分別功德論 4.13

4.13

The reason why Maudgalyāyana is declared foremost in ṛddhi is that the World-Honoured One also spoke of a proof. In former times, when the three calamities were rampant, the people suffered great famine. Maudgalyāyana thought: 'Beneath this earth there still remains the earth essence of former days. Now the people are starving terribly; I wish to overturn this earth and take the lower earth essence to sustain the people's lives.' Having thought this, he addressed the Buddha: 'I now wish to use the four bases of ṛddhi to overturn the earth and take the lower earth essence to relieve the people's lives. I wonder whether this may be done or not?' The Buddha said: 'Stop, stop, Maudgalyāyana! Although your ṛddhi can overturn this without difficulty, what of the sentient beings therein? Could one hold the worms with one hand and overturn the earth with the other?' The Buddha said: 'It cannot be done. Why is that? In future times, monks will mostly lack ṛddhi. If there were famine in the future, kings, ministers, and commoners would order the śramaṇas to overturn the earth; if they could not do so, they would say they were not śramaṇas.' Based on this proof of ṛddhi, Maudgalyāyana is declared foremost.