The Account of the Buddha's Nirvana and the first Councils according

to the Vinayaksudraka
Obermiller, E.
The Indian Historrical Quarterly
1932.11
Vol.4
pp.781--784


p.781 MISCELLANY The Account of the Buddha's Nirvana and the first Councils according to the Vinayaksudraka Vol. VIII, part 2 of the IHQ., contains a most interesting article of Professor L. Finot "Mahaparinibbana-sutta and Cullavagga". The author expresses his opinion to the effect that these two important texts of the Pali Canon originally represented one work which was subsequently dismembered, the motive for this dismembering being the desire of the compilers to include the part containing the utterances of the Buddha himself in the Sutta-pitaka, whereas the other part, relating to the events after the Buddha's death and especislly the rules of monastic discipline were regarded as having their proper place in the Vinaya-pitaka.(1) The arguments advanced by Professor Finot in support of his opinion are the following: "The events contained in the Cullavagga XI follow chronologically those which form the subject-matter of the Mahaparinibbana-sutta. '' "Besides the unbroken sequence of the events which they relate the two sections share a peculiar character suggestive of a common origin, that is their historical, annalistic garb."(2) Moreover, Prof. Finot mentions the Samyuktavastu (Nanjio N. 1121.) containing an account of both Parinirvana and Councils. This analogy, says Prof. Finot, makes it possible to suppose that the Theravadins (just as the Sarvastivadins to whom the Samyuktavastu belongs) "could have had among their sacred books an historical record of the same description."(3) Now, as regards analogies, the Tibetan tradition puts us in possession of materials according to which it becomes possible to affirm that Prof. Finot must be unquestionably right in his opinion, as will be illustrated by the following: In the History of Buddhism of the celebrated Tibetan scholar Bu-ston ------------------- 1 Op. cit., p. 243. 2 Ibid., p. 242. 3 ibid. p.782 Rin-chen-dub (grub), the historical part proper, (4) begins with an account of the twelve principal events in the Buddha's life.(5) The first eleven, ending with the "First Rolling of the Wheel of the Doctrine"(6) are rendered in accordance with the Lalitavistara. The twelfth and last event, viz. the Buddha's departure into Nirvana is borrowed from the text called Vinayaksudraka.(7) This text, as preserved in the Tibetan translation in the Kangyur, consists of three bulky volumes(8) and is in its greater part devoted to the minuta of monastic discipline.(9) The narrative of the Buddha's Nirvana which is incorporated by Bu-ston in his History is contained in the first of these volumes.(10) We have the description of the following events thus,-- 1. The Buddha stops that Biotic Force which keeps the continuity of his life on earth going on.(11) 2. The Buddha's departure to Kusanagara and the precepts delivered by him on the way there.(12) 3. The Buddha's instruetions concerning the funeral rites to be performed after his death.(13) 4. The conversion of Sunanda(14) and of the Parivrajaka Subhadra.(15) 5 The last words of the Buddha and his departure into Nirvana.(16) 6 The message of the Buddha's Nirvana brought to Ajatasatru.(17) -------------------- 4 Vol. II of my translation, Heidelberg. 1932. 5 Tib. mdzad-pa bcu gnis. 6 prathama-dharma-cakra-pravartana, i.e. the first Benares sermon. 7 Tib., Hdul-ba phran-tshegs. Bu-ston, Xyl. 88 a. 3.--mya-nan-las-hdas-pahi tshul (Hdul-ba) phran-tshegs bzin bsad-do. Transl., p. 72. 8 Kg. HDUL. (Vinaya), vols.XI (da), XII (na), and XIII (pa). 9 Just as in the Cullavagga. 10 Fol. 247 a.--301 a. of the Derge edition. 11 ayuh-samskara= tshehi hdu-byed. Vin-ksudr. (Kg.HDUL. XI), 247 a. 6--249 a. 5 Bu-ston, Transl., p. 57. 12 Vin.-ksudr., 250 b. 6 sqq.--Bu-ston, Transl., p. 57. 13 Vin.-ksudr., 275 b. 5--276 a. 3.--Bu-ston, Transl., 59. 14 Rab-dgah. 15 Rab-bzan. Vin.-ksudr., 279 a. 6--280 a. 5--Bu-ston, Transl., pp. 59, 60. 16 Vin.-ksudr., 287 b. 2--290 a. 6.--Bu-ston, Transl., p. 61. 17 Vin. -ksudr., 290a, 6 sqq.--Bu-ston, Transl., p. 62. p.783 7. The funeral rites.(18) 8. The quarrel about the relics of the Buddha and pacification by Drona(19) Conclusion in verse. A comparision of Bu-ston's text with the version of the Vnayayksudraka shows a very close correspondence. All the verses are quoted by Bu-ston at full length; the passages in prose are only slightly abridged. Thereafter, having dialated on the meaning of Nirvana and its interpretation according to Hinayana and Mahayana, etc.,(20) Buston passes over to the narrative of the first and second Councils. He does not indicate his source, but even at the first glance it becomes quite clear that this source is no other than the Vinayaksudraka. As before, the version of the latter appears in a slightly condensed form, all the verses being quoted at full length. We have here:-- 1. The intention of Mahakasyapa to assemble a Council of the Clergy for the sake of rehearsing the Scriptures.(21) 2. The invitation of Gavampati by Purna. The refusal of Gavampati to taka part in the Council and his death.(22) 3. The arrival of the Clergy at Rajagrha. The expulsion of Ananda by Mahakasyapa.(23) 4. Ananda's attainment of Arhatship, his return to the Council and the accomplishment of the First Rehearsal. (Ananda rehearses the Sutras, Upali the Vinaya and Mahakasyapa the Abhidharma) .(24) 5. Mahakasyapa's and Ananda's departure into Nirvana.(25) 6. The arrival of Madhyantika in kashmir.(26) 7. The Second Rehearsal.--The ten indulgences admitted by the monks of Vaisali, the arrival of the Arhat Yasas and the excommunication. ------------------------ 18 Vin.-ksudr., 291 b. sqq.--Bu-ston, Transl., p. 63. 19 Vin.-ksudr., 297 a. 3.--301 a. 3.--Bu-ston. Transl.. pp. 65-67. 20 Transl., pp. 67-72. 21 Vin.-ksudr., 301 a. 3-b. 3.--Bu-ston, Transl., p. 73. 22 Vin.-ksudr., 301 a. 301 b. 7--303 b. 2.--Bu-ston, Transl., pp. 73-76. 23 Vin-ksudr., 305 a. 6--309 b. 2--Bu-ston, Transl., pp. 77-81. 24 Vin-ksudr., 309 b. 2--316 b.3.--Bu-ston, Transl., pp. 81--85 25 Vin-ksudr., 316 b. 7--322 a.4.--Bu-ston, Transl., pp.85-90. 26 Vin-ksudr., 322 a. 4--323 a.7.--Bu-ston, Transl., p. 90. p.784 of the monks of Vaisali. The place and the date of the second Rehearsal.(27) So we have the narrative of the Buddha's attainment of Nirvana and that of the first and the second Councils actually contained in one text. And even more:--The story of the Councils begins just on the same line in which the narrative of the burial of the Buddha finishes, (28) without any indication whatsoever. Prof. Finot says that "we have reason to suppose that the account of the Councils of Rajagrha and Vaisali once formed the latter part of a larger historical work."(29)--We may now affirm that such a work actually exists; it is contained in the first volume of the Vinayaksudraka. The two parts which were severed from each other in the Pali Canon appear in the Northern Vinaya test as one whole.(30) Thus it is that Prof. Finot's very illuminating suggestions find a striking confirmation by the perusal of the Vinayaksudraka and Bu-ston's reference to it. E. OBERMILLER ------------------------ 27 Vin.-ksudr., 323 b. 4.--332 a.2.--Bu-ston, Transl., pp. 91-96. 28 Fol. 301 a. 3(Derge ed.). 29 Op. cit., p. 246. 30 We must remark here that the Northern Canon possesses independently the version of the Mahaparinirvana-sutra, Kg. MDO., vols. VIII, IX and X.