1Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Rājagaha, in Bamboo Wood, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. Then venerable Dabba Mallaputta went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.

While sat on one side venerable Dabba Mallaputta said this to the Gracious One: "Now is the time for my Complete Emancipation, Fortunate One."

"Now is the time for whatever you are thinking, Dabba."

2Then venerable Dabba Mallaputta, after rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Gracious One, after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament, entering the fire-element, and emerging, attained Complete Emancipation.

3Then while venerable Dabba Mallaputta — after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament, entering the fire-element, and emerging — was attaining Complete Emancipation, his body burning and being consumed, there was no charcoal and no ash evident.

Just as while ghee or oil is burning and being consumed there is no charcoal and no ash evident, so also while venerable Dabba Mallaputta — after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament, entering the fire-element, and emerging — was attaining Complete Emancipation, his body burning and being consumed, there was no charcoal and no ash evident.

4Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​   ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Atha kho āyasmā dabbo mallaputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā dabbo mallaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:  "parinibbānakālo me dāni, sugatā"ti.

"Yassadāni tvaṁ, dabba, kālaṁ maññasī"ti.

2Atha kho āyasmā dabbo mallaputto uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā ākāse antalikkhe pallaṅkena nisīditvā tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā vuṭṭhahitvā parinibbāyi.

3Atha kho āyasmato dabbassa mallaputtassa vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā ākāse antalikkhe pallaṅkena nisīditvā tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā vuṭṭhahitvā parinibbutassa sarīrassa jhāyamānassa ḍayhamānassa neva chārikā paññāyittha na masi.

Seyyathāpi nāma sappissa vā telassa vā jhāyamānassa ḍayhamānassa neva chārikā paññāyati na masi; evamevaṁ āyasmato dabbassa mallaputtassa vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā ākāse antalikkhe pallaṅkena nisīditvā tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā vuṭṭhahitvā parinibbutassa sarīrassa jhāyamānassa ḍayhamānassa neva chārikā paññāyittha na masīti.

4Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

Navamaṁ.