雜譬喻經 1.28

1.28

Luoyunzhu was a disciple of Śāriputra. Formerly he had snatched food from a pratyekabuddha, and because of this offence he was reborn among the hungry ghosts, suffering torment for immeasurable kalpas. When his existence as a hungry ghost came to an end, he was reborn among humans, where for five hundred lifetimes he suffered the retribution of hunger. In his final lifetime, he encountered the Buddha living in the world, went forth from household life to learn the Way, and wore the three Dharma robes. When he wandered begging for alms, no one was willing to give to him, and sometimes he obtained nothing for five or seven days. Maudgalyāyana took pity on him, went begging for food, and brought it to give to him, but just as it fell into his bowl, a large bird snatched it away. Śāriputra begged for food and gave it to him, but just as it entered his bowl, it turned into mud and earth. Mahākāśyapa begged for food and gave it to him, but just as he brought it to his mouth, his mouth immediately shut tight with no way to enter. The Buddha gave him food, and by the power of his great compassion it was able to enter his mouth; its flavour was extraordinary, and the Buddha furthermore used various skilful means to preach the Dharma for him. Then Luoyunzhu, hearing the supreme, wondrous Dharma, was filled with mixed feelings of sorrow and joy, and contemplating with a single mind, attained the stage of an arhat.