經律異相 21.4

21.4

At that time, Devadatta harbored poisonous malice and slandered the Tathāgata, claiming that he himself possessed the Path. The multitude rebuked him. Devas, nāgas, ghosts, spirits, Śakra, Brahmā, and the Four Heavenly Kings all admonished him, saying: "Your wishing to destroy the Buddha is like raising a hand wishing to cast down the sun and moon." Devadatta heard this, but his heart did not change. Then the monks fully reported the matter to the Buddha: "What deep grievance does Devadatta harbor to form such an enmity?" The Buddha told the monks, "It is not only in this life that Devadatta is like this; he has been so in life after life. In a past life, there was a brahmacārin's daughter, shapely and exquisite, peerless in appearance. According to the custom of the brahmacārins, a maiden was to be given to someone versed in the scriptures. He invited his fellow disciples, a assembly of five hundred, and made offerings to them for three months to examine their knowledge. Among the five hundred men was one who was erudite, but he was senile, decrepit, ugly-faced, and green-eyed. The parents were grieved, and the daughter was also distressed: 'How can I become the wife of this man? He is like a vengeful ghost; what can be done?' At that time, in a distant land, there was a brahmacārin who was young in years, extraordinarily handsome, intelligent, and wise. Hearing that the brahmacārin had invited his fellow students with the intention of betrothing his daughter, he immediately went there. He questioned and challenged the brahmacārins, and they were all at a loss for words; none of the five hundred possessed wisdom equal to his. The maiden's parents and the girl saw him and were filled with great joy: 'Our search for a son-in-law has now found its match!' The elder brahmacārin said, 'I am old, and she was promised to me long ago; the maiden was to be my wife. Spare me! Whatever offerings and gifts I have obtained, I will give them all to you. Pity my advanced age and do not humiliate me!' The youth replied, 'One must not transgress the rule to follow personal sentiments. I ought to take her.' When the three months were concluded, the maiden was given to the youth. The old man harbored poisonous malice in his heart, thinking: 'He has humiliated me and robbed me of my wife! In every life and every place, I will be your enemy and never let you be!' The young brahmacārin always practiced loving-kindness, while the other harbored hatred alone." The Buddha told the monks, "The elder brahmacārin of that time was the present Devadatta. The young brahmacārin was my own person. The maiden was Gopī." (Extracted from the Sheng jing, fascicle 1)