經律異相 47.145

47.145

The Buddha said, “Kalandaka is the name of a mountain rat.” At that time, the king of Vaiśālī took singing girls and entered the mountains to amuse himself. The king became fatigued and fell asleep under a tree. The singing girls scattered in all four directions, running and playing. In a cave under the tree, there was a great poisonous snake that smelled the king's alcoholic breath and came out wishing to bite the king. A rat up in the tree came down from above and squeaked to wake the king. The snake then retreated. After the king woke, he fell asleep again. The snake emerged once more. The rat again squeaked and came down to wake the king. The king arose, saw the great poisonous snake, and was terrified. He looked for the singing girls, but they were not to be seen. The king thought to himself, “That I am alive today is due to the grace of the rat.” He contemplated repaying it. At that time, there was a village near the mountain. He immediately decreed to the village, “From this day forward, the whole quota of my revenue shall be redirected to provide for the rats.” Because of this rat, this village was named Kalandaka. At that time, there was an elder in the village who possessed four billion gold coins. The king thereupon bestowed on him the rank of elder; because of the name of this village, he was called the Elder Kalandaka. (Extracted from the sixth fascicle of the Samantapāsādikā-vibhāṣā.)