法苑珠林 77.12

77.12

又出曜經云。昔佛在世時。舍衛國中有一長者。名曰難陀。巨富多財。金銀珍寶。象馬車乘。奴婢僕使。服飾田業。不可限量。一國之富無有過者。雖處豪富而無信心。慳貪嫉妬。門閤七重。勅守門人。有人來乞一不得入。中庭空上安鐵疏籠。恐有飛鳥食噉穀米。四壁牆下以白膠泥。恐鼠穿穴傷損財物。唯有一子名栴檀香。臨終勅子。吾患必死若吾死後所有財寶勿費損耗。莫與沙門及婆羅門。若有乞兒莫施一錢。此諸財物足供七世。勅已命終。還生舍衛旃陀羅家盲母腹中。後生出胎。生盲無目。盲母念言。若生男者。吾今目冥。須見扶侍。聞兒生盲倍增愁憂。悲泣說偈言。

Furthermore, the Avadāna-sūtra (Chuyao jing) says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an elder in the kingdom of Śrāvastī named Nanda. He was immensely wealthy with abundant riches, gold, silver, rare gems, elephants, horses, carriages, male and female slaves, servants, clothing, and agricultural estates beyond measure. In the wealth of the entire kingdom, none surpassed him. Although he lived in extreme wealth, he had no faithful mind, but was stingy, greedy, and jealous. His gates were sevenfold. He instructed the gatekeeper: 'If anyone comes begging, under no circumstances may they enter.' In the open sky above the central courtyard, he installed an open iron cage, fearing that flying birds might eat the grain and rice. Below the walls on all four sides, he sealed the cracks with white paste-clay, fearing that mice might bore holes and damage the property. He had only one son, named Candanagandha. Near death, he instructed his son: 'My illness is certainly fatal. After I die, do not waste or diminish any of the treasures and wealth. Do not give to śramaṇas or brahmins. If there are beggars, do not give them a single coin. These various possessions are sufficient to supply seven generations.' Having instructed him, his life ended. He was reborn in that same Śrāvastī in the womb of a blind mother in a caṇḍāla household. Later, when delivered from the womb, he was born blind without eyes. The blind mother had thought: 'If I bear a boy, since my eyes are now dark, I will have someone to support and serve me.' Hearing that the child was born blind, her sorrow and anxiety doubled. Weeping sorrowfully, she spoke a verse, saying: