經律異相 23.43

23.43

The Buddha was residing in Vaiśālī. He addressed the bhikṣus: "I hear that among the bhikṣuṇīs, the foremost in merit is Śrīmā." At that time, there was a famine in the world, and it was difficult to obtain food by begging. At that time, the bhikṣuṇī Śrīmā entered the city to beg for food. Seeing a bhikṣu, she asked: "Venerable one, did you obtain food?" The bhikṣu showed her his empty bowl. She immediately took the food from her own bowl and gave it to the bhikṣu. The bhikṣu took the food and returned to the monastery, calling the other bhikṣus to eat together. The bhikṣus asked: "Elder, where did you obtain this good food?" He replied: "I obtained it from the bhikṣuṇī Śrīmā." Having heard this, the bhikṣus each went to seek food from her. In this sequence, up to five hundred bhikṣus all obtained food. Afterward, she sought food for herself, but the proper time had already passed; having missed the meal, she returned to the monastery. The next morning, the bhikṣus again donned their robes and took their bowls, standing at the gate of the bhikṣuṇīs' monastery. When a bhikṣuṇī saw them, she went inside and said to Śrīmā: "The bhikṣus are now waiting outside the gate." Hearing this, Śrīmā told her disciple: "Bring my robes and bowl; I will beg for food on behalf of the venerable ones." In this manner, having sequentially supplied five hundred people, she then sought food for herself. Again the proper time had passed; having missed the meal, she returned. On the third day, it was also like this, sequentially supplying up to five hundred people, with only one person who had not yet obtained food. This bhikṣu followed behind Śrīmā into a household. Because she had missed her meals for the preceding three days, her body was emaciated and weak, and she fainted and collapsed to the ground (Extracted from the Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya, fascicle 21; the Daśabhāṇavāra and Dharmaguptaka Vinayas are also the same).