經律異相 8.16

8.16

At that time, in Rājagṛha, a son was born into the family of General Siṃha. When he was born, the devas in the sky spoke these words: 'Boy, always be mindful of the Dharma and reflect upon the Dharma. Whatever you utter, do not speak of worldly matters. You must always proclaim the supramundane Dharma. You must always guard your mouth, be careful in your speech, and speak little. Do not give rise to mental reflections regarding worldly affairs. Rely on the meaning, not on the letters.' At that time, hearing this, the boy wept no more and showed no infantile appearance; up to seven days later, his countenance was gentle and joyful, and when seeing people he rejoiced, without ever blinking his eyes. Then someone said to his parents: 'This child is inauspicious and should not be raised.' The parents replied: 'Although this child makes no sound, yet his bodily faculties are complete. You should know that this child certainly possesses merit and virtue and is not an inauspicious cause.' Therefore, they gave him a name, calling him Wuyan (Mute). In time, the boy Wuyan gradually grew up to resemble an eight-year-old child, whom people delighted to see. Wherever the Dharma was preached and the wheel of Dharma was turned, he delighted in the Dharma, listening and receiving it, while uttering nothing from his mouth. At that time, Wuyan, together with his parents, retinue, and clansmen, went between the realms of desire and form to a jeweled courtyard. Seeing the Buddha and the bodhisattvas coming from the ten directions, he gave rise to great joy. Śāriputra said to the Buddha: 'Bhagavat, the son born to General Siṃha has all his physical faculties intact, yet cannot speak. By what karma was this brought about?' The Buddha said: 'One should not disparage this boy. Why is that? This person is indeed a great bodhisattva. He has already planted good roots before immeasurable Buddhas, and is in the stage of non-retrogression upon the path to bodhi. When this boy was born, many devas came to admonish him as related before. Following the devas' instructions, he silently reflected and attained the four dhyānas. Manifesting such a body, he is able to subdue immeasurable sentient beings.' By the power of his vows and the power of his supernormal faculties, he caused the eight classes [of beings] and the fourfold assembly each to see a great lotus flower in his right hand, like a cart-wheel, fully endowed with supreme color and fragrance, wondrous and foremost, which people delighted to see. On each flower platform sat a bodhisattva in full lotus posture, his body adorned with the thirty-two marks and eighty minor signs. Seeing this great supernormal power, Wuyan bowed his head, joined his palms, and pronounced 'Namo Buddhāya.' All the bodhisattvas within the flower platforms said the same words together. The worlds, numerous as the sands of the Ganges in the ten directions, shook in six ways. The devas in the sky made offerings to the Buddha with wondrous fragrant flowers and various kinds of music. At that time, Wuyan and the bodhisattvas leaped into the sky to a height of seven tāla trees, and uttered verses praising the Buddha (Extracted from the Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra, fascicle 17).