經律異相 36.13

36.13

In the kingdom of Śrāvastī there was a householder who lost his fields and houses, and whose family incurred punishment, died, and perished entirely, leaving only one son who had nothing left to rely upon. The son heard people say that one who provides meals to the Buddha and the saṃgha is reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. He then vowed to provide meals to the Buddha and the saṃgha, thinking he must work as a hired laborer to fulfill this vow. There was a householder (the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya says: a great minister) who possessed many fields and houses. Although this boy was young, he had many arts and skills, and sought to be hired. The householder asked, "What can you do?" He replied, "I am capable of writing, reckoning, literary meaning, discerning gold, silver, pearls, shells, money, and feathers, and overseeing fields. Sitting in a market stall, there is nothing I do not understand." He asked, "How much do you demand per year?" He replied, "One thousand gold coins a year." The householder said, "These days there is famine; I will hire you for five hundred, paid all together when the year is complete." The boy said, "My talents cannot be cheapened, but as my need is urgent, I will agree for you." He then had him sit in the market stall. Barely a month had passed, and upon calculating the earnings, they had already tripled. He took only one meal a day, saving the other portion. He was further made to oversee the fields, and by the winter harvest the yield had again tripled. When the year was complete, he asked for the gold and the food. The householder, fearing that he would leave, repeatedly made excuses that he was not present. Later he said to him, "Why do you demand it so urgently?" The boy said, "I wish to provide meals to the Buddha and the saṃgha." Hearing this, the householder immediately gave rise to faith. He further asked, "Where do you wish to do it?" He replied, "I wish to go to the Jetavana." The householder said, "Just stay at my gate; I will assist you with vessels and utensils." The boy addressed the Buddha: "May you accept my meal tomorrow." The Buddha and the saṃgha remained silent. (The Mahīśāsaka Vinaya says: He immediately took the wealth and goods to the Buddha's place, preparing rare delicacies of utmost worldly sweetness; because his intention was sincere, ghosts and spirits assisted him, and in an instant he was able to prepare everything completely.) It coincided with a festival day, and many layfolk sent pork, dry cakes, and various kinds of food and drink. The community of monks received them and said among themselves, "Today a poor boy is exerting all his strength to make an offering-feast. Everyone should eat only a little of his food for his sake." When they arrived at the householder's house, the boy personally served the food with his own hands. All the monks said, "Give only a little," so the food did not diminish. The poor boy asked the monks, "Is the food coarse and unpalatable, or are you pitying my poverty?" They replied, "Today is a festival day. People sent food early in the morning. At first we took only a little, but as the households were many, we became completely full." The poor boy was sorrowful, fearing that his intended goal would not be accomplished. Weeping, he asked the Buddha. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for him, saying that he would certainly obtain rebirth in heaven: "You should quickly return." The poor boy rejoiced and again served the food to the monks, letting the monks take as they pleased: "I exerted my strength wishing to make a complete offering. Although the Venerables cannot eat now, take it away as you please." At that time, five hundred merchants arrived in the late afternoon from the country of Ujjayinī. The road had been long and remote, and their provisions had been exhausted for three days. They entered the city to buy food, but it was a time of famine and the weather was exceedingly hot, so they could obtain nothing at all. The merchant leader sighed, "There is no lack on the sea, yet there is no food in the great city. We should search further everywhere, whatever the cost." The poor boy had wept before the Buddha, and at that time many people had seen him and told the merchants, "Such-and-such a house has food." They immediately went to the householder's house and said to the boy, "We need food." The boy asked, "How many people are there?" They replied, "There are five hundred." "You may call them all; what need is there to discuss the price?" When they arrived, he set out the food, and all were filled to satiety. There was a large bronze basin. One merchant leader untied a pearl from the corner of his garment worth one hundred thousand gold coins and placed it in the basin. The rest of the merchants all untied pearls and cast them into the basin. The boy said, "I am not selling food. Why do you suddenly give pearls? Stay a little while, guests, and wait for me to ask the Buddha." The Buddha said, "Simply take them; it will not obstruct your rebirth in heaven. This is the blossoming retribution; the karmic fruit will come later." He returned and accepted the treasures. The merchants further asked, "Householder, previously there was a certain person in this city; where is he now?" He replied, "He has passed away." They asked again, "Are there any children or grandchildren?" He replied, "The donor just now is his son." The merchants said to the boy, "Your father was our teacher," and gave him another hundred thousand liang of gold to strengthen their past friendship. At that time the householder had no son, but only a daughter who was upright and exceptionally beautiful. He sought to marry her to the boy, presenting one hundred thousand liang of gold. After the householder died, King Prasenajit asked, "Did he have a son? Who will manage his affairs?" They replied, "He had only a son-in-law." The king ordered that the affairs be managed and the property belong entirely to the son-in-law, appointed him as a great minister, and then bestowed on him the title of Great Elder within the city of Śrāvastī (the Daśabhāṇavāra Vinaya says: the rank of householder). At that time, the people of the country called him Elder Sudden Rise (extracted from the sixth fascicle of the second recitation of the Daśabhāṇavāra Vinaya, and also from the tenth fascicle of the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya).