經律異相 13.29

13.29

Aniruddha had already attained arhatship. He had a beautiful countenance that resembled a woman’s. While walking alone through the grass, a youth saw him and thought he was a woman. An immoral thought arose, and he approached to violate him. Knowing that he was a man, [the youth looked at] his own form and saw that it had turned into a woman. Filled with shame and bitter distress, he banished himself into the deep mountains and never dared to return. Several years passed, and his family, wife, and children did not know where he was alive, presuming he was dead. Aniruddha went on almsround to his home. The wife wept and spoke of how her husband had not returned, begging for the power of blessings to restore him to life. Aniruddha remained silent and did not answer. Out of pity, he later went into the mountains seeking to meet him. This person then repented his fault, rebuked himself, and his body turned back into a man. He was then able to return home, and the family saw each other again. (From the Old Avadāna Sūtra, lower fascicle.)