金剛般若疏 1.24.3

1.24.3

When the six teachers of outside paths heard of this, they immediately went to report to the king: ‘The elder Sudatta has bought the prince’s park and wishes to erect a vihāra for Gautama. Let us compete in spiritual arts against him; if he wins, then allow him to build it.’ The king thereupon summoned the elder and asked him: ‘Now the six teachers say: “You have bought Jeta’s park to erect a vihāra for Gautama. They request to contest spiritual arts with the śramaṇa’s disciples; if [his disciple] wins, you may build it, but if he cannot, you may not build it.”’ The elder returned home, put on soiled and dirty garments, and was distressed and unhappy. The next day, Śāriputra put on his robes, took his alms bowl, and came to the elder’s house. Seeing that he was unhappy, he asked: ‘Why are you like this?’ The elder replied: ‘I fear the vihāra cannot be accomplished, and therefore I am grieved.’ Śāriputra said: ‘What is the matter?’ He replied: ‘Now the six teachers have gone to the king requesting a contest of spiritual arts. Only if the Venerable One wins will they allow it to be built; if you are not equal to them, it will not be allowed. However, those of the six teachers have been renouncers for a long time, and their long-practiced arts and skills are unsurpassed by anyone. I do not know whether the Venerable One can contest spiritual arts with them or not.’ Śāriputra replied: ‘Even if the followers of the six teachers filled a trichiliocosm, a multitude like a bamboo grove, they could not move a single hair of mine. If they wish to contest arts, just grant it freely.’ The elder was overjoyed, changed into fresh clothes, went to report to the king, and said: ‘If the six teachers wish to compete, let it be entirely as they desire.’ The king then informed the six teachers and announced to the people of the country: ‘Seven days from now, outside the city, the six teachers and the śramaṇa shall compete in spiritual arts.’ In that country there were 1.8 billion people. At that time, the law of that land was to strike drums to assemble the multitude: if the bronze drum was struck, 1.2 billion people gathered; if the silver drum was beaten, 1.4 billion people gathered; if the golden drum was sounded, everyone without exception gathered. When the seven days had elapsed, the drum was beaten and all assembled; the followers of the six teachers numbered three hundred million people. At that time, the people set out seats for the king and the six teachers. Then the elder prepared a seat for Śāriputra. At that moment, Śāriputra was under a tree, serenely entering samādhi, roaming through various gates of dhyāna, unobstructed and unimpeded. He thought: ‘The great assembly in this gathering has long practiced heterodoxy and is arrogant and haughty. By what virtue should these living beings be subdued?’ Having reflected thus, he then made a vow: ‘If over countless kalpas I have been kind and filial toward my parents, śramaṇas, and brāhmaṇas, then when I enter the assembly today, let all the people bow in homage to me.’ At that time, the followers of the six teachers had already assembled, but Śāriputra alone had not yet arrived. They said to the king: ‘Gautama’s disciple knows that he lacks arts, so out of fear he does not come.’ The king said to the elder: ‘Where is your master now?’ Sudatta immediately went to Śāriputra’s place and said: ‘The great assembly has already gathered; please come to the meeting.’ At that time, Śāriputra arose from dhyāna, adjusted his robes, and walked forward serenely like a lion king, proceeding to the great assembly. At that moment, when the great assembly and the six teachers saw his appearance, they suddenly stood up, like grass bending before the wind, paying homage without realizing it. Then Śāriputra ascended the seat that Sudatta had arranged. Among the followers of the six teachers there was a disciple named Raudrākṣa, who was skilled in illusory arts. In front of the great assembly, he conjured a great tree with a spell, overshadowing the crowd. The crowd all said: ‘This was made by Raudrākṣa.’ Then Śāriputra, by supernatural power, raised a vairambhaka wind that blew up the roots of the tree, cast it down to the ground, and pulverized it into fine dust. The crowd said: ‘Śāriputra has won!’ Raudrākṣa again cast a spell to create a pool with seven treasures arranged on all four sides and lotus flowers blooming in the water. The crowd said: ‘This was made by Raudrākṣa.’ Śāriputra created a white elephant with six tusks; upon the tusks were flowers, and upon the flowers were jade maidens. The elephant walked slowly into the pool, took water into its trunk, and trampled the flowers. The crowd all said: ‘Śāriputra has won!’ Raudrākṣa again created a mountain adorned with seven treasures, with luxuriant flowers and fruits. The crowd said: ‘This was made by Raudrākṣa.’ Śāriputra then created a vajra-wielding warrior, who struck it with a vajra pestle, whereupon it broke into pieces. The crowd all said: ‘Śāriputra has won!’ Raudrākṣa again created a dragon with ten heads, which rained down various treasures in the sky, with lightning and thunder shaking the ground. The crowd all said: ‘This was made by Raudrākṣa.’ Śāriputra created a garuḍa king, who tore it apart and devoured it. The crowd all said: ‘Śāriputra has won!’ Raudrākṣa again created a bull king, huge and fat, with sharp horns scraping the ground, charging forward. Then Śāriputra transformed into a lion king, which immediately struck, tore apart, and devoured it. The crowd all said: ‘Śāriputra has won!’ Raudrākṣa then transformed his own body into a yakṣa demon, gigantic in form, with fire burning atop its head, eyes red as blood, four tusks in its mouth, and fire shooting from its eyes, running in terror. Then Śāriputra transformed into King Vaiśravaṇa. The yakṣa was terrified and wished to retreat, but fire arose on all four sides with nowhere to go; only beside Śāriputra was it cool and free of fire. It immediately surrendered, touched its head to the ground in homage, and the fire was extinguished. The crowd all said: ‘Śāriputra has won! Raudrākṣa is inferior.’ At that time, Śāriputra flew up into the sky and manifested the eighteen transformations and eight sovereign powers. When the assembly saw his supernatural power, all rejoiced. Śāriputra then expounded the Dharma for them, and according to their meritorious practices, each attained the fruits of the path. Three hundred million disciples of the six teachers went forth from household life under Śāriputra to learn the path. When the contest of arts was over, the fourfold assembly each returned to their dwellings. The elder returned with Śāriputra to measure the ground for the vihāra. Personally casting one end of the measuring line, Śāriputra smiled with joy. The elder asked: ‘Why does the Venerable One smile?’ He answered: ‘Just as we begin to measure the ground, palaces in the six heavens are already completed.’ He then lent him the spiritual eye, and the elder saw them all. The elder then asked Śāriputra: ‘Which place is the most supreme among the six desire heavens?’ Śāriputra said: ‘In the fourth heaven, desires are few and they know contentment; there is always a bodhisattva bound to one last birth who comes to be born there.’ Sudatta said: ‘I shall be born precisely in the fourth heaven.’ As soon as the elder uttered these words, the other five palaces vanished entirely, and only the palace in the fourth heaven remained calm and unchanging. Casting the line again, Śāriputra showed a sad and worried look. [The elder] then asked: ‘Why does the Venerable One have a sorrowful look?’ He answered: ‘Do you see the ants on this ground?’ He replied: ‘I have seen them.’