法苑珠林 78.37

78.37

又百緣經云。佛在驕薩羅國。將諸比丘欲詣勒那樹下。至一澤中。有五百水牛甚大凶惡。復有五百放牛之人。遙見佛來將諸比丘從此道中行。高聲噭喚。唯願世尊莫此道行。此牛群中有大惡牛。極突傷人難可得過。爾時佛告放牛羊人言。汝等今者莫大憂悑。彼水牛者設來觝我。吾自知時。語言之頃。惡牛卒來。翹尾低角。刨地喚吼。跳躑直前。爾時如來於五指端化五師子。在佛左右。四面周匝。有大火坑。時彼惡牛甚大惶悑四向馳走。無有去處。唯佛足前有少許地。宴然清涼。馳奔趣向。心意泰然。無復悑畏。長跪伏首舐世尊足。復便仰頭視佛如來喜不自勝。爾時世尊知彼惡牛心以調伏。即便為牛而說偈言。

Furthermore, the Sūtra of the Hundred Avadānas states: The Buddha was in the country of Kośala. Leading the bhikṣus, he wished to go beneath a ratna tree and came to a marsh where there were five hundred water buffaloes, exceedingly fierce and violent. There were also five hundred cattle herders. Seeing from afar the Buddha approaching, leading the bhikṣus along this path, they shouted loudly in warning: 'We pray only that the World-Honoured One will not travel along this path! Among this herd of cattle is a great ferocious buffalo that furiously charges and injures people; it is difficult to pass through.' At that time, the Buddha said to the herders of cattle and sheep: 'Do not be greatly worried and afraid now. Even if that water buffalo comes to butt me, I will know my own time.' In the space of these words, the ferocious buffalo suddenly came charging, tail raised and horns lowered, pawing the ground, roaring, and bounding straight forward. At that time, the Tathāgata manifested five lions from the tips of his five fingers to the left and right of the Buddha, and on all four sides surrounding them were great pits of fire. Then that ferocious buffalo was terrified and ran in all four directions, but there was nowhere to go. Only before the Buddha's feet was there a small patch of ground, peaceful and cool. Running toward it, its mind became calm and was no longer afraid. Kneeling on its front legs and bowing its head, it licked the World-Honoured One's feet, then raised its head to gaze at the Buddha, the Tathāgata, overcome with boundless joy. At that time, the World-Honoured One, knowing that the ferocious buffalo's mind had been tamed, spoke a verse for the buffalo: