"Now Ânanda the Venerable was weighed To heaviness with sorrow at the thought: 'Alas, I still am but a learner, much To me remains of labor, ere I reach Nirvâna; and my master, he so kind, Is on the point to pass away from me.' So, leaned against the lintel of the door, Ânanda stood and thought and thinking wept. But Buddha sending called him to himself, And said: 'Enough, O Ânanda, weep not, Nor let thyself be troubled. Have I not Oft told thee that it deep inheres in things The nearest and the dearest unto us, That we must leave them, rend ourselves away, Sever ourselves from them? How could it be, Ânanda, otherwise than thus? For know, Whatever thing is born, whatever comes Into existence, holds within itself The seed of dissolution and decay; Such being therefore needs must cease to be. Long time thou, Ânanda, to me hast been, By many offices of love, most near, Unchanging love and without measure large. Thrice say I this that thou mayst know it well: Long time thou, Ânanda, to me hast been, By many offices of love, most near, Unchanging love and without measure large. Long time thou, Ânanda, to me hast been By many offices of love, most near, Unchanging love and without measure large. Thou hast well done, O Ânanda. Faint not, Thou too shalt soon Anâsava become'-- Whereby our lord meant his disciple soon Should touch the wished-for goal himself was now Nigh touching, blest nirvâna, last surcease Of all the ills that sum up human life. "At length lord Buddha said to Ânanda: 'Go now for me into Kusinârâ And tell them the Tathâgata is here, Close on the point to pass forever away. Say: Leave no room to chide yourselves too late: Alas, and he in our own village died, He, the Tathâgata, and we then failed To come and visit him in his last hours.' So all the dwellers in Kusinârâ Came and did honor to the Blesséd One.