經律異相 41.31

41.31

Formerly, there was a brāhmaṇa couple who had no children and possessed countless wealth. Near the end of their lives, they said to each other: "Let us each swallow coins to serve as provisions." The custom of that country was not to bury the dead, but merely to place them under trees. Each swallowed fifty gold coins and died. When their bodies rotted, the coins emerged. A wise man in the country happened to see them while traveling. Filled with pity, he wept, grieved by their stinginess and greed. He took the coins to create merit, inviting the Buddha and the saṃgha, and wholeheartedly prepared offerings. Raising food before the Buddha, he called out their names and made prayers of blessing. At that time, the stingy couple, who were suffering the torment of hungry ghosts, were immediately born in heaven. For the purpose of creating merit, the wise man broadly invited the four assemblies. Then the ones born in heaven obtained the divine eye and knew that merit was being made for them. Descending from heaven, they transformed into a youth to assist the dānapati. The Buddha said: "This youth in the kitchen is the true dānapati." Going to him, the Buddha preached the Dharma, and he immediately attained the traces of the Path; the wise man also attained the traces of the Path. The entire assembly rejoiced, and all were born in heaven. (From the Sūtra on the Retribution of Past Vows.)