經律異相 13.6

13.6

Kāśyapa relinquished the wealthy and powerful to beg from the poor. Entering the city of Rājagṛha, he saw an isolated, elderly mother who was destitute in the extreme. Atop a great dung heap in an alley, she had excavated the side of the dung heap into a cavern; emaciated and diseased, she constantly lay within it, having neither clothing nor food, setting up only a small woven fence to screen her body. Her lifespan was near its end. A maidservant of an elder was carrying away and discarding rice water that was unmentionably foul-smelling. The mother begged for it, and receiving it in a broken potsherd, placed it beside her. Kāśyapa pitied her and went to beg a little from her. The old mother spoke a verse, telling of its foul smell. Kāśyapa, still moved by compassion, patiently begged for it. The old mother rejoiced and gave it to him. Kāśyapa, fearing that the mother would not believe he could eat it, drank it completely in front of her, rinsed the bowl, and manifested supernatural powers. The mother leaped with great joy and gazed intently from afar. Kāśyapa asked, 'Mother, what is your wish now?' At that time, the mother was weary of the world's suffering; hearing of heavenly bliss, she wished to be born in heaven. In a few days her life ended, and she was immediately born into the second heaven, the palace of Trāyastriṃśa. She then remembered past kindness and sought to make an offering. When Śakra Devānām Indra heard of this, he and his heavenly queen took hundred-flavored food, placed it in a small bottle, and descended to a leaky hut. They transformed their appearance into that of an elderly, impoverished couple weaving mats. Kāśyapa was on his alms round, and seeing them, went to beg. The husband and wife told him, 'We are poor and suffering now, but we take it upon ourselves to cut back and give to the worthy one, that we may attain merit.' Kāśyapa lowered his bowl, and they then opened the small bottle; its fragrance perfumed the great city. Kāśyapa immediately disapproved, entered samādhi, and flew away through the air, snapping his fingers in delight. (Extracted from the Sūtra on Mahākāśyapa Saving the Poor Mother).