The Long Āgama Sūtra 14.55

14.55

帝釋白佛言：「我自憶念：昔者，曾詣沙門、婆羅門所諮問此義。昔我一時曾集講堂，與諸天眾共論：『如來為當出世，為未出世？』時共推求，不見如來出現于世，各自還宮，五欲娛樂。世尊！我復於後時見諸大神天，自恣五欲已，漸各命終。時我，世尊！懷大恐怖，衣毛為竪。時，見沙門、婆羅門處在閑靜，去家離欲，我尋至彼所問言：『云何名究竟？』我問此義，彼不能報。彼既不知，逆問我言：『汝為是誰？』我尋報言：『我是釋提桓因。』彼復問言：『汝是何釋？』我時答言：『我是天帝釋，心有所疑，故來相問耳。』時，我與彼如所知見，說於釋義。彼問我言：『更為我弟子，我今是佛弟子，得須陀洹道，不墮餘趣，極七往返，必成道果，唯願世尊記我為斯陀含。』說此語已，復作頌曰：

Lord Śakra said to the Buddha, “I remember that once I visited an ascetic or priest to inquire about this subject. One time, I and the assembly of gods had gathered in the meeting hall and discussed ‘Will a Tathāgata arise in the world? Has he arisen yet?’

“We looked for him, but we didn’t see a Tathāgata that had arisen in the world. Each of us returned to the palace and entertained ourselves with the five desires. Bhagavān, after that I watched the great spirits and gods freely partake of the five desires, and gradually each of their lives ended.

“At that point, Bhagavān, I felt great apprehension, and my hair stood on end. Then I saw an ascetic or priest dwelling in quietude who had left home and parted with desire. I went quickly to him and asked, ‘What is called the ultimate goal?’

“I asked about this subject, but he couldn’t answer me. Since he didn’t know, he countered by asking me, ‘Who are you?’

“I immediately replied, ‘I am Śakra the Lord of Gods.’

“Again, he asked, ‘How are you Śakra?’

“I then answered, ‘I am the Lord God Śakra. I have a doubt in my mind, so I came here to ask you about it.’

“Then the two of us came to an understanding, discussing the meaning of being Śakra. He would ask, I would answer, and then he would become my disciple. But I’m a disciple of the Buddha, and I’ve attained the path of stream entry. I won’t fall to other destinies, and I’ll surely achieve the fruit of the path in not more than seven rebirths. Please, Bhagavān, describe to me how to become a once-returner!”

After describing this conversation, Śakra also spoke these verses: