The Long Āgama Sūtra 4.14

4.14

佛言：「我先問彼：『汝因何法，自以妙言稱見道迹？』闍尼沙言：『我不於餘處，不在餘法。我昔為人王，為世尊弟子，以篤信心為優婆塞，一心念佛，然後命終，為毘沙門天王作子，得須陀洹，不墮惡趣，極七往返，乃盡苦際，於七生名中，常名闍尼沙。一時，世尊在大林中一樹下坐，我時乘天千輻寶車，以少因緣，欲詣毘樓勒天王，遙見世尊在一樹下，顏貌端正，諸根寂定，譬如深淵澄靜清明，見已念言，我今寧可往問世尊，摩竭國人有命終者，當生何所？又復一時，毘沙門王自於眾中，而說偈言：

The Buddha said, “I first asked it, ‘What’s the reason you’ve used this wondrous word that claims you see the steps of the path?’

“Janavṛṣabha said, ‘I’m not from somewhere else where there was some other teaching. I was once a human king who was a disciple of the Bhagavān, a devoted layman. I had whole-heartedly recollected the Buddha when my life ended, and afterward I became a son of god king Vaiśravaṇa. I attained stream entry and didn’t fall to a bad destiny. In no more than seven rebirths, I’ll reach the end of suffering, and I’ll always be named Janavṛṣabha during those seven births.

“‘Once, the Buddha was in the Great Forest sitting under a tree, and I was riding a heavenly thousand-spoked treasure chariot for some minor reason. I was about to return to the god king Vaiśravaṇa when I spotted the Bhagavān under a tree in the distance. He looked handsome, and his faculties were peaceful and settled like a deep pond that’s clear, tranquil, clean, and reflective. Seeing him, I thought, ‘Now, I better go ask the Bhagavān about where the people of Magadha have been born after their lives ended.’

“‘There was another time when King Vaiśravaṇa spoke this verse to his assembly: