分別功德論 5.16

5.16

As for why the monk Pantha is praised for being able to conceal his form and make himself invisible: Pantha means 'road'. There were twin sons abandoned on a road, whom someone took in and raised to adulthood. Each left the household for the path, but having no one to give them names, they were named Daosheng ('Road-Born'), which in the barbarian tongue is Pantha. At that time in the kingdom of Magadha, violent thunderstorms and rains occurred frequently, and the five grains did not ripen. The king was named Bindusāra, who was the grandfather of King Ajātaśatru. He made an appeal to the four quarters, saying: "Whosoever is able to repel the violent rain, I shall bestow upon him great wealth and treasure." At that time there was a brāhmaṇa named Brahmacārin, who was skilled in incantations. He came to answer the appeal, saying, "I can repel the rain." The king then granted him permission and had him manifest his art to stop the rain. At that time yin and yang were harmonised, and the five grains ripened abundantly. The brahmacārin addressed the king, requesting his reward for stopping the rain. Although the king assented verbally, in the end he did not bestow the recompense. The ministers and the people, seeing that the king did not give it, each likewise made promises to him. The brahmacārin's family was impoverished, and he repeatedly sought it from them, yet they did not give it, and though he asked everywhere, he received nothing. The brahmacārin was greatly enraged, and vowed to become a poisonous nāga to destroy human crops: "Whenever people plant the five grains and the crops are growing well, I shall strike with great hailstorms to kill them, so that neither root nor stem can stand, how much less any leaves!" Having made this vow, his life came to an end, and he was immediately reborn among the nāgas, named Apolaka ('Leafless'). Whenever the people of Magadha planted crops and they had just sprouted, the nāga struck them down with hail. This continued for several years, and the people starved, with many dying. The Buddha took pity on them, and wishing to convert this nāga, he took Guhyaka, Ānanda, and Pantha to the kingdom of Gautama to approach the nāga's dwelling. When the nāga saw the Buddha coming, an evil thought arose, and he said, "Now I shall release hail to kill this śramaṇa." He then rained down mountain boulders. The Buddha looked to his right at Guhyaka. Guhyaka understood the Buddha's intent, and at once aimed his vajra club at the great rocky mountain, causing it to fall and block the nāga's abyss. The nāga was furious, and fire issued from his eyes. The Buddha looked to his right at the monk Pantha. The monk Pantha at once understood the Buddha's intent to have him subdue the nāga. Pantha immediately used his ṛddhi to conceal his form, and with water extinguished the fire in the nāga's eyes. The nāga then emitted fire from his ears, nose, and mouth, and [Pantha] extinguished this too with water. The monk further used his supernatural powers to pass in and out repeatedly through the nāga's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth while remaining unseen by the nāga, concealing his form within while manifesting his hands without. Seeing these transformations, the nāga's heart was immediately subdued. The Buddha then walked back and forth in meditation with the three persons ahead. On the rocks there were footprints of four persons, yet only three persons were visible. The nāga then asked the Buddha, "Where is the one person?" He answered, "These are the footprints of your teacher." The nāga said again, "What is the teacher's name? Why does he not appear now?" He answered, "His name is Pantha." The Buddha wished for him to appear at a distance, and [Pantha], knowing the Buddha's intent, manifested his form a hundred paces away. Seeing him from afar, the nāga rejoiced and paid homage. The Buddha then conferred upon him the eight precept observances. From that time forth, wind and rain were harmonised, the five grains were bountiful and ripe, and the people were at peace. By these causes and conditions, it is known that Pantha is the foremost in concealing his form.