經律異相 45.12

45.12

Formerly, the Buddha Vipaśyin, accompanied by sixty-two thousand bhikṣus, first emerged from the mountains to return to his royal father's kingdom. The king granted land outside the city to establish a vihāra, and the bhikṣus each obtained a plot of land. There was a bhikṣu who spoke to a neighboring family, wishing to ask them to build a hut. The man of the house would not allow it, but the old mother of the family built it with her own hands until the hut was completed, her ten fingers all pierced and wounded. The bhikṣu sat inside in meditation, and once entering the fire-light samādhi, a great fire appeared from the hut. Seeing it from afar, the mother thought, "I just built the hut, and immediately it has burned down—how meager is my fortune!" Entering the hut, it was still there as before, and she saw the bhikṣu amidst the blazing light. She was exceedingly joyful. When her life ended, she was born in heaven. When Śākyamuni attained buddhahood, her heavenly lifespan had not yet ended. She came down and addressed the Buddha, wishing to offer a meal the next day to the Buddha and the holy assembly. The Buddha accepted in silence. King Prasenajit also sent an invitation to the Buddha. The Buddha said, "I have already accepted an invitation from a deva." The king said, "I have never seen a deva descend to give alms. For what reason is this?" The next day he sent someone to watch, but saw no preparation of alms; even toward midday it remained completely quiet. The king ordered delicacies to be prepared: "If no one serves him, I shall provide the offering." At midday the deva arrived without bringing any food, but merely led heavenly jade maidens playing various music, paid homage to the Buddha, and stood to one side. She said, "The time has come," and raised her napkin, whereupon all affairs were instantly provided. After the distribution of water was completed, she raised her hand again, and sweet nectar of a hundred flavors emerged from the kitchen onto the ground. Serving it with her own hands, the entire assembly was satisfied. Seeing this, the king was astonished and delighted. After washing was finished, he addressed the Buddha: "I do not know what merit this deva possessed in a previous life, that her hands produce a hundred flavors and her meritorious virtue is like this." The Buddha explained to the king: "In a previous life, she built a hut for a bhikṣu with her own hands. Since then, she has been born in heaven for ninety-one kalpas, her hands producing all kinds of things, and her blessings are not yet exhausted" (from the first fascicle of the Miscellaneous Avadāna Sūtra).