經律異相 14.30

14.30

The people of Śrāvastī solicited donations to hold a great assembly, feeding ninety-six kinds of renunciants. They also invited King Prasenajit, the crown prince, ministers, various village headmen, venerable elders, and merchant leaders (sārthavāhas). The day before, they gathered on the bank of the Aciravatī River, intending that whoever arrived first would take the head seat. Maudgalyāyana caused the river's water to swell violently, its foam covering the banks. The various non-Buddhists vied with one another to lash together rafts, wanting to cross first to take the premier seat, but the water surged rapidly, capsizing and washing them back. Exhausted and suffering through the night, their rafts were smashed and dispersed; drowning and shivering with cold, they scrambled up onto the riverbank and crouched facing the sun. At that time, someone invited the saṅgha to the Jeta Grove monastery, and the Buddha stayed awaiting the hour. A young monk said: 'The Bhagavat is setting out late; I fear the non-Buddhists will take the head seats.' The Buddha knew the time had arrived, and along with the great assembly, in stately and measured deportment, proceeded to the river. The various non-Buddhists said: 'Even we could not cross; what plan can these śramaṇas have?' Maudgalyāyana magically transformed a jewelled bridge, adorned with diverse embellishments, flowers, incense, music, and dance. Seeing it, the non-Buddhists said to one another: 'The śramaṇas are coming late; let us cross first!' Treading on the bridge, they fell into the water; their clothes were drenched, and they tumbled and floated downstream. The Buddha used his supernatural power so that none died. The Buddha and the monks advanced with dignity, one after another in orderly fashion, and wherever their footsteps fell, the jewelled bridge vanished behind them. Maudgalyāyana retracted his supernatural power, and the ground returned to its original state, allowing all the non-Buddhists to advance. The Buddha spoke a verse: