經律異相 44.4

44.4

In the city of Rājagṛha there was an illusionist named Bhadra (rendered in the Liang language as Renxian, 'Benevolent and Worthy'). He clearly understood scriptures and texts, was versed in technical arts, and whatever he produced was clever and ingenious, pleasing many; his fame resounded far and wide. None among the people of Magadha could equal him, and everyone throughout the realm, young and old, studied under him. Bhadra happened to behold the World-Honoured One's body, magnificent and wondrous in complexion, and thought to test him. He thereupon made a show of inviting the Buddha, thinking: 'If he knows my intent, he will not accept the invitation; if he does not know it, he will surely accept without doubt.' Knowing his intent and wishing to deliver him, the Buddha accepted in silence. Bhadra thought: 'The Buddha lacks penetrating wisdom and did not perceive my intent.' Entering the city of Rājagṛha, in a clean and pure place he conjured up a lecture hall hung with silk banners and flower canopies. Beneath each tree he arranged lion seats for the monks, and in the lecture hall he specially set up a lion seat forty-nine feet high for the Tathāgata, preparing delicacies of a hundred flavours. At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings and Śakra Devānām Indra, along with thirty-two thousand devas, said to Renxian: 'Truly you have attained good benefit, having invited the Tathāgata to a lecture hall to make offerings! We shall assist in supplying what is lacking.' They immediately conjured up pavilions and halls resembling the Trāyastriṃśa palace. The Buddha, along with the bodhisattvas and monks, proceeded to his lecture hall; Bhadra saw the Buddha seated upon the seat he himself had created, while Śakra also saw the Tathāgata seated upon the adorned seat that he had created. Listening to what the Buddha preached, Renxian cast away his arrogance, bowed his head to the Buddha's feet, and addressed the Buddha, saying: 'I only pray that the Tathāgata pardon my transgression.' He wished to make what he had conjured vanish, but the Buddha caused it not to change, and further preached to him that all phenomena are like illusions and apparitions (from the *Huan shi Renxian jing*).