法苑珠林 36.130

36.130

又百緣經云。昔佛在世時。舍衛城中有諸人民。各自莊嚴作唱伎樂。出城游戲至城門中。遇值佛僧入城乞食。諸人見佛歡喜禮拜。即作伎樂供養佛僧。發願而去。佛即微笑語阿難言。此諸人等由作伎樂供養佛僧。緣此功德。於未來世一百劫中不墮惡道。天上人中最受快樂。過百劫後成辟支佛。皆同一號。名曰妙聲。以是因緣。若人作樂供養三寶。所得功德無量無邊。不可思議。故法華經偈云。

The Avadāna-śataka also states: Formerly, when the Buddha was in the world, there were people in the city of Śrāvastī who adorned themselves, played music, and sang. They went out of the city to amuse themselves, and when they reached the city gate, they met the Buddha and the Saṃgha entering the city to beg for food. Seeing the Buddha, the people rejoiced and bowed, immediately performing music as an offering to the Buddha and the Saṃgha, made vows, and departed. The Buddha smiled and said to Ānanda: 'Because these people made music as an offering to the Buddha and the Saṃgha, through the merit of this condition, they will not fall into the evil destinies for one hundred kalpas in future ages, and will experience the greatest happiness among devas and humans. After one hundred kalpas, they will all become pratyekabuddhas, all bearing the same name: Sughoṣa (Wondrous Sound).' For this reason, if someone performs music to make offerings to the Three Jewels, the merit obtained is boundless, limitless, and inconceivable. Therefore, a verse in the Lotus Sūtra says: