經律異相 35.39

35.39

In the city of Śrāvastī, Anāthapiṇḍada had seven sons whose minds lacked devout faith; they did not uphold the five precepts with regard to the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha. The elder Anāthapiṇḍada said, "I will bestow upon you one thousand ounces of gold; you may take refuge in the Three Jewels and receive the five precepts." When the seven sons heard this, they wished to take refuge in the Three Jewels and receive and uphold the five precepts. The father bestowed upon each of them one thousand ounces of gold. Together they went to the Bhagavat and reported the matter fully to the Buddha: "How is it, Bhagavat, do those seven sons possess any merit, wholesomeness, or virtues?" The Buddha said, "Well done, Elder, in benefiting sentient beings and bringing peace and security to gods and humans! Because of these wholesome deeds, those seven sons are fully endowed with virtues. I will now explain the retribution they will obtain: In the north there is a country with a city named Stone Chamber (Aśmanagara). The land is fertile and the people are flourishing. There is the Elāpatra treasure, with countless hundreds of thousands of gold, silver, and precious jewels. Among the seven treasures of the people in that kingdom of Gandhāra, they spend whatever they desire without anything decreasing, up to this great Elāpatra treasure of jewels. That seven thousand ounces of gold, even multiplied a hundredfold, a thousandfold, or countless folds, does not equal the merit obtained by your seven sons." The Bhagavat preached the subtle and wondrous Dharma to Anāthapiṇḍada. He then arose from his seat and said to the Bhagavat, "May you accept an invitation from me and the bhikṣu-saṅgha; I wish to prepare an offering of ambrosial food and drink for the sake of the seven sons." The Bhagavat silently accepted. Knowing the time, the Bhagavat, surrounded before and behind by the bhikṣu-saṅgha, entered the city of Śrāvastī and proceeded to Anāthapiṇḍada's house, where they all took their seats. The elder and his sons paid homage to the Bhagavat. As the Bhagavat preached the Dharma, they attained right view. He spoke in this manner. The elder's seven sons served delicious food and drink to the Buddha and the bhikṣus. When the meal was finished and the almsbowls were cleared away, the Buddha preached the Dharma to the seven sons. Sitting upon their seats, each of them had all dust and defilements exhausted; free of blemish, their Dharma-eye arose. Having seen the Dharma, they had neither doubt nor hesitation (from the Sūtra on Anāthapiṇḍada's Converting His Seven Sons).