佛祖統紀 1.79

1.79

達多品。佛言。吾於過去無量劫中。求法華經。無有懈倦。於多劫中常作國王。發願求於無上菩提。為欲滿足六波羅密。勤行布施。不惜身命。捐捨國位。委正太子。宣令求法。時有阿私仙人。來白王言。我有大乘。名妙法華經。若不違我。當為宣說。王聞仙言。歡喜踊躍。即隨仙人。供給所須。採果汲水。拾薪設食。乃至以身。而為床座。身心無懈倦。普為諸眾生。勤求於大法。遂致得成佛。爾時王者。則我身是。時仙人者。提婆達多是。由提婆達多善知識故。令我具足六波羅密。

The 'Devadatta' chapter states: 'The Buddha said: "In past immeasurable kalpas, I sought the Lotus Sūtra without sloth or fatigue. For many kalpas I constantly acted as a king, making the vow to seek unexcelled bodhi. Wishing to fulfill the six pāramitās, I diligently practiced giving, not begrudging my physical body or life. Renouncing the royal throne, I entrusted it to the crown prince and issued an order seeking the Dharma. At that time, there was an asita ṛṣi who came and addressed the king, saying: 'I have a Mahāyāna [text] named the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Sūtra; if you do not disobey me, I shall expound it for you.' Hearing the ṛṣi's words, the king leaped with joy, and immediately followed the ṛṣi, supplying all that was needed, gathering fruit, drawing water, collecting firewood, preparing food, and even using his own body as a couch and seat, without sloth or fatigue in body and mind. Universally for the sake of all sentient beings, he diligently sought the great Dharma, and consequently attained Buddhahood. The king at that time was indeed my own person; the ṛṣi at that time was Devadatta. It was through Devadatta as a good friend that I was caused to be complete in the six pāramitās."'