法苑珠林 78.41

78.41

於賢劫中。波羅柰國。有佛出世。號曰迦葉。於彼法中有一三藏比丘。將五百弟子游行他國。在大眾中而共論議。有難問者不能通達。便生瞋恚反更惡罵。汝等今者無所曉知。強難問我狀似水牛觝突人來。時諸弟子咸皆然可。各自散去。以是惡口業因緣故。五百世中生水牛中。及放牛人共相隨逐。乃至今者故未得脫。佛告諸比丘。欲知彼三藏比丘者。今此群中惡水牛是。彼時弟子者。今五百放牛人是。佛說是水牛因緣時。各各自護身口意業。厭惡生死得四沙門果。有發無上菩提心者。聞佛所說歡喜奉行。

"In the Bhadrakalpa, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, a Buddha appeared in the world named Kāśyapa. In that Dharma of his, there was a Tripiṭaka bhikṣu who led five hundred disciples traveling through other countries. While debating together among a great assembly, there was a difficult question that he could not answer satisfactorily. He immediately became angry and turned to revile them harshly: 'You have no understanding at all, yet you forcefully interrogate me like a water buffalo butting into people!' At that time, all the disciples assented to his words, and each dispersed. Due to the karmic cause and condition of this harsh speech, for five hundred lifetimes he was born among water buffaloes, and the cattle herders accompanied him, persisting even until today without yet having escaped." The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "If you wish to know that Tripiṭaka bhikṣu, he is this ferocious water buffalo in the herd today. Those who were disciples at that time are these five hundred cattle herders today." When the Buddha explained the causes and conditions of this water buffalo, each guarded their own bodily, verbal, and mental karma, grew disgusted with birth and death, and attained the four fruits of a śramaṇa; some brought forth the aspiration for supreme bodhi, and having heard what the Buddha said, joyfully practiced it.