經律異相 14.26

14.26

The Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's park in the Jeta Grove in Śrāvastī. At that time, on the fifteenth day, the Bhagavat was reciting the precepts. The community of monks and an assembly of five hundred monks (the *Da zhidu lun* says five hundred great arhats) vanished from the Jeta Grove and went to Lake Anavatapta. Then the dragon king Anavatapta approached the Bhagavat, bowed his head to the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. Observing the Tathāgata's complexion and the monks, he addressed the Buddha: 'I observe that this assembly is completely empty [of someone]; the monk Śāriputra is not in this seat today.' The Buddha told Maudgalyāyana: 'Go swiftly to Śāriputra's place and summon him with my words.' Maudgalyāyana received the instruction, went to Śāriputra in Śrāvastī, and said to him: 'The Buddha calls you to come; the dragon king Anavatapta desires to see you.' Śāriputra himself untied the ribbon of his saṃkakṣikā and placed it before Maudgalyāyana, saying to Maudgalyāyana: 'You possess supernatural powers: lift this robe-ribbon and tie it to the Jambū tree.' Maudgalyāyana grabbed the ribbon but could not move it; exerting all his strength to lift it, the earth shook violently. Śāriputra, fearing for Maudgalyāyana, then placed it upon Pūrvavideha, and further wound it around Mount Sumeru. Maudgalyāyana then shook and moved Mount Sumeru. Śāriputra then wound this ribbon around the Tathāgata's seat, and Maudgalyāyana was completely unable to move it. Leaving the ribbon, he returned to the dragon king's place and saw from afar that Śāriputra had already arrived before him, sitting cross-legged with his body erect and his mind upright, keeping mindfulness before him. Going before the Bhagavat, he bowed his head to his feet and said: 'Have I not lost my supernatural powers? Why is it that I vanished first from the Jeta Grove and arrived later at this lake, while Śāriputra vanished later and arrived first, already seated? The Bhagavat always says I am foremost [in supernatural powers]; why did I arrive later?' The Buddha said: '[Your powers] have not declined; the monk Śāriputra possesses great wisdom.' When they returned to Śrāvastī, doubts arose among the assembly as well. The Buddha told Maudgalyāyana: 'Many monks lack a reverent mind, saying about you that Śāriputra's supernatural powers surpass yours. You may display your mighty power in this assembly.' He replied: 'I obey the teaching.' He immediately rose from his seat and went to the summit of Mount Sumeru; treading on the summit of Mount Sumeru with one foot, he lifted his other foot and placed it upon the Brahmā heaven. Stamping on Mount Sumeru, he caused the earth to quake in six ways. Then, in a Brahmā voice, he spoke this verse: