阿彌陀經通贊疏 1.74

1.74

"Piṇḍolabhāradvāja": according to the Sutra on Invoking Piṇḍola, "Piṇḍola" is his personal name, the meaning of which is not yet clear. "Bhāradvāja" is his lineage name, which is translated as "Sharp Faculties." Thus the Vinaya says: The elder Jyotiṣka placed a sandalwood bowl atop a pillar, declaring: "If anyone possesses supernatural powers and can take it, it shall be given to him." The venerable one, while patching his robes in the mountains, saw it from afar with his divine eye; scraping a needle against the cliff, he exercised his powers and went there, the needle thread dragging the mountain crag along into the royal city, blocking the sun and darkening the sky; none among the gentry and commoners in the city were not terrified. A pregnant woman miscarried and went to report this to the Buddha. The Buddha rebuked him and said: "From now on, you are not permitted to follow me, nor are you permitted to enter extinction; you must remain in this body for a long time, increasing merit for people by accepting invitations and receiving offerings." He currently resides on Mount Marīci in Southern India, accepting invitations and condescending to appear from time to time. The ritual protocol for inviting him is fully set forth in the Sutra on Invoking Piṇḍola and will not be related in detail here. For this venerable one, receiving the Buddha's command not to enter nirvāṇa, he constantly stays his staff at Mount Marīci and always receives offerings throughout the Jambudvīpa world; hence it is called "worthy of offerings."