法苑珠林 59.18

59.18

At that time, Jīvaka, King Ajātaśatru, and others, hearing that the Buddha had been pierced in the foot by a wooden stake, fell from their couches, fainted to the ground, and only revived after a long while. The entire palace was terrified. The king arose, wept, and ordered the ministers: 'Quickly prepare the carriage; I wish to go to the Buddha's dwelling.' The ministers, having received the order, immediately prepared the carriage. The king mounted the chariot and left the city. Within the city, hundreds of thousands of men and women from the clans of the four castes surrounded him, and together they arrived at the Buddha's dwelling. The Buddha was lying on his right side. After the king paid homage to the Buddha, he took the Buddha's foot in his hands, wiped it, kissed it with his mouth, [and asked:] 'Has the World-Honoured One's wound and pain diminished at all?' After the Buddha comforted the king, he bid the king sit down. The king said: 'I have heard from the Tathāgata that the Buddha's body is vajra-like and indestructible. Why has he now been pierced by a wooden stake?' The Buddha told the king: 'All dharmas are conditioned retributions. Although my body is vajra-like and cannot be destroyed by a wooden stake, it has been broken by this past retribution.' He then spoke a verse: