太子瑞應本起經 2.45

2.45

"Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa had two younger brothers: the next was named Nadī-Kāśyapa, and the youngest was named Gayā-Kāśyapa. The two younger brothers each had two hundred and fifty disciples, and their huts stood in a row by the water. Seeing the clothes, utensils, and various implements for fire sacrifice of the brāhmaṇas all drifting down with the current, the two younger brothers were astonished and alarmed, fearing that their elder brother and his five hundred disciples had been harmed by evil men or swept away by the great flood. They immediately went up against the stream with their five hundred disciples. Seeing that their elder brother and his disciples had all become śramaṇas, they asked in wonder: 'Eldest brother, you are one hundred and twenty years old, of high and far-reaching wisdom, revered and served by the king, officials, and people alike. We thought that you were an arhat. Now on the contrary you abandon the way of the brāhmaṇas and study the dharma of the śramaṇas. This is no small matter! Can the Buddha alone be so great, and his Way superior?' Kāśyapa replied: 'The Buddha's Way is supreme, and his Dharma is immeasurable. Although I have studied worldly teachings, I have never seen anyone attain the spiritual wisdom of the Way like the Buddha. His sūtras and precepts are utterly pure. I now see that with a compassionate mind he delivers people, transforming them through three things: first, spiritual footing in the samādhi of the Way, transforming spontaneously; second, wisdom, knowing people's original thoughts; third, the correct practice of the path of sūtras, giving medicine according to the sickness.' The two younger brothers each turned and said to their disciples: 'What path do you wish to take?' The five hundred men said with one voice: 'We wish to follow our great master.' They then all bowed their heads and sought to become śramaṇas. The Buddha said: 'It is granted! Come, śramaṇas.' The two younger brothers and the five hundred disciples all had their beards and hair removed, and following behind the Buddha, they too became śramaṇas.