經律異相 17.24

17.24

The Bhagavat was in the city of Śrāvastī, at the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍada's park. At that time, many monks, when the time came, put on their robes, took up their bowls, and entered the city of Śrāvastī to beg for food. Outside the gate of King Prasenajit's palace, they heard many people taking one another by the hand, weeping, shouting, and saying: "In this kingdom there is a great, wicked bandit named Aṅgulimāla. He slaughters people and is cruel and devoid of compassion. Villages and settlements find no peace. When he kills people, he takes a finger from each to make a garland; hence he is named Aṅgulimāla ('Finger-Garland'). May the king subdue this man!" Having finished eating, the monks went to the Buddha, the Bhagavat, and recounted this fully. The Buddha then set out for that place. At that time, there were many people carrying firewood and bearing grass, as well as plowmen and travelers, who came to the Bhagavat and said to him, "Śramaṇa, do not travel along this road. Why? On this road is Aṅgulimāla, who slaughters people without compassion. The living beings of the cities and villages have all been harmed by that man. Since he kills people to make garlands of fingers, we fear he will molest the Bhagavat." The Buddha, the Bhagavat, then proceeded further. Seeing the Bhagavat coming from afar, Aṅgulimāla thought: "Now this śramaṇa comes alone without companions; I shall kill him." Aṅgulimāla immediately drew the sword at his waist and went toward the Buddha. Seeing him from afar, the Bhagavat turned back along the road. Aṅgulimāla ran after the Bhagavat, using all his strength in an effort to overtake him, yet he could not catch him. Aṅgulimāla thought: "In running I can catch elephants, horses, chariots, fierce bulls, and men; yet this śramaṇa does not walk swiftly, and even with all my strength I cannot overtake him." Aṅgulimāla called to the Bhagavat from afar, "Stop, stop, śramaṇa!" The Bhagavat replied, "I stopped long ago; it is you who have not stopped." Aṅgulimāla thought, "I have practiced evil deeds." He immediately cast aside the sword at his waist, prostrated his whole body in refuge, and asked to become a śramaṇa and receive the full ordination. The Buddha said, "Welcome, monk!" His hair and beard fell away naturally as though shaved, and his clothes transformed into kāṣāyas. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for him, and he became an arhat. At that time, King Prasenajit assembled the four divisions of his army and set out from the city of Śrāvastī, intending to kill the bandit Aṅgulimāla. Passing first by the Bhagavat, he explained this fully to the Buddha. The Bhagavat asked him, "If the king were now to see Aṅgulimāla with his hair and beard shaved off, wearing the three Dharma robes, having gone forth with firm faith to train in the Way, what would the king do?" The king replied, "If so, I would inquire after him, pay homage and show respect, without any intention to harm him. However, he is savage and without compassion; how could he practice the ways of a śramaṇa?" At that time, Aṅgulimāla was not far from the Buddha, sitting cross-legged with an upright body and correct mindfulness, focusing his attention before him. The Buddha raised his hand and pointed to Aṅgulimāla's place. When Prasenajit saw Aṅgulimāla, he was seized with fear, his hair standing on end. The Buddha said, "Do not be afraid. Go to him yourself, and he will speak with you, O King." King Prasenajit went to Aṅgulimāla, bowed with his head to the feet, and stood to one side. King Prasenajit asked Aṅgulimāla, "Venerable Aṅgulimāla, what is your name now?" Aṅgulimāla answered, "Great King, my name is Garga, and my mother's name is Mantānī." The king replied, "Endeavor well! For the rest of my life, I shall provide Venerable Garga with clothing, food, medicine for sickness, and bedding, begrudging nothing, and I will always protect you with the Dharma." King Prasenajit bowed his head to his feet, circumambulated him three times, went to the Bhagavat, and said, "The Bhagavat is able to subdue those who cannot be subdued." (From the nineteenth fascicle of the Ekottarika-āgama.)