法華傳記 10.24

10.24

昔外國有鐵塔。高丈餘。於中安置芬陀利迦阿差摩摩訶毘盧舍那經等梵夾。各有百千偈。時有一天女。夜時時來。以天曼陀羅華。供養鐵塔。有一客遊比丘。止宿塔影。夜分見天女。問曰。汝是誰。答我是忉利天妙華天女。釋提桓因侍女也。比丘復問。有何因緣來至供養。天女曰。我昔為貧女乞丐自活。傍有池號曰妙池。夏月四色蓮華彌滿。於中而生。諸國婆羅門等。競來採華。設蓮華法會。爾時貧女發微信。採二莖白蓮華。供養塔中芬陀利迦等修多羅。乘此一善。生忉利天。為帝釋侍女。以依本緣。號曰妙華。欲報法恩。時時供養作是語已。隱而不現。沙門捨衣鉢。買華供養塔及經卷（出要集）。

Formerly, in a foreign land there was an iron stupa more than a zhang in height, within which were enshrined Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscripts of the Puṇḍarīka, Akṣayamati, Mahāvairocana Sūtras, and others, each having a hundred thousand verses. At that time, there was a heavenly maiden who often came at night, making offerings to the iron stupa with heavenly māndārava flowers. There was a travelling monk who stayed overnight in the shadow of the stupa; in the night he saw the heavenly maiden and asked: 'Who are you?' She answered: 'I am the heavenly maiden Wonder-Flower of Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, an attendant maid of Śakra Devānām Indra.' The monk asked again: 'What cause and condition brings you here to make offerings?' The heavenly maiden said: 'In the past I was a poor woman who sustained myself by begging. Beside me was a pond named the Wondrous Pond; in the summer months, lotuses of four colors bloomed all over it. The brahmans and others of various kingdoms vied to come and pick the flowers to hold a lotus Dharma assembly. At that time, this poor woman gave rise to slight faith, picked two stems of white lotuses, and offered them to the Puṇḍarīka and other sūtras within the stupa. Riding upon this single good deed, I was born in Trāyastriṃśa Heaven as an attendant maid of Śakra. Because of my original condition, I am named Wonder-Flower. Wishing to repay the kindness of the Dharma, I make offerings from time to time.' Having said this, she vanished and was no longer seen. The śramaṇa gave up his robes and bowl to buy flowers to make offerings to the stupa and sūtra scrolls. (From the Yaoji).