法苑珠林 59.29

59.29

The *Jātaka Sūtra* also states: At that time, the World-Honoured One, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty people, entered the city of Śrāvastī intending to go to King Prasenajit's palace to receive an invitation. At that time, there was a bhikṣuṇī named Baozhi (Caṇḍā) who tied a wooden bowl to her belly to make it appear as though she were pregnant. She then pulled at the Buddha's robe, [saying]: ‘You are my husband; I have become pregnant by you, yet you do not provide clothing or food. What is the meaning of this?’ At that time, the great assembly of gods, humans, Śakra, Brahmā, the Four Heavenly Kings, the devas, ghosts, spirits, and the people of the kingdom were all alarmed and terrified: ‘The Buddha is the most revered in all the three realms; his mind is purer than a maṇi jewel, and the light of his wisdom surpasses the sun and the moon. He walks alone through the three times, and none can equal him. Just as empty space cannot be defiled, the Buddha's mind exceeds it and has no peer. Since this bhikṣuṇī is a disciple of the Buddha, why does she harbor evil and wish to slander the Tathāgata?’ Thereupon the World-Honoured One, seeing the thoughts in the minds of the assembled gathering and wishing to resolve their doubts, looked up towards the sky above. At that moment, Śakra, Lord of the Devas, descended immediately, transformed into a mouse, and gnawed through the cord tying the bowl. The bowl immediately fell to the ground. When the assembly saw this, anger and joy were mingled, and they wondered at the reason for it. At that time, the king of the state was furious: ‘This bhikṣuṇī abandoned her home and departed from worldly occupation to become a disciple of the Buddha; since she cannot repay his kindness, does she conversely harbor jealousy and grudge to insult the Great Sage?’ He immediately ordered a pit to be dug deep into the ground, intending to bury her upside down. At that time, the Buddha reasoned with him: ‘Do not do so. This is my own past sin, not her fault alone. In the distant past, long ago, there was a merchant selling fine genuine pearls, numerous, round, and fine. At that time, a woman came wishing to buy them. A man doubled the price and took the pearls away for himself. Because the woman could not get them, she harbored resentment. When she asked to see them, he again refused to give them to her. Filled with surging fury, [she said]: “You have humiliated me! In wherever I am reborn, I will avenge this grudge against you, humiliating you wherever you are, until regret is of no avail.”’ The Buddha told the king and the others: ‘The man who bought the pearls at that time was none other than myself. The woman was none other than the bhikṣuṇī Baozhi. Because she harbored that grudge, wherever she is reborn she constantly wishes to slander me.’ When the Buddha spoke thus, the doubts of the assembly were resolved, and there was none who was not joyful.”