經律異相 27.12

27.12

At that time, King Puṇyālaṅkāra, having heard the Buddha recite the verses and having witnessed the divine transformations, strengthened and made firm his bodhicitta. Touching his head to the Buddha's feet, he said to the Buddha, 'I only pray that the Bhagavat, as well as the great assembly of bodhisattvas and disciples, will accept my invitation for eighty-four thousand years: to Samantaprabhārāja Tathāgata, may I provide clothing, food and drink, bedding, medicines, and attendants for what is needed.' That Buddha and the great assembly immediately accepted the invitation. Knowing that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, the king departed in joy. Prince Siṃhavikrānta and twenty thousand princes relinquished their worldly glory and positions, shaved their hair and beards within the Buddha-Dharma, and went forth into homelessness to practice the path, diligently striving and delighting in seeking wholesome dharmas. At that time, Siṃhavikrānta attained the five supernormal powers, becoming firm and non-retrogressing. That Buddha augmented his divine authority so that he constantly revealed and expounded the wondrous Dharma to sentient beings, everywhere in the great trichiliocosm performing Buddha-work; immeasurable sentient beings firmly did not retrogress from the unsurpassed Great Vehicle. During the eighty-four thousand years, King Puṇyālaṅkāra offered all kinds of pleasurable items to the Bhagavat and the great assembly, and together with all his ministers, escorted before and behind, formed an assembly to listen to the Dharma. Then he thought: 'My sons have shaved their hair and beards and gone forth into homelessness to practice the path; constantly receiving offerings, they cannot practice giving themselves, nor have I seen them attain dharmas surpassing human capacity. Would it not be better for them to return home, renounce wealth to give alms, and cultivate various merits, like the good roots I have planted?' At that time, Samantaprabhārāja Tathāgata immediately knew the thoughts in King Puṇyālaṅkāra's mind and said to Bodhisattva Siṃhavikrānta, 'Good son, manifest your sovereign divine power of merit, the transformations of a great bodhisattva, so that this great assembly may everywhere see and hear them, turning their erroneous thoughts so that they attain right view.' Bodhisattva Siṃhavikrānta immediately entered samādhi and manifested such signs: the trichiliocosm shook; in the sky above, it rained flowers, incense, silk canopies, banners, pennants, music, delicious foods, drinks, necklaces, clothing, and various precious jewels, falling in profusion to fill the trichiliocosm. The sentient beings, having obtained what they had never had before, all rejoiced greatly. At that time, from the earth deities and the heavens up to Akaniṣṭha, all proclaimed these words: 'This great bodhisattva may be named Ākāśagarbha. Why is this? Because from empty space he can rain down jewels and pearls to satisfy everyone.' The Buddha immediately confirmed this. Seeing this, the king leaped with joy, obtained what he had never had before, and renounced his haughtiness. Joining his palms toward the Buddha, he said these words: 'Rare, O Bhagavat! That the merits and wisdom of a bodhisattva can be like this! Bhagavat, the benefit given by a householder is but little; one who goes forth into homelessness gives boundlessly through supernormal power. The giving of a householder does not match others' wishes; though giving, one is still stingy and considers it suffering. One who has gone forth is not stingy and does not give rise to suffering.'