經律異相 13.23

13.23

In the region of Uruvilvā, there was a brahmacārin named Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa leading five hundred matted-hair brahmacārins. He was already a venerable one, acclaimed as an arhat throughout the kingdoms of Aṅga and Magadha. The Buddha went to Kāśyapa’s place and said: “I wish to lodge here for one night.” He replied: “I do not begrudge it, but in this chamber there is a venomous dragon; I fear it may harm you.” The Buddha said: “No harm.” Kāśyapa said: “As you wish.” The Buddha then entered the stone chamber, sat cross-legged, straightened his body, and fixed his mindfulness. When the dragon saw him, it emitted smoke; the Buddha also emitted smoke. The dragon then emitted fire; the Buddha also emitted fire. At that time, smoke and fire blazed up together in the stone chamber. Kāśyapa saw it from afar and thought: “What a pity for Gautama, harmed by the venomous dragon!” The Buddha then subdued the dragon, placed it in his bowl, and the next morning brought it to Kāśyapa, saying: “The venomous dragon is now inside the bowl.” Kāśyapa thought: “Although Gautama has attained arhatship and has great supernormal power, he is still not as great as I.” He said to the Buddha: “You may stay; I will provide food.” The Buddha said: “If you come in person when the time arrives, I will accept your invitation.” Kāśyapa said: “I will come myself.” The Buddha stayed and ate, and having eaten, returned to the stone chamber to lodge. That night, he entered the fire-light samādhi, which illuminated that stone chamber. Kāśyapa, surrounded by his disciples, said to the Buddha: “The time has now arrived; you may come back to eat. Śramaṇa, why was there such a great fire last night?” The Buddha told Kāśyapa: “Last night I entered the fire-light samādhi, causing this stone chamber to be brilliantly illuminated.” Kāśyapa praised his great majesty and virtue, yet still said: “He is not as great as I in attaining arhatship.” Having eaten, the Buddha lodged in another forest. The next day, Kāśyapa came again to welcome him back to eat. The Buddha said: “Go ahead; I will follow shortly.” He first went to the jambu tree, took fruit from this tree, and sat on Kāśyapa's seat. Kāśyapa arrived later and said: “How is it that you have arrived before me?” The Buddha said: “This fruit has fine color and a sweet fragrance; you may eat it.” Kāśyapa thought: “This śramaṇa has great supernormal bases, yet he is still not as great as I in attaining arhatship.” Having eaten, the Buddha returned to his original forest and sat down, again displaying various supernormal powers, wishing to attract and win over Kāśyapa. The Cāturmahārājakāyika devas, Śakra Devānām Indra, and others all brought offering implements to make offerings to the Buddha. Kāśyapa and his five hundred disciples then abandoned their fire-worship implements, clean garments, and water pitchers, throwing them into the Nairañjanā River, and went to the Buddha's place. The Buddha expounded the Dharma in succession for the five hundred men. Right there upon their seats, all defilements were exhausted, and they attained the purity of the Dharma-eye. They all said to the Buddha: “We wish to go forth from the household life.” The Buddha said: “Welcome, bhikṣus! Well-practiced is the holy life; you have brought an end to suffering.” He immediately administered the full ordination to them. Kāśyapa’s second brother was named Nadī, who lived downstream on the Nairañjanā River with three hundred disciples. Kāśyapa’s youngest brother was named Gayā, who lived on Mount Gayāśīrṣa with two hundred disciples. The two younger brothers, seeing their elder brother embrace the path, both went and asked him: “Is practicing the holy life under this great śramaṇa superior?” He replied: “It is exceedingly superior and wonderful.” Each together with his retinue went to the Bhagavat. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for them; upon their seats, they awakened to the path and attained the purity of the Dharma-eye. They said to the Buddha: “We wish to practice the holy life within the Buddha's Dharma.” The Buddha said: “Welcome, bhikṣus! Well-practiced is the holy life; you have brought an end to suffering.” (From the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, second division, fascicle 9.)