Even in his last hours of pain and old age, Shakyamuni was concerned about the feelings of the faithful. He said to Ananda, ”It is possible that someone will cause Chunda the smith to feel remorse by telling him he has incurred evil and loss by giving me the meal that has caused my death. But you must relieve Chunda of remorse by telling him that you have heard it from the very mouth of the Tathagata that, through this meal, he has incurred great good and gain. There are two meals of equal merit and fruit and of greater merit and fruit than any other: the meal offered to a Tathagata at the time of his perfect enlightenment and the meal offered a Tathagata at the time of his passing into nirvana. By giving me this meal, Chunda the smith has laid up great good karma leading to long life, fame, heavenly fortune, and sovereign power.” This incident is concluded with the following stanza:

“Good fortune increases for him who gives.
Malice does not accumulate for the person who controls
his mind.
The good person abandons all evil
And, by destroying lust, wrath, and ignorance, becomes
completely tranquil.” (Page 185)