經律異相 13.25

13.25

In Śrāvastī, there was an elder named Kuru who had no sons. He prayed to the spirits seeking one. A deity said from mid-air: “Elder, your merits are so abundant that no ordinary being is capable of being born to you; therefore you have no sons. There is a deva-king whose lifespan is coming to an end who should be born into your house.” Later, a son was born named Subhūti, handsome, intelligent, eloquent, benevolent, and full of universal love. He said to his parents: “I now wish to invite the Buddha.” His parents granted permission, whereupon he invited the Buddha and laid out extensive offerings. He again addressed his parents, seeking to become a śramaṇa. His parents gave permission, and he immediately followed the Tathāgata back to the Jetavana and became a śramaṇa. Right then he attained the non-retrogressing stage (avaivartika), fully endowed with supernormal powers, teaching and transforming beings in accordance with worldly conventions, manifesting as an arhat among the disciples. Ānanda said to the Buddha: “What merit did this Subhūti cultivate in the past?” The Buddha said: “Incalculable lifetimes ago, this man was the son of a poor family. He met a monk who had entered the city on almsround and gotten nothing at all. At that time, the young man saw his empty bowl, bowed, and said: ‘Please follow me home; I will make an offering to you.’ He then followed him to his home, took his own portion of food, and offered it to the man of the path, not eating himself. Having eaten, the man of the path manifested flying and departed. The young man was filled with joy and straightway resolved his mind on the path. By virtue of this merit, he was subsequently born in the heavens for ninety-one kalpas, and now he has come to be reborn in the elder’s house. The young man of that time is now Subhūti. The merit of a single gift was already such as this; how much more so for many!” (From the Sūtra on Karmic Retribution.)