unsel--speaking so well, and reasonably. Yours are words which a
Brahman ought to use, in keeping with his holy character; words full of
reconciliation, pointing out the proper road; like one recovering a
wandering horse brings him back by the path which he had lost. We then
ought to adopt the plan of reconciliation such as you have shown us; to
hear the truth and not obey it brings afterwards regretful sorrow."

Then they opened out the master's relics and in eight parts equally
divided them. Themselves paid reverence to one part, the other seven
they handed to the Brahman; the seven kings having accepted these,
rejoiced and placed them on their heads; and thus with them returned to
their own country, and erected Dagobas for worship over them. The
Brahmakarin then besought the Mallas to bestow on him the relic-pitcher
as his portion, and from the seven kings he requested a fragment of
their relics, as an eighth share. Taking this, he returned and raised a
Kaitya, which still is named "the Golden Pitcher Dagoba." Then the men
of Kusinagara collecting all the ashes of the burning, raised over them
a Kaitya, and called it "the Ashes Dagoba." The eight Stupas of the
eight kings, "the Golden Pitcher" and "the Ashes Stupa."

Thus throughout Gambudvipa there first were raised ten Dagobas. Then all
the lords and ladies of the country holding gem-embroidered canopies,
paid their offerings at the various shrines, adorning them as any golden
mountain. And so with music and with dancing through the day and night
they made merry, and sang. And now the Arhats numbering five hundred,
having forever lost their master's presence, reflecting there was now no
ground of certainty, returned to Gridhrakuta mount; assembling in King
Sakra's cavern, they collected there the Sutra Pitaka; all the assembly
agreeing that the venerable Ananda should say, for the sake of the
congregation, the sermons of Tathagata from first to last: "Great and
small, whatever you have heard from the mouth of the deceased Muni."

Then Ananda in the great assembly ascending the lion throne, declared in
order what the lord had preached, uttering the words "Thus have I
heard."

The whole assembly, bathed in tears, were deeply moved as he pronounced
the words "I heard"; and so he announced the law as to the time, as to
the place, as to the person; as he spoke, so was it written down from
first to last, the complete Sutra Pitaka. By diligent attention in the
use of m