經律異相 35.19

35.19

In the country of Śrāvastī there was a great elder named Sudatta (the *Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra* first says he was a minister; the Vinayas of the four schools all call him a householder). Because he constantly gave alms to the destitute, orphans, and beggars, people used this as his epithet. Formerly he had farmland and property in Rājagṛha, which he inspected year after year (the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra* and *Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra* say he went to Rājagṛha to seek a wife for his son). He lodged at the house of the elder Homi (the *Zhong benqi jing* says Kalanda; the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra* says Śaṇḍāna). In the night [his host] arose to sweep and clean the residence and prepare fine dishes. Sudatta asked him [about it], and he replied, “In the city of Kapilavastu there is a scion of the Śākyas named Siddhārtha, of the Gautama clan. Not long after he was born, a physiognomist divined his fortune [and said] he would definitely become a wheel-turning king. His mind took no delight in this, and he renounced home to become a monastic. Without a teacher, he realized by himself and attained anuttarā samyaksambodhi. Because his mind is impartial toward all sentient beings, he is called ‘Buddha.’ Tomorrow he has accepted my invitation.” He further asked, “Where is he now?” [The host] replied, “He is at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove Monastery (the *Daśabhāṇavāra-vinaya* says the Cool Grove).” Sudatta single-mindedly contemplated all the merits of the Buddha. Suddenly there was a great radiance. Following the light, he went out and reached the city gate of Śiha. Due to the Buddha’s supernatural power, it opened by itself (the *Dharmaguptaka-vinaya* says a spirit immediately opened the gate). Outside the gate, along the road, there was a shrine to a god. Sudatta paid homage, and suddenly darkness returned. Fear and dread arose in his heart, and he wished to turn back to the city gate. A great heavenly deity spoke to Sudatta, saying, “Noble one, seeing the Buddha you shall obtain wholesome benefits. All the merit to be gained in the whole of Jambudvīpa does not equal a single step taken with an aspiring mind to go to the Tathāgata’s dwelling.” Sudatta asked, saying, “Who are you?” He replied, “I am the son of the brāhmaṇa Xinxiang (the *Dharmaguptaka-vinaya* says, ‘I am the spirit of Sīha’), your spiritual friend of old. In the past, because I saw Śāriputra and Mahāmaudgalyāyana and joyfully bowed to them in homage, when I cast off my body I was able to become a son of Vaiśravaṇa, the Heavenly King of the North, specially charged with guarding this city (the *Daśabhāṇavāra-vinaya* is largely identical). How much more so for one who sees the Tathāgata, bowing and making offerings!” Sudatta paid homage to the Buddha, and the Buddha preached the Dharma to him as appropriate. He attained the path of a srotāpanna (taken from fascicle 27 of the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra*, and also fascicle 20 of the *Saṃyuktāgama*; the *Zhong benqi jing* and the Vinayas of the four schools are largely identical with minor differences).