Udanavarga 2.38

2.38

昔佛在舍衛國，有一長老比丘字般特，新作比丘稟性闇塞，佛令五百羅漢日日教之，三年之中不得一偈，國中四輩皆知其愚冥。佛愍傷之，即呼著前授與一偈，守口攝意身莫犯，如是行者得度世。時般特感佛慈恩，歡欣心開誦偈上口。佛告之曰：「汝今年老，方得一偈，人皆知之不足為奇；今當為汝解說其義，一心諦聽。」般特受教而聽，佛即為說身三口四意三所由，觀其所起察其所滅，三界五道輪轉不息，由之昇天、由之墮淵、由之得道，涅槃自然、分別為說無量妙法。時般特㸌然心開，即得羅漢道。爾時有五百比丘尼別有精舍，佛日遣一比丘為說經法，「明日般特次應當行。」諸尼聞之皆豫含笑。「明日來者，我等當共逆說其偈，令之慚愧無所一言。」明日般特往，諸比丘尼大小皆出作禮相視而笑，坐畢下食，食已澡手請令說法。時般特即上高座，自慚否曰：「薄德下才末為沙門，頑鈍有素所學不多，唯知一偈粗識其義，當為敷演願各靜聽。」諸年少比丘尼欲逆說偈，口不能開，驚怖自責稽首悔過。般特即如佛所說，一一分別身意所由罪福內外，昇天得道凝神斷想入定之法。即時諸尼聞其所說甚怪甚異，一心歡喜皆得羅漢道。

In old time, when Buddha was residing at Śrāvastī, there was an old mendicant called Pan-teh-san (Patisena?) who being by nature cross and dull, could not learn so much as one Gāthā by heart. Buddha accordingly ordered 500 Rahats day by day to instruct him, but after three years he still was unable to remember even the one Gāthā. Then all the people of the country (the four orders of people) knowing his ignorance, began to ridicule him, on which Buddha, pitying his case, called him to his side, and gently repeated the following stanza :—"He who guards his mouth, and restrains his thoughts, he who offends not with his body, the man who acts thus shall obtain deliverance.” Then Patisena, moved by a sense of the Master's goodness to him, felt his heart opened, and at once he repeated the stanza. Buddha then addressed him further—"You now, an old man, can repeat a stanza only, and men know this, and they will still ridicule you, therefore I will now explain the meaning of the verse to you, and do you on your part attentively listen.” Then Buddha declared the three causes connected with the body, the four connected with the mouth, and the three connected with the thoughts, by destroying which men might obtain deliverance, on which the mendicant, fully realising the truth thus explained, obtained the condition of a Rahat.

Now, at this time there were 500 Bhikshunīs (Nuns) dwelling in their Vihāra, who sent one of their number to Buddha to request him to send them a priest to instruct them in the Law, on which Buddha desired the old mendicant Patisena to go to them for this purpose. On hearing that this arrangement had been made, all the nuns began to laugh together, and agreed on the morrow, when he came, to say the Gāthā wrong (backward), and so confuse the old man and put him to shame. Then on the morrow when he came, all the Bhikshunīs, great and small, went forth to salute him, and as they did so, they looked at one another and smiled. Then sitting down, they offered him food. Having eaten and washed his hands, they then begged him to begin his sermon. On which the aged mendicant ascended the elevated seat, and sitting down, began: “Sisters! my talent is small, my learning is very little. I know only one Gāthā, but I will repeat that and explain its meaning. Do you listen with attention and understand.” Then all the young nuns began to attempt to say the Gāthā backwards; but lo! they could not open their mouths; and filled with shame, they hung down their heads in sorrow. Then Patisena having repeated the Gāthā, began to explain it, head by head, as Buddha had instructed him. Then all the female mendicants hearing his words, were filled with surprise, and rejoicing to hear such instruction, with one heart they received it, and became Rahats.