佛陀住世說法四十九年，講經三百餘會，對於應度的眾生皆已度盡，未度的眾生也已作了得度因緣，於是在八十歲這一年進入涅槃。佛陀涅槃後，自己用三昧真火荼毘。荼毘後，舍利為拘尸那揭羅的末羅族所得，各國的國王不服，紛紛帶兵征討拘尸那揭羅，奪取佛陀舍利。後經婆羅門突路拏調解，八國共分舍利，各自造塔供養。

The Buddha taught in this world for forty-nine years and expounded the Dharma at over three hundred assemblies. He led many sentient beings to liberation, and created the conditions of liberation for others. At the age of eighty, the Buddha entered parinirvana, and cremated himself with the true fire of samadhi. Following the cremation, his relics were taken by the Mallas clan of Kusinagara. The other kings refused to accept this, and each sent armies to attack Kusinagara in order to seize the Buddha's relics. The dispute was finally resolved with the help of a Brahmin, who divided the relics into eight portions. Each kingdom then built stupas to enshrine the relics so that homage could be paid to them.

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