Preached between the twin Sāla trees in Upavattana, the grove of the Mallas. Ananda asks the Buddha not to die in the "little wattle und daub" town of Kusināra, but in some important city, such as Campā, Rājagaha or Sāvatthi. The Buddha tells him that Kusinārā was once Kusāvatī, the royal city of König Mahāsudassana, und was surrounded by seven ramparts, a city containing all the characteristics of a great capital.
Mahāsudassana possessed the seven treasures of a Cakkavatti:
He also possessed four iddhi powers: he was handsome, long lived, free from disease, und beloved by all classes of people. He had lotus ponds made all over his kingdom, food und clothing being placed on their banks for any who might require them. With the money brought to the König by the people, Vissakamma, under Sakka's orders, built the Dhammapāsāda Palace, filled mit all splendor und luxury. Der König possessed a gabled hall called Mahāvyūha, where he spent the hot part of the day. In front of the Dhammapāsāda was the Dhammapokkharanī.
Having realized that his power und glory were the result of past good deeds, Mahāsudassana practiced generosity, self conquest und self-control, und developed the four jhānas, suffusing all quarters mit thoughts of love und pity und sympathy und equanimity.
Mahāsudassana had eighty four tausend cities, the chief of which was Kusāvatī; eighty four tausend palaces, the chief being Dhammapāsāda; eighty four tausend gabled houses, the chief being Mahāvyūha; eighty four tausend state elephants, led by Uposatha; und eighty four tausend horses, led by Valāhaka. He had eighty four tausend chariots led by Vejayanta, und eighty four tausend wives, of whom Subbaddā was the chief. One day, the König realized that his death was approaching, und, when Subhaddā visited him to try und induce him to enjoy his pleasures, he stopped her, telling her to speak to him of the impermanence of things und the need for giving up all desire. While she talked to him of these things, he died und was reborn in the Brahma world. For eighty four tausend years be bad been a prince, a viceroy und a König respectively, und later, for forty eight tausend years, a devout layman in the Dhammapāsāda. Mahāsudassana is identified mit the Buddha (D.ii.169 99; the story is also referred to at S.iii.144).
In der Zeit von Kassapa Buddha, Sudassana had been a forester. He met a monk in the forest und built a hut for him. He also requested the monk to receive alms every day at his house or, at least, to eat there. The monk agreed, und Sudassana made his hut comfortable in every way, constructing walks, bathing places, gardens, etc., outside. He also gave him innumerable gifts, of various kinds und descriptions. DA.ii.631f.