釋迦氏譜 1.178

1.178

經云。佛在竹園。王城二婆羅門。有大智慧舉世所稱。各有一百弟子共為親友。有阿耆比丘入城乞食。舍利弗見心異遍身。具問所學略說一偈。便得初果。還為目連再說得道。即將弟子往詣竹園。佛遙授記彼來二人為吾上足。便呼善來出家悟聖。爾時摩竭提國。有一千二百五十比丘。皆大阿羅漢。經中多述重其初發也。

The sūtra says: When the Buddha was in the Bamboo Grove, there were two brāhmaṇas in the royal capital who possessed great wisdom and were praised throughout the world; each had one hundred disciples, and they were close friends. The bhikṣu Aśvajit entered the city to beg for food. When Śāriputra saw him, he felt that his whole body was extraordinary; he inquired fully about what he studied, and when [Aśvajit] briefly spoke a single verse, he attained the first fruit. Returning, he recited it again to Maudgalyāyana, who also attained the Way. Thereupon, leading their disciples, they went to the Bamboo Grove. The Buddha gave them a prediction from afar: 'Those two coming are my foremost disciples.' He then called, 'Welcome!' and they renounced household life and awakened to holiness. At that time in the kingdom of Magadha there were one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikṣus, all great arhats. In the sūtras, this is frequently related, emphasizing their initial resolve.