眾經撰雜譬喻 1.30

1.30

Once, countless kalpas ago, there was a Buddhist stūpa-monastery where several thousand śramaṇas resided. Several hundred śrāmaṇeras were sent out to go on almsrounds to supply the saṃgha. Each day, upon bringing in one bushel of rice, the master would additionally assign them one gāthā [to learn]. There was one śrāmaṇera who, while walking through the marketplace, went along reciting scripture. At that time there was a worthy man in a shop who, seeing the śrāmaṇera walking and reciting, bowed and asked: "Renunciant, what are you reciting as you walk?" He replied: "I go on almsrounds to provide for the saṃgha, and concurrently recite one gāthā." The worthy man asked again: "If you were free of chores, how many gāthās could you recite?" He replied: "I could manage ten or more gāthās." He asked again: "For how many days are you to go on almsrounds?" [The śrāmaṇera] said: "For ninety days. I must bring in ninety bushels of rice." The worthy man said to the reciting renunciant: "Just return, set your mind at ease, and recite the sūtras; I shall provide the rice in your stead." The śrāmaṇera was greatly delighted. The worthy man gave him ninety bushels of rice. Having returned and reported to his master, [the śrāmaṇera] had leisure to read the scriptures. After three months, he was proficient in one thousand four hundred gāthās. He informed his master: "Having completed the recitation of the sūtras, I must go to the dānapati's house to test it." The master immediately permitted it. He went to the worthy man's place and reported: "Relying upon your great kindness, I was able to recite the sūtras in peace. Now that the recitation is complete, I have come to recite them [for you]." The śrāmaṇera recited the text and phrases fluently, without any stumbling or hindrance. The worthy man joyfully bowed his head in homage: "May I in future lives be intelligent, broadly learned, of wide hearing, and never forgetful." Because of this meritorious vow, in life after life wherever he was born, he was clear in understanding and strong in memory. When the Buddha appeared in the world, he manifested as a disciple named Ānanda, constantly attending upon the World-Honoured One, uniquely articulate and comprehensive, foremost in erudition. The Master said: "The worthy man of that time was the present Ānanda. When one encourages and aids a learner who resolves to seek vows, the merit is not in vain; it was because of this karmic reward, attained in accordance with his vow, that it came to be like this!"