經律異相 20.11

20.11

In the kingdom of Mathurā, within the Nyagrodha park, there was a monk sitting in meditation in a quiet place. There was also a venomous snake coiled beneath his seat. As the monk dozed, his head lowered and raised. The venomous snake thought to itself: “This man, seeing me, must surely intend to kill me.” It immediately sprang with its whole body [and bit him]. The monk died and was reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. The heavenly maidens came to attend and serve him. The devaputra told them, “Sisters, do not approach my body; if you approach, you will surely cause me to violate the precepts.” The maidens thought to themselves: “This deity must have been a śramaṇa in his past life, which is why he was reborn here to enjoy heavenly blessings.” The heavenly maidens then held mirrors before the devaputra’s face. Seeing his heavenly robes and headdress, he only then realized he had been reborn in heaven. He immediately rose from his seat, saw his attendants, and walked into the garden, sitting down beneath a tree. Sitting upright, he contemplated, seeking samādhi. In the pond there were birds of various kinds, calling out to one another in sorrowful tones, their cries plaintive yet harmonious. He wished to attain the path, but was unable to accomplish it. At that time, the devaputra descended from the Trāyastriṃśa heaven to Jambudvīpa, arrived at the Bhagavat's place, and said: “When my heavenly blessings are exhausted, I shall fall into Mount Tai and the hells; thus wandering in saṃsāra without end. Pray have pity and deliver me, that I may attain liberation.” The Buddha expounded the Dharma for him, and right on his seat, all dust and defilement were eliminated, and he attained the purification of the Dharma-eye (extracted from the Sūtra on the Monk Sitting in Meditation Who Died and Was Reborn in Heaven).