法苑珠林 55.8

55.8

At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the bhikṣus endowed with supernatural powers—Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Mahākāśyapa, Aniruddha, and down to the śrāmaṇera Cunda: “Go forth first to that city using your supernatural powers.” The bhikṣus replied, “Yes, World-Honoured One.” At that time, a servant of the saṃgha named Kaṇṭhaka, carrying a large cauldron on his back the next morning, flew through the air and went to that city, circumambulated it three times, and proceeded to the elder's house. At that time, the śrāmaṇera Cunda transformed himself into five hundred flowering trees of various colours, all in luxuriant bloom. At that time, Panthaka transformed himself into five hundred oxen, all with blue hair, and rode seated upon an ox to that city. At that time, Rāhula transformed himself into five hundred peacocks of various colours, and rode seated upon one to that city. At that time, Kapphiṇa transformed himself into five hundred garuḍas, exceedingly ferocious, and rode seated upon one to that city. At that time, Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa transformed himself into five hundred nāgas, all with seven heads, and rode seated upon one to that city. At that time, Subhūti transformed himself into a mountain of vaiḍūrya, sat cross-legged within it, and went to that city. At that time, Mahākātyāyana transformed himself into five hundred cranes, all purely white, and went to that city. At that time, Revata transformed himself into five hundred tigers, and rode seated upon one to that city. At that time, Aniruddha transformed himself into five hundred lions, exceedingly ferocious, and rode seated upon one to that city. At that time, Mahākāśyapa transformed himself into five hundred horses, all with vermilion tails and adorned with gold and silver, and rode seated upon one to that city. At that time, Maudgalyāyana transformed himself into five hundred white elephants, all with six tusks and seven well-proportioned limbs, adorned with gold and silver, and rode seated upon one to that city. Manifesting such divine transformations, they all circumambulated the city three times and proceeded to the elder's house. At that time, the World-Honoured One, knowing that the time had arrived, was seven fathoms above the ground in the open air, with Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya on the right, Śāriputra on the left, and Ānanda behind holding a fly-whisk. Surrounded before and behind by one thousand two hundred disciples, the Tathāgata was in their midst. The other devas, Śakra, and the various kings all manifested supernatural transformations and were all in the open air, performing tens of millions of kinds of music and singing, and raining down various heavenly flowers scattered over the Tathāgata. The people within the city of Śrāvastī all saw the Tathāgata in the air, seven fathoms above the ground, and were filled with joy beyond measure. At that time, the elder Pūrṇadhana gazed from afar upon the Tathāgata's marks and signs, like a mass of gold radiating great light. He questioned the maiden Sumagadhā in verse, and the maiden Sumagadhā replied to him in verse. The devas, humans, and brahmacārins all took refuge. At that time, seeing such supernatural transformations, six thousand brahmacārins said to one another, “Let us leave this country and go to another land,” like birds and beasts fleeing in all directions to where they might go. Hearing the Tathāgata's voice, these brahmacārins ran about, unable to calm themselves, unsettled by the Tathāgata's great power. At that time, the World-Honoured One withdrew his supernatural powers and entered the city, stepping on the threshold of the gate. At that moment, heaven and earth shook violently, and the deities scattered flowers. He went to the elder's house and took his seat. The World-Honoured One gradually expounded to the elder and eighty-four thousand people the discourse on morality, giving, and rebirth in heaven, rebuking desire as impure and praising renunciation as essential. There on their seats, their defilements exhausted, they obtained the purity of the Dharma-eye, took refuge in the Three Jewels, and received the five precepts. This maiden Sumagadhā and the eighty-four thousand people all, long ago under Kāśyapa Buddha, offered the four kinds of provisions: first, giving; second, affection and reverence; third, benefiting others; and fourth, equal benefit. [Praying,] “May we never fall into a poor household, and in a future age may we also encounter such an Honoured One, never change into a female body, and obtain the purity of the Dharma-eye.” At that time, the people of the city, hearing the daughter of King Aimīn make this vow, all rejoiced in this vow. King Aimīn at that time was none other than the present elder Sudatta; the king's daughter at that time was none other than the present maiden Sumagadhā; and the people of that kingdom were none other than the present eighty-four thousand people. Because of those vows, they now encountered my person, heard the Dharma, and attained the Way.