The First Dharma Council

At that time, Mahākāśyapa uttered this verse:

The Buddha is the sovereign of all the holy lions.

The [Venerable] Ananda is a son unto the Buddha.

He now sits in the place there upon the lion's throne.

Surveying this Assembly that is now without the Buddha.

This legion of great virtue which here appears just so,

In absence of the Buddha has lost its awesome spirit.

It now appears like night when lacking brightness of the moon.

Replete with constellations, it still is not enhanced.

And now, you greatly wise one, it's time for you to speak.

You, scion of the Buddha, you ought now set it forth.

Just where did first the Buddha expound [the holy Dharma]?

Now this you should array for us and show.