釋迦譜 3.13.2

3.13.2

Although Sudatta saw the World-Honoured One, he did not know the proper manner of bowing and making offerings. [The World-Honoured One] manifested four persons who came in procession; reaching the World-Honoured One's presence, they touched his feet in reverence, knelt on both knees, inquired after his well-being, circumambulated him three times to the right, and withdrew to stand to one side. When Sudatta saw them do this, he was astonished and thought to himself: "The manner of paying respect should indeed be like this!" He immediately rose from his seat, paid reverence just as they had done, inquired after [the Buddha's] well-being, circumambulated him three times to the right, and withdrew to stand to one side. Then the World-Honoured One expounded the Dharma for him: the four truths, subtle and wondrous, suffering, emptiness, and impermanence. Hearing the Dharma, he rejoiced and was imbued with the noble Dharma, becoming a srotāpanna—just as clean, white cotton cloth readily takes on dye. Kneeling upright with palms joined, he asked the World-Honoured One, "In the city of Śrāvastī, among those like myself, are there any others who, hearing the Dharma, are easily imbued with it as I am?" The Buddha told Sudatta, "There is not a second person like you. In the city of Śrāvastī, most people believe in heterodox teachings; they are hard to imbue with the noble teaching." Sudatta addressed the Buddha, "I only pray that the Tathāgata will deign to condescend his divine presence and come to Śrāvastī, so that the sentient beings therein may abandon the heterodox and turn to the correct." The World-Honoured One told him, "The way of the renunciant is different from that of the worldly. Their dwelling places should also be distinct. There is no vihāra there; how could I go?" Sudatta addressed the Buddha, saying, "Your disciple can build one. I pray you will grant your permission." The World-Honoured One remained silent. Sudatta took his leave and went to arrange the marriage for his son. Having concluded it, he took his leave of the Buddha to return home, and addressed the Buddha, saying, "Upon returning to my native country, I shall erect a vihāra, but I do not know the model and rules. I only pray that the World-Honoured One will send a disciple to go with me and give instructions." The World-Honoured One considered: "Within the city of Śrāvastī, the brāhmaṇas believe in heterodox and inverted views; if any other person goes, he will certainly not succeed. Only Śāriputra is of brāhmaṇa stock, has been intelligent since youth, and possesses both supernatural powers [and wisdom]. His going will surely be beneficial." He thereupon ordered him to go together with Sudatta. Sudatta asked, "How many li can the World-Honoured One travel on foot in a day?" Śāriputra said, "Half a yojana a day; as is the manner of a wheel-turning king traveling on foot, so too is the World-Honoured One." Thereupon, along the route, every twenty li Sudatta built a rest house, calculated the labor and paid money to hire workers, stationed attendants, and made food, drink, and bedding completely sufficient, from the city of Rājagṛha all the way to the kingdom of Śrāvastī. Having returned home, he inspected various grounds together with Śāriputra to see where there was an even and expansive area suitable for building a vihāra. They inspected all around, but there was no place to their liking. Only Prince Jeta had a park; its ground was level, its trees were lush, and it was neither too far nor too near—just the right place. Śāriputra told Sudatta, "In this park it is fitting to build a vihāra. If it were built far away, alms-seeking would be difficult; if in a close place, the clamor would disrupt the practice of the Path." Sudatta rejoiced, went to the prince's presence, and said to the prince, "I now wish to build a vihāra for the Tathāgata. Your park is excellent, and I now wish to buy it." The prince laughed and said, "I lack nothing. This park is lush and flourishing, and I intend to use it for recreation, strolling, and relaxing my mind." Sudatta earnestly asked again and again, even two and three times. The prince begrudged it and doubled the asking price, thinking that if the price were exorbitant, [Sudatta] would not be able to buy it. He told Sudatta, "If you can cover the ground with gold so that there is no empty space between, I shall give it to you." Sudatta said, "Agreed; I accept whatever the price may be." Prince Jeta said, "I was only joking!" Sudatta addressed him, saying, "As the code of a prince, one should not speak falsely. If one speaks falsely and deceives, how can one succeed [to the throne] and care for the people?" He then went with the prince wishing to litigate and settle the matter. At that time, because a vihāra was to be built for the Buddha, the Śuddhāvāsa gods feared that the ministers might show partiality toward the prince; so [a deity] transformed into a man and descended to arbitrate, saying to the prince, "Indeed, by the code of a prince, one should not speak falsely. Having already agreed to the price and settled it, it is not proper to regret it halfway." He thereupon judged that it be given to [Sudatta]. Sudatta rejoiced, and immediately ordered servants to lead elephants carrying out the gold. Within the eighty qing, it was about to be filled in a short moment, with only a small plot of ground remaining. Sudatta pondered which treasury of gold would suffice, neither too much nor too little, to make it completely full. Jeta asked, "Do you find it too expensive and want to give it up?" He answered, "No. I was only considering which gold treasury would suffice to cover the remainder." Jeta thought to himself: "The Buddha must be of great virtue, to cause this man to hold treasures so lightly as this!" He instructed: "Stop right here; do not bring out any more gold! The ground of the park belongs to you, but the trees belong to me. I shall personally build the gatehouses and offer them to the Buddha, and together we shall establish the vihāra." Sudatta rejoiced and readily agreed. He then returned home to begin the construction work. When the six masters heard of this, they went and addressed the king: "The elder Sudatta has bought Jeta's park, wishing to erect a vihāra for the śramaṇa Gautama. Allow our followers to compete in arts with them: if the śramaṇas win, then let it be erected; if they are inferior, they may not erect it. Gautama's followers may dwell in Rājagṛha, while our followers shall dwell here." The king summoned Sudatta and asked him, saying, "Now these six masters say: 'You have bought Jeta's park, wishing to build a vihāra for the śramaṇa Gautama, and we request to compete in arts with the śramaṇa's disciples. If they win, they may build the vihāra; if they are inferior, they may not build it.'" Sudatta returned home, wore soiled clothes, and was sorrowful and unhappy. The next day, when the time came, Śāriputra put on his robes, took his bowl, and came to Sudatta's house. Seeing that he was unhappy, he asked him, "Why are you unhappy?" Sudatta answered, saying, "I only fear that the vihāra to be built will not be accomplished; that is why I am sorrowful." Śāriputra said, "What matter is there that you fear it will not be accomplished?" He replied, "Now the six masters have approached the king to request a contest: if your honor wins, the vihāra may be built; if you are inferior, it is forbidden and you will not be allowed to build it. These six masters have been renunciants for a long time; their devotion is longstanding, and in the skills and arts they have mastered, none can equal them. I do not know whether your honor's skills and arts can compete with them or not." Śāriputra said, "Even if the followers of these six masters filled Jambudvīpa, as numerous as a bamboo grove, they could not move a single hair on my foot! Let them test whatever they wish, entirely at their discretion." Sudatta rejoiced, changed into new clothes, bathed in fragrant water, and immediately went to address the king: "I have inquired about it; if the six masters wish to compete, let it be entirely as they desire." That day, the king informed the six masters: "I now permit you to compete with the śramaṇa." Thereupon the six masters proclaimed to the people of the country: "Seven days from now!"