傳法正宗記 2.8

2.8

阿難尊者。王舍城人也。姓剎帝利。斛飯王子。而釋迦如來之從弟也。始名阿難陀。此云慶喜。亦云歡喜。蓋當如來成道之夕。而尊者乃生。王之家大慶且喜。以故名之。然有奇相。而聰明叡智。不比凡者。少時聞如來出世。乃用世幻自感。以如來初從釋氏而出家成大聖道。因往求為其弟子。如來許為之說法。遂成須陀洹果。方如來欲人參侍。而尊者獨為大眾所推其智慧善巧。而知時所宜。頗合聖意。然其往世。於佛有大功德。故所聞法皆能記之。若水傳器而無有失者。故如來甞稱其總持第一。及如來垂般涅槃。而尊者方在娑羅林外。為魔所亂。如來即勅文殊師利。將呪往解。尊者因與文殊偕還。而禮覲如來。如來化已。大迦葉會諸羅漢於畢鉢羅巖。結集法藏。獨以尊者大智多聞而常侍如來其聞法最詳。乃白眾請之。以集修多羅阿毘曇達磨藏。尊者領命。遂說偈曰。

The Venerable Ānanda was a native of Rājagṛha, belonging to the kṣatriya caste. He was the son of Prince Droṇodana and a cousin of the Tathāgata Śākyamuni. He was originally named Ānanda, which here means 'Celebration of Joy,' or 'Delight.' Because the Venerable One was born on the night the Tathāgata attained the Way, the royal household had a great celebration and was joyful, and therefore named him so. He possessed extraordinary marks, and his intelligence and discernment were beyond those of ordinary people. In his youth, hearing that the Tathāgata had appeared in the world, he felt moved by the illusory nature of worldly life; since the Tathāgata had originally left the Śākya clan to leave the household life and attain the Great Holy Way, he went to ask to become his disciple. The Tathāgata consented and preached the Dharma for him, whereupon he attained the fruit of srotāpanna. When the Tathāgata wished to have someone attend upon him, the Venerable One was uniquely recommended by the great assembly because his wisdom was skillful and he knew what was fitting for the time, thoroughly matching the Sage's mind. Moreover, in his past lives he had great merit with the Buddha; thus he could remember all the teachings he heard, like water poured from one vessel to another without any loss. Therefore the Tathāgata once praised him as foremost in retention. When the Tathāgata was approaching parinirvāṇa, the Venerable One happened to be outside the sāla grove, confounded by Māra. The Tathāgata immediately ordered Mañjuśrī to take a dhāraṇī to release him. The Venerable One thereupon returned together with Mañjuśrī and paid homage to the Tathāgata. After the Tathāgata passed away, Mahākāśyapa gathered the arhats at Pippala Cave to compile the Dharma-piṭaka. Solely because the Venerable One possessed great wisdom, had heard much, had constantly attended upon the Tathāgata, and had heard the Dharma most comprehensively, he addressed the assembly to request him to compile the Sūtra and Abhidharmapiṭakas. Accepting the instruction, the Venerable One recited a verse: