大方便佛報恩經 5.37

5.37

Furthermore, the power of the Tathāgata's root of benevolence is inconceivable. At that time, King Virūḍhaka raised the fourfold army and attacked the country of Śrāvastī. Capturing the Śākyan youths, he dug pits and buried them up to their armpits so that they could not move, and a week passed. The Tathāgata then, through the power of his root of benevolence, transformed that ground into a bathing pool. The water of the bathing pool possessed the eight virtuous qualities, and there were wondrous fragrant flowers—namely padma flowers and puṇḍarīka flowers, blue, yellow, red, and white, as large as chariot wheels, filling it. Flocks of various birds sang in plaintive harmony. When the Śākyan youths saw this, joy arose in their hearts, and they immediately generated the aspiration for anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi. After they generated the bodhimind, King Virūḍhaka gave alcohol to five hundred black elephants, making them completely drunk and maddened, fitted their feet with iron armor, and bound sharp swords to their trunks. He then sounded the dread war drums and released the herd of elephants to trample the Śākyan youths. The joints of their limbs, their flesh and bones were crushed to pieces and scattered in disarray upon the ground. Because of the power of the Tathāgata's benevolence and compassion, their bodies and minds were at peace and ease; because their bodies and minds were at peace and ease, they generated the bodhimind; because they generated the bodhimind, they attained an equal mind toward all sentient beings; because their minds were equal, they did not give rise to anger; because their minds did not harbor anger, upon dying they were born in heaven. Having been born in heaven, they used their divine eye to look back upon their original karmic causes, and immediately said to one another: "We have received the Buddha's benevolent grace and been born in heaven. Our seven-jeweled palaces, famous and exquisite garments, the radiance of our bodies, delicate music, and all instruments of pleasure are entirely the supernatural power of the Tathāgata. Therefore, we should generate great compassion to benefit sentient beings. Wherever the Buddha's Dharma is propagated—be it in cities, towns, villages, mountain forests, under trees, in palaces, or in houses—wherever there are those who recite, copy, or explain its meaning, wherever it spreads, we shall provide for them as they desire, so that they lack nothing; if there be warfare, epidemics, or famine, we shall protect them day and night, our minds never abandoning them." When the devas had made this vow, the color and strength of their bodily life and their radiant splendor became twofold greater than usual, and leaping with joy, they flew away through the sky.