經律異相 18.60

18.60

The monk asked, "Due to what cause did he attain srotāpanna yet suffer this misery?" Upagupta replied: "In a former life he left home. While the assembly of monks sat in meditation, he acted as the karmadāna. There was an arhat who suffered from this foul disease, scratching and scraping with a loud noise. The karmadāna said to him: 'Vile worms are devouring you that you make such noise!' He then seized his arm, dragged him out, and said: 'Go into a caṇḍāla's house!' The arhat said to the karmadāna: 'You should be vigorous; do not go on suffering bitter pain in birth and death!' This karmadāna immediately repented. After repenting, he attained the fruit of srotāpanna, but was no longer vigorous. The young boy today is he. Because he dragged the arhat out, he is now born in a caṇḍāla's dwelling, suffering this retribution." The monk, terrified, practiced diligent vigor and immediately attained the fruit of arhat. (Extracted from the Aśoka-rāja Sūtra, fascicle 10).