觀無量壽佛經疏 2.15

2.15

Answer: "This has a special meaning. What is the special meaning? These śrāvakas were mostly non-Buddhists. As the Damamūkanidāna Sūtra says: 'Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa led five hundred disciples practicing heterodox teachings. Gayā-Kāśyapa led two hundred and fifty disciples practicing heterodox teachings. Nadī-Kāśyapa led two hundred and fifty disciples practicing heterodox teachings. In total there were one thousand. All received the Buddha's conversion and attained the path of arhats. The other two hundred and fifty were disciples of Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana, leading them together in one place, practicing heterodox teachings; they also received the Buddha's conversion and all attained the fruit of the path. These four groups were united in one place; therefore there were 1,250 people.'"