妙法蓮華經文句 2.10

2.10

“Pilindavatsa” is translated as “Residual Habits”. For five hundred lifetimes he was a brāhmaṇa, and his residual haughtiness remained high. When crossing the Gaṅgā River, he said: “Hey, little slave girl, stop the flow!” The deity of the Gaṅgā parted the waters into two streams for him. The deity went to complain to the Buddha. The Buddha told him to apologise, so he immediately joined his palms: “Little slave girl, do not be angry.” The great assembly laughed at this: he apologised yet scolded her again. The Buddha said: “His original habit is like this; in truth he has no arrogant mind.” The Ekottarika-āgama states: “Among those who sit in ascetic practice under trees without avoiding wind or rain, the monk Vatsa is foremost.”