經律異相 8.36

8.36

In a past age, there was a bodhisattva named Lefa (Dharmakāma). Born and raised in a royal family, he wrote down, recited, and chanted whatever wholesome words he heard. For the sake of seeking the Dharma, he traveled through various states and towns. At that time, there was a man standing beside a deep pit who said to Lefa: "Come, come! I will give you a verse spoken by the Buddha." The bodhisattva replied, "Give it to me." The man said again, "Give me your jeweled garments and maṇi-necklace, and only then will I give it to you." The bodhisattva agreed. The man's greed grew, and he said further: "If you are able to throw yourself into this deep pit for me upon hearing the Buddha's verse—if you can do this, make a vow first, and only then will I speak it for you." The prince replied, saying: "Alas, kind sir! What benefit do you gain by having me throw myself into this deep pit?" The man replied, saying: "I gain nothing. I only fear that if you relinquish these precious items now, once you hear and receive it you will give rise to regret, and relying on your noble power and influence, take them back from me." The prince replied, "Just speak it. I shall never regret giving you the precious items or throwing myself into the deep pit." Hearing this vow, the man spoke the Buddha's verse for him. The bodhisattva immediately gave him the jeweled garments and the maṇi-necklace. He then made a vow, saying: "If I have relinquished these with sincere mind and without regret, by these true words may I fall from this height and land safely and peacefully without any injury." Having made this vow, he threw himself down. Before he reached the ground, the Four Heavenly Kings came, gently caught him, and set him on the ground, saying: "The verse spoken by the Buddha is extremely profound and subtle, yielding great benefit." The man also came down from the height to the bodhisattva's place and spoke these words: "Prince, it is rare that one can perform such a difficult deed. What Dharma do you seek?" The bodhisattva replied, "By this deed I shall attain the Buddha Way." And he made the four great vows. Having heard this, the man gave rise to faith and said to the bodhisattva: "I return to the prince his jeweled garments and pearl necklace; this is truly what befits the prince." He replied, saying: "It is like what has been spat out; how could one swallow it again?" The man said, "If you will not take them back, please accept my repentance. When you become a Buddha in the future, please save and deliver me." Prince Lefa was Śāriputra. The one who spoke the verse at that time was Ligeli. (Extracted from the upper section of the Rushou wushang qingjing fenwei jing; upon re-examination, this does not yet match).