經律異相 44.12

44.12

In the city of Puṣkalāvatī of the Greater Yuezhi, there was a painter named Qianna. He travelled back and forth to Takṣaśilā in the east, working as a painter for twelve years. Obtaining thirty ounces of gold, he brought it back to his home country. Coming across the Saṅgha, his faithful heart became pure, and he asked the karmadāna: 'With how much provision can this assembly be provided food for one day?' The reply was: 'Thirty ounces of gold may be used.' The painter handed it all over to the karmadāna, begging: 'Prepare one meal; I shall return tomorrow.' Returning home empty-handed, his wife asked: 'What did you earn from working twelve years?' He answered: 'I obtained thirty ounces of gold, and have planted it in the field of merit by giving it to the Saṅgha to host an assembly.' The wife bound her husband and delivered him to the authorities, setting forth the whole affair. The magistrate asked: 'Why did you not provide for your wife and children, but gave it away to others?' The painter answered: 'In previous lives I lacked merit, so I was always poor and suffered hardships. Encountering the Saṅgha, they are a fine field of merit. If I do not plant good deeds again, I shall be poor again in future lives; poverty and suffering will continue without end, and there will be no time of liberation. For this reason, I gave all of it to the Saṅgha.' The magistrate handling the case was an upāsaka. He immediately took off his necklace, his mount, and gave a village to the painter, saying to him: 'You gave to the Saṅgha, and though the Saṅgha has not yet eaten, this is like grain sprouting before the seed is even sown; the great fruit will come later' (from fascicle 11 of the *Da zhidu lun*).