經律異相 28.32

28.32

At that time, the king of the country of Rājagṛha was named Bimbisāra. When young as crown prince, he constantly sought five wishes: first, that while still young, he become king; second, that within his country there be a Buddha; third, that he might always visit and attend upon him; fourth, that he might always listen to the exposition of sūtras; fifth, that upon hearing, he would swiftly awaken and understand, attaining srotāpanna. The king obtained all of them. At that time, traveling north from the country of Rājagṛha to a foreign land, [one came to] a country named Takṣaśilā, whose king was named Pukkasāti. He was exceedingly noble and lofty. In past lives he had seen a Buddha and received the Buddha's sūtra-teachings, studying the sūtra of the six elements within the body—namely earth, water, fire, wind, space, and mind. King Bimbisāra and King Pukkasāti had never met in their lifetimes, but loved and respected each other from afar as though they were brothers, regularly exchanging letters and sending gifts to one another. In King Pukkasāti's realm, a single lotus flower was born, having a thousand petals, all of gold color. He dispatched an envoy to present it to King Bimbisāra. King Bimbisāra, upon seeing the flower, was filled with great joy and said, "The object King Pukkasāti has presented to me is exceedingly wondrous and extraordinary!" King Bimbisāra composed a letter to King Pukkasāti, saying, "In my country there are gold, silver, and precious jewels in abundance, but I do not consider them treasures. Now in my country a single human flower has been born, called the Buddha, of purple-burnished golden color, possessed of the thirty-two marks." King Pukkasāti, hearing the name of the Buddha, leapt with joy, and wrote a letter to King Bimbisāra, wishing to be fully informed of what the Buddha's precepts and practices were. After several days, King Pukkasāti thought to himself, "Human life is unknowable, hanging on a single breath. I cannot wait any longer for Bimbisāra's reply." He ordered the subordinate kings and all his ministers to prepare carriages and depart, desiring to go to the Buddha's place. On the road, he encountered King Bimbisāra's letter. The letter stated: "The Buddha teaches people to abandon home, renounce wives and children, and sever lust and desire; one should shave hair and beard, don Dharma robes, and become a śramaṇa." It also detailed the twelve links of dependent origination and sent them to King Pukkasāti. King Pukkasāti, having finished reading the letter, reflected to himself. At night, after people had settled and the ministers, hundred officials, and assembly had all retired to sleep, in the tranquil silence he secretly arose and fled. Going among the burial mounds, he shaved his own head, donned the Dharma robes, and became a śramaṇa. The Buddha, with his divine eye, saw Pukkasāti arrive at the city of Rājagṛha and lodge at a potter's house. The Buddha considered, "King Pukkasāti's life will end tomorrow." He immediately flew to the potter's house, wishing to lodge for the night. The potter replied, "You may be accommodated." The Buddha sat upright in one place and thought to himself, "This Pukkasāti is composed and tranquil." Rising, he went before Pukkasāti and asked, "From what master did you receive the teaching to become a śramaṇa?" He replied, "I have heard there is a Buddha, and I now serve him as master." The Buddha thought, "Because of me, this worthy has become a śramaṇa. I should explain to him the sūtra he knew in a past life; only then will he understand." The Buddha said, "I shall expound sūtra matters for you; listen well." Pukkasāti said, "Excellent." The Buddha expounded the Dharma for him, and he attained the third stage, that of the anāgāmin; only then could he recognize that this was the Buddha. He immediately arose and bowed to the Buddha. The next day, having gone not far into the city, an ox with youthful horns gored Pukkasāti. The monks addressed the Buddha, "Yesterday the Buddha expounded the sūtra for him in the potter's house; the śramaṇa has now been gored to death by a rampaging ox. To what rebirth will he proceed?" The Buddha said, "Because I expounded the sūtra for him, he immediately attained anāgāmin, will be born in the sixteen heavens, and there attain arhatship." He instructed the monks to collect Pukkasāti's body together, bury it well, and raise a stūpa over it (Extracted from the Sūtra on King Bimbisāra's Five Wishes, and also from the Sūtra on the Causes and Conditions of King Pukkasāti).