經律異相 14.30

14.30

舍衛城人勸化大會。飯九十六種出家人。復請波斯匿王及太子群臣諸聚落主。宿舊長者及薩薄等。先一日集阿耆河岸上。前至為上座目連。使河水暴漲泡沫彌岸。諸外道等競縛𥴖筏。適欲先渡取第一座。而水激急迴覆漂還。竟夜疲苦𥴖筏破散沒溺寒凍。上於岸邊向日而蹲。時祇洹精舍有人請僧。佛住待時。有年少比丘言。世尊出晚恐外道得上座去。佛知時到。與諸大眾威儀庠序俱詣河上。諸外道言。我等不能得渡。此諸沙門當作何計。目連化作寶橋種種嚴飾花香伎樂。諸外道見各作是言。沙門來遲我等先渡。蹈橋墮水身服濡濕軍伏隨流。佛以神力令無死者。佛與比丘儼然而進。次第庠序隨進步處寶橋即滅。目連攝其神力。地還如故。使諸外道皆悉得進。佛說偈言。

The people of Śrāvastī solicited donations to hold a great assembly, feeding ninety-six kinds of renunciants. They also invited King Prasenajit, the crown prince, ministers, various village headmen, venerable elders, and merchant leaders (sārthavāhas). The day before, they gathered on the bank of the Aciravatī River, intending that whoever arrived first would take the head seat. Maudgalyāyana caused the river's water to swell violently, its foam covering the banks. The various non-Buddhists vied with one another to lash together rafts, wanting to cross first to take the premier seat, but the water surged rapidly, capsizing and washing them back. Exhausted and suffering through the night, their rafts were smashed and dispersed; drowning and shivering with cold, they scrambled up onto the riverbank and crouched facing the sun. At that time, someone invited the saṅgha to the Jeta Grove monastery, and the Buddha stayed awaiting the hour. A young monk said: 'The Bhagavat is setting out late; I fear the non-Buddhists will take the head seats.' The Buddha knew the time had arrived, and along with the great assembly, in stately and measured deportment, proceeded to the river. The various non-Buddhists said: 'Even we could not cross; what plan can these śramaṇas have?' Maudgalyāyana magically transformed a jewelled bridge, adorned with diverse embellishments, flowers, incense, music, and dance. Seeing it, the non-Buddhists said to one another: 'The śramaṇas are coming late; let us cross first!' Treading on the bridge, they fell into the water; their clothes were drenched, and they tumbled and floated downstream. The Buddha used his supernatural power so that none died. The Buddha and the monks advanced with dignity, one after another in orderly fashion, and wherever their footsteps fell, the jewelled bridge vanished behind them. Maudgalyāyana retracted his supernatural power, and the ground returned to its original state, allowing all the non-Buddhists to advance. The Buddha spoke a verse: