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