Thereupon the Buddha aid to the great multitude including Bodhisattvas and others, “Good men! Understand my sincere and infallible words by faith!” {the true speech of the Thus Come One}.

They beg for it three times, also expressing how intense is their aspiration.

The gods, men and asuras in the world think that I, Śākyamuni Buddha, left the palace of the Śākyas, sat at the place of enlightenment not far from the City of Gayā, and attained Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi [forty and odd years ago].

Here is the point of which many are doubtful. Thus, he points it out to dispel the doubts. This day [the Buddha] proves that his long life-span is real, thereby showing that [his enlightenment at] Gayā is unreal. If one perceives that Gayā is untrue, one also knows that [a] long or short [life-span] applies to beings, whereas the Sage is ever in the unconditioned state (wu-wei, asaṃskṛta).