經律異相 43.31

43.31

Anciently, there was a caravan guide who travelled with five hundred merchants to trade. They arrived at a great wilderness where there was no water or drink whatsoever. Exhausted by hunger and thirst, they searched in all four directions. Climbing to a high place and looking into the distance, they saw trees and thought there must be water. They all ran there together. Arriving, they saw that under the trees, grass grew all around and the ground was clean. They all began digging together. At that time, a heavenly being saw the guide from afar and, in the time it takes to extend an arm, arrived at his location. Standing on a tree, he extended his right hand, and from between his five fingers flowed sweet, delicious water of eight qualities without end. All were fully satisfied. (From the third fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Avadāna Sūtra.)