經律異相 16.10

16.10

These monks spoke to Śāṇakavāsin, and Śāṇakavāsin addressed them, saying, “The meaning you have spoken is not what I speak of. Elders, in a past age in Vārāṇasī there was a merchant chief who, with five hundred merchants, wished to enter the great sea. Seeing a pratyekabuddha who was ill, the merchant chief personally provided medical treatment, and the illness gradually improved. The merchant chief took a śāṇa robe, washed and softened it, and offered it to the pratyekabuddha. The pratyekabuddha received the robe, displayed eighteen transformations, and immediately entered nirvāṇa. The merchant chief of that time was myself. For this reason, I have now encountered the supreme Master, who caused me to attain the Path.” Śāṇakavāsin gradually traveled on to Mount Urumuṇḍa in the kingdom of Mathurā. There were two dragon king brothers and five hundred small dragons. Śāṇakavāsin reflected, “If I do not subdue them, I cannot teach and transform them.” He immediately shook the mountain with his divine power. The two dragon kings grew angry, raising violent wind and rain, and sending forth fire. Śāṇakavāsin entered the samādhi of loving-kindness, so the wind, rain, and fire could not approach his body, and all transformed into flowers—the so-called utpala flowers and the like—all falling to the ground. They again raised thunder, lightning, and various weapons, which through divine power also transformed into heavenly flowers. Thereupon, a verse was spoken in the air: