法苑珠林 35.62

35.62

Furthermore, the Dṛṣṭānta-sūtra says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, the Buddha's great disciple Mahāmaudgalyāyana ascended by supernatural power to the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Entering Śakra's garden, he strolled and looked around. He saw a goddess whose appearance was upright, whose radiant light shone, far surpassing the multitude. Having seen her, Maudgalyāyana asked the goddess: 'What blessed conditions did you plant in your previous life, that you now receive this retribution, wondrous and boundless?' The goddess replied: 'In my previous life, I was a maidservant in King Bimbisāra's palace. At that time, there was a Buddha-vihāra in the royal palace. Once entering at night, I saw that inside the Buddha-stūpa it was dark and without light. I immediately lit a lamp and placed it in the vihāra. Due to this cause, I now receive this body of extraordinary radiance, enjoying blessing in the heavenly hall with boundless joy.'