經律異相 18.24

18.24

Prince Jeta sent a messenger to invite the Buddha and the saṅgha to a meal on the following day, excluding only the beggar-monks. The beggar-monks, [all] well-come [monks], followed the Buddha and the saṅgha to enter the palace for the meal. The beggar-monks, by means of their supernatural powers, went to Northern Uttarakuru, gathered naturally grown non-glutinous rice, maintained their dignified deportment, and descended through the air, entering the prince's palace to take their seats in order. Seeing them, the prince exclaimed that it was unprecedented and asked the Buddha, “From where have these worthy sages come?” The Buddha said, “These are the five hundred beggars who became śramaṇas.” The prince was deeply ashamed (from the fifth fascicle of the *Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra*).