經律異相 35.37

35.37

In the city of Śrāvastī, there was a great elder who had a son born to him. His facial features were handsome and upright, and he was able to speak from birth. He asked his parents, "Are the Bhagavat, Śāriputra, Ānanda, and the others still in the world?" His parents answered that they were. Seeing that he could speak, they took him to be an inhuman being and immediately went to ask the Buddha. The Buddha said, "This child has auspicious signs." The parents rejoiced. The child further requested, saying, "Please invite the Buddha and the Saṅgha." They replied, "We have nothing prepared for an offering on such short notice." The child further requested, saying, "Just sweep and sprinkle the halls and rooms, adorn the couches and seats, and set out three high seats. Food and drink of a hundred flavours will spontaneously fill the hall. Furthermore, the mother of my previous life is still alive, living in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī; please send word to her." The parents sent messengers galloping on elephants to welcome her. They prepared three high seats: one for the Tathāgata, one for the father, and one for the mother who bore him in his previous life. When the Buddha and the saṅgha of monks entered their house, delicious food and drink spontaneously descended, manifold and abundant. The Buddha preached the Dharma for them, and all the household, great and small, attained the first fruit (from the first fascicle of the Damamūka-nidāna Sūtra).