法苑珠林 19.37

19.37

又雜寶藏經云。月氏國王。名旃檀罽尼吒。聞罽賓國尊者阿羅漢。字祇夜多。有大名稱。思欲相見。即與諸臣往造彼國。於其中路心竊生念言。我今為王。王於天下一切人民靡不敬伏。自非有德何能任我供養。作是念已遂便前進。彼國有人告尊者言。月氏王與諸群臣從遠來相見。唯願整其衣服共相待接。尊者答言。我聞佛語。出家之人道尊俗表。唯德是務。豈以服飾出迎接乎。遂便靜默端坐不出。於是月氏王至其住處。見尊者祇夜多。覩其威德倍生敬信。即前稽首却住一面。時尊者欲唾。月氏國王不覺前進授唾器。時尊者即語王言。貧道今者未堪為王作福田也。胡為躬自枉屈神駕。時月氏王深生慚愧。我向者竊生微念已知我心。自非神德何能爾也。即便為王略說教法。王來時道好。去如來時。王聞教已即便還國。至其中路群臣怨言。我等遠從大王往至彼國。竟無所聞然空還國。時王報言。向尊者為我說法。來時道好。去如來時。卿等不解此耶。以我往昔持戒布施修造功德以殖王種。今享斯位。復修積善。當來之世必重受福。故誡我言。王來時道好去如來時。群臣聞已稽首謝言。臣等下愚竊生妄解。大王神德妙契玄旨。積德所種故享斯位。群臣歡喜言已而退。

Furthermore, the Saṃyuktaratnapiṭaka-sūtra states: The king of the Yuezhi kingdom was named Candana Kaniṣka. Having heard that in the kingdom of Kaśmīra there was a venerable arhat named Jñāta who possessed great renown, he wished to meet him. Thereupon, accompanied by his ministers, he set out for that kingdom. Midway on the journey, a thought secretly arose in his heart: 'I am now a king, ruling over all the people beneath heaven, none of whom do not revere and submit to me. Unless he is truly virtuous, how could he be worthy of my offerings?' Having thought this, he then proceeded forward. Someone in that kingdom reported to the venerable one, 'The Yuezhi king and his ministers have come from afar to meet you. We pray only that you will adjust your robes and receive him.' The venerable one replied, 'I have heard the Buddha's words: the path of the renunciant is exalted beyond the secular realm; virtue alone is one's duty. How could I go out to receive him on account of mere clothing?' He then remained silent, sitting upright without going out. Thereupon, the Yuezhi king arrived at his dwelling place. Seeing the venerable Jñāta and beholding his majestic virtue, his reverence and faith doubled. He stepped forward, bowed his head, and stood to one side. At that time, the venerable one wished to spit. Without realizing it, the king of the Yuezhi stepped forward to hand him a spittoon. Then the venerable one said to the king: 'This poor monk is currently not worthy to be a puṇyakṣetra for Your Majesty. Why has Your Majesty personally lowered your divine carriage?' At that time, the Yuezhi king felt profound shame: 'He already knew the subtle thought that secretly arose in my mind earlier. If he were not of divine virtue, how could he do so?' The venerable one then briefly explained the Dharma to the king: 'The way the king came was good; your departing will be like your coming.' Having heard the teaching, the king then returned to his country. When they were midway on the road, the ministers complained: 'We followed the Great King from afar to that country, yet in the end heard nothing, only to return to our kingdom in vain.' The king then told them: 'Earlier, the venerable one spoke the Dharma for me, saying, "The way you came was good; your departing will be like your coming." Do you not understand this? Because in the past I maintained the precepts, practiced dāna, and cultivated merit to plant the seed of kingship, I now enjoy this position. If I cultivate and accumulate goodness again, in future lives I will surely receive blessings anew. Therefore he admonished me, saying: "The way the king came was good; your departing will be like your coming."' Having heard this, the ministers bowed their heads and apologized: 'We, your inferior and foolish subjects, secretly gave rise to mistaken interpretations. The Great King's divine virtue subtly tallies with the profound purport; by planting accumulated virtue, you therefore enjoy this position.' The ministers rejoiced, spoke thus, and withdrew.