　　The Buddha”s appearance is as rare as this.

　　By perfecting charity (dana)

　　I shall liberate both men and gods from birth and death.

　　The Buddha is not defiled by worldly dharmas

　　Like the lotus flower in a pond.

　　Skillfully ending existence, the top of its shoot is Forever liberated from the flow of birth and death [beneath]. Birth in the world as a human is difficult.

　　And meeting the Buddha in the world is as difficult

　　As a blind turtle in the great ocean

　　Meeting a floating log with an opening.

　　Now I will hand over these alms,

　　Vowing to attain the unsurpassed reward

　　Of destroying and breaking up

　　all of the bonds of afflictions

　　I, here and now,

　　No longer seek the body of a god.

　　For the minds of those who attempt to obtain that [goal]

　　Will not be sweetly delighted.

　　The Tathagata having accepted my offerings

　　There is no measure for my elation.

　　It is like the airavana flower

　　That produces a fragrance of sandalwood.

　　My body is like that airavana flower.

　　The Tathagata having accepted my offerings

　　It is as if it now produces that fragrance of sandalwood.

　　This is why I am elated.

　　Now I have attained the manifest reward

　　Of this most excellent and marvelous place

　　Where the indra and brahma gods are present

　　All of whom have come bearing offerings. In myself

　　And all those of the world

　　There has arisen a great anguish

　　Because they know that the Buddha, the World Honored One, Now wishes to enter Nirvana.

　　In a high voice they cry out, saying,

　　“The world will be devoid of the [Lion] Tamer!

　　You should not abandon the sentient beings

　　You should instead regard each of them like an only child.

　　Tathagata, remain here with the sangha

　　And thoroughly expound the unsurpassed Dharma!

　　Like the jewel mountain of Sumeru,

　　Or a peaceful spot on the ocean,

　　Is the Buddha”s knowledge that is able to skillfully end Our ignorance (avidya) and clarify [our minds].

　　Just as the clouds that arise in the empty sky

　　Bring a pure refreshment [of rain],

　　The Tathagata is able to skillfully remove

　　All of the afflictions.

　　It is like when the sun rises

　　And removes the clouds. Its light illuminates everything.

　　The sentient beings”

　　Passionate yearning increases and they empathetically wail.

　　They all are subject to birth and death,

　　Drifting on its waters of distress.

　　This is why, World Honored One,

　　You should remain in the world for a long time

　　In order to end the suffering of birth and death Of these old and faithful sentient beings.”"

　　The Buddha addressed Cunda, "So it is, so it is. As you have said, the Buddha”s appearance in the world is rare like that of the udumbara flower.

　　Meeting the Buddha and giving rise to faith is also most difficult. Giving the very last offerings as the Buddha”s Nirvana nears and so being able to consummate the perfection of giving is, again, very difficult. Now, Cunda, you should not be greatly anguished or distressed. You should instead be elated by your profound fortune to have the opportunity to give the very last offerings to the Tathagata and bringing to fruition the consummation of the perfection of giving. Do not ask the Buddha to remain any longer in the world. Instead, you should regard the Buddha sphere of elements as being impermanent. The nature of his actions are also so." Then the Buddha proclaimed gathas for Cunda, saying,

　　"All that is born in the world

　　Will return to death.

　　While their life spans may be measureless

　　It is necessary that they have an end.

　　The sage, too, must have his waning.

　　What comes together and assembles must break apart And so the healthy years eventually come to a end.

　　The prosperous form is transgressed by disease

　　And life is swallowed …

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