傳法正宗記 2.18

2.18

Thereupon the Venerable One reflected to himself, 'If I remain partially in one country and enter extinction there, the nations will surely dispute over it, which would not be right. Here I should deliver sentient beings with impartiality.' He then went to the midstream of the Ganges wishing to enter nirvāṇa. At that time, the great earth shook in six ways. Previously, there had been five hundred ṛṣis dwelling in the Snow Mountains; at this time, they came together flying through the air, bowed at the feet of the Venerable One, and said, 'Now we are destined to realize the Buddha's Dharma through the Elder; we pray to be ferried across upon seeing you.' The Venerable One silently assented. He immediately transformed the Ganges River entirely into golden ground, and thereupon expounded the essentials of the Great Dharma for them. The Venerable One reflected again, 'The disciples I delivered in former times should also assemble.' In an instant, five hundred arhats descended from the sky. They caused the ṛṣis to leave the household and receive the precepts, and the ṛṣis soon all attained the four fruits. Among that host of ṛṣis, however, were two arhats: one named Śāṇavāsa, and one named Madhyāntika (also called Modiantadi). The Venerable One knew that they were both great vessels of the Dharma, and instructed them, saying, 'In the past, the Tathāgata entrusted the Eye of the True Dharma to Mahākāśyapa. Kāśyapa entered samādhi and entrusted it to me. I am now about to enter extinction, and transmit it to you. Receiving my teaching, you should listen to this verse:'