經律異相 18.18

18.18

有一男子。於佛法中出家。善能工巧。在所至處。一切眾僧。令造寺舍日日不息。生大疲勌。即自念言。我當坐禪思惟。佛昔在世。說一切比丘應坐禪修道。不得放縱。即往優波笈多所。禮拜合掌言。佛已涅槃。大德今作佛事。願為說法。時優波笈多見其後身畏生死苦因緣未足。更為工巧。復見疲勌。不能復作。優波笈多語言。若隨我教。當為說法。答曰如是。優波笈多言。若地未起寺者。汝當於彼起寺。佛昔說此得梵功德。答曰。大德。我於摩偷羅國。不知誰精進誰不精進。笈多曰。汝能早起著衣持鉢入國不。答曰。能早起入國。遇一長者出。所未曾見。此比丘而今見之。即為作禮問言。大德。從遠近來。比丘答曰。從東國來。又問何事。答曰如是。長者言。大德。今不須思惟。是我當為比丘。種種辦具。時比丘共長者。捉繩墨度覓處。繩未至地。即自思惟。所作功德。除一切煩惱。得阿羅漢果（出阿育王經第九卷）。

There was a man who went forth into the Buddha's Dharma who was skilled in craftsmanship. Wherever he went, the entire assembly of monks had him build monasteries and dwellings without rest day after day. Growing extremely weary, he thought to himself: 'I should sit in meditation and contemplate. When the Buddha was formerly in the world, he said that all monks should sit in meditation and cultivate the path, and must not be indolent.' He then went to Upagupta's place, made obeisance, joined his palms, and said: 'The Buddha has entered nirvāṇa; the Great Virtuous One now performs the Buddha's work. I pray that you explain the Dharma for me.' At that time, Upagupta saw that this was his final rebirth, that he feared the suffering of birth-and-death, but that his causal conditions were not yet complete; and seeing that through further craftsmanship he had grown weary and could no longer work, Upagupta said to him: 'If you follow my instruction, I will explain the Dharma for you.' He replied: 'So be it.' Upagupta said: 'If there is land where a monastery has not yet been erected, you should erect a monastery there. The Buddha formerly said that doing so obtains brahma-merit.' He replied: 'Great Virtuous One, in the country of Mathurā, I do not know who is diligent and who is not.' Upagupta said: 'Can you rise early, put on your robes, take your bowl, and enter the city?' He replied: 'I can rise early and enter the city.' He met an elder coming out whom he had never seen before; the monk now saw him, paid homage, and asked: 'Great Virtuous One, have you come from far or near?' The monk replied: 'I have come from the eastern country.' He asked again: 'For what matter?' He answered as before. The elder said: 'Great Virtuous One, you need not worry now; I shall prepare all the provisions for you, bhikṣu.' Then the monk, together with the elder, held a measuring cord to survey and search for a site. Before the cord touched the ground, he contemplated within himself: all the merits produced eliminated all defilements, and he attained the fruit of an arhat. (From the Sūtra of King Aśoka, fascicle 9)