大唐西域記 9.51

9.51

尊者，大婆羅門種。其父高才博識，深鑒精微，凡諸典籍莫不究習。其妻感夢，具告夫曰：「吾昨宵寐，夢感異人，身被鎧甲，手執金剛，摧破諸山，退立一山之下。」夫曰：「夢甚善。汝當生男，達學貫世，摧諸論師，破其宗致，唯不如一人，為作弟子。」果而有娠，母忽聰明，高論劇談，言無屈滯。尊者年始八歲，名擅四方，其性淳質，其心慈悲，朽壞結縛，成就智慧。與沒特伽羅子少而相友，深厭塵俗，未有所歸，於是與沒特伽羅子於珊闍耶外道所而修習焉。乃相謂曰：「斯非究竟之理，未能窮苦際也。各求明導，先嘗甘露，必同其味。」時大阿羅漢馬勝執持應器，入城乞食。舍利子見其威儀閑雅，即而問曰：「汝師是誰？」曰：「釋種太子厭世出家，成等正覺。是我師也。」舍利子曰：「所說何法，可得聞乎？」曰：「我初受教，未達深義。」舍利子曰：「願說所聞。」馬勝乃隨宜演說，舍利子聞已，即證初果。遂與其徒二百五十人往詣佛所，世尊遙見，指告眾曰：「我弟子中智慧第一。」至已頂禮，願從佛法。世尊告曰：「善來，比丘。」聞是語時，戒品具足。過半月後，聞佛為長爪梵志說法，聞餘論而感悟，遂證羅漢之果。其後阿難承佛告寂滅期，展轉相語，各懷悲感，舍利子深增戀仰，不忍見佛入般涅槃，遂請世尊，先入寂滅。世尊告曰：「宜知是時。」告謝門人，至本生里，侍者沙彌遍告城邑。未生怨王及其國人莫不風馳，皆悉雲會。舍利子廣為說法，聞已而去。於後夜分，正意繫心，入滅盡定，從定起已而寂滅焉。

And so in due course she conceived a child. All at once she was greatly enlightened. She discoursed in high and powerful language, and her words were not to be overthrown. When the venerable one began to be eight years old, his reputation was spread in every direction. His natural disposition was pure and simple, his heart loving and compassionate. He broke through all impediments in his way, and perfected his wisdom. He formed a friendship when young with Mudgalaputra, and being deeply disgusted with the world, and having no system to adopt as a refuge, he went with Mudgalaputra to the heretic Sañjaya's abode, and practised (his mode of salvation). Then they said together, "This is not the system of final deliverance, nor is it able to rescue us from the trammels of sorrow. Let us each seek for an illustrious guide. He who first obtains sweet dew, let him make the taste common to the other." At this time the great Arhat Asvajita, holding in his hand his proper measure bowl (pâtra), was entering the city begging for food. Sâriputra seeing his dignified exterior and his quiet and becoming manner, forthwith asked him, "Who is your master?" He answered, "The prince of the Sâkya tribe, disgusted with the world, becoming a hermit, has reached perfect wisdom. This one is my master." Sâriputra added, "And what doctrine does he teach?

May I find a way to hear it?" He said, "I have but just received instruction, and have not yet penetrated the deep doctrine." Sâriputra said, "Pray tell me (repeat) what you have heard." Then Asvajita, so far as he could, explained it and spoke. Sâriputra having heard it, immediately reached the first fruit, and went forthwith with 250 of his followers, to the place where Buddha was dwelling. The Lord of the World, seeing him afar off, pointing to him and addressing his followers, said, "Yonder comes one who will be most distinguished for wisdom among my disciples." Having reached the place, he bent his head in worship and asked to be permitted to follow the teaching of Buddha. The Lord said to him, "Welcome, O Bhikshu." Having heard these words, he was forthwith ordained. Half a month after, hearing Buddha preach the law on account of a Brahman called "Long-nails" (Dîrghanakha), together with other discourses, and understanding them with a lively emotion, he obtained the fruit of an Arhat. After this, Ânanda hearing Buddha speak about his Nirvâna, it was noised abroad and talked about (by the disciples). Each one was affected with grief. Sâriputra was doubly touched with sorrow, and could not endure the thought of seeing Buddha die. Accordingly, he asked the Lord that he might die first. The Lord said, "Take advantage of your opportunity."

South-east from the spot where Bimbasara-raja met Buddha, at a distance of about 20 li, we come to the town of Kalapinaka (Kia-lo-pi-na-kia). In this town is a stupa which was built by Asoka-raja. This is the place where Sariputra, the venerable one, was born. The well of the place still exists. By the side of the place is a stupa. This is where the venerable one obtained Nirvana; the relics of his body, therefore, are enshrined therein. He also was of a high Brahman family. His father was a man of great learning and erudition; he penetrated thoroughly the most intricate questions. There were no books he had not thoroughly investigated. His wife had a dream and told it to her husband. "Last night," said she, "during my sleep my dreams were troubled by a strange man whose body was covered with armour; in his hand he held a diamond mace with which he broke the mountains; departing, he stood at the foot of one particular mountain." "This dream," the husband said, "is extremely good. You will bear a son of deep learning; he will be honoured in the world, and will attack the treatises of all the masters and break down their teaching (schools). Being led to consider, he will become the disciple of one who is more than human."

He then bade adieu to the disciples and came to his native village. His followers, the Srâmaneras, spread the news everywhere through the towns and villages. Ajâtasatru-râja and his people hastened together as the wind, and assembled in clouds to the assembly, whilst Sâriputra repeated at large the teaching of the law. Having heard it, they went away. In the middle of the following night, with fixed (correct) thought, and mind restrained, he entered the Samâdhi called "final extinction." After awhile, having risen out of it, he died. Four or five li to the south-east of the town Kalapinaka is a stūpa. This is the spot where a disciple of Śāriputra reached Nirvāṇa. It is otherwise said, "When Kāśyapa Buddha was in the world, then three kōṭis of great Arhats entered the condition of complete Nirvāṇa in this place." Going 30 li or so to the east of this last-named stūpa, we come to Indraśailaguhā mountain (In-t'o-lo-shi-lo-kia-ho-shan). The precipices and valleys of this mountain are dark and gloomy. Flowering trees grow thickly together like forests. The summit has two peaks, which rise up sharply and by themselves. On the south side of the western peak between the crags is a great stone house, wide but not high. Here Tathāgata in old time was stopping when Śakra, king of Devas, wrote on the stone matters relating to forty-two doubts which he had, and asked Buddha respecting them.