法苑珠林 59.31

59.31

The *Xingqixing jing* states: The Buddha told Śāriputra: “In the distant past, long ago, there was a Buddha named Vipaśyin Tathāgata, residing in the city of Bandhumatī. The king was named Bandhumant, who, together with his ministers and common people, made offerings of the four requisites to the Tathāgata and the assembly, completely without lack. At that time in the city there was a Brahmin named Indragiri, who was widely versed in the four Vedic scriptures of the Brahmins and also understood the mathematical arts of the Nirgranthas, and taught five hundred youths. The great king prepared an assembly, first inviting the Buddha and the great assembly. The Buddha, seeing that the time had arrived, went to the king's palace and took his seat. The king then served the food, pouring and preparing various delicacies with his own hands. There was a bhikṣu named Maitreya who was ill at the time and could not go. After the Buddha and the great assembly finished eating, they each returned to their original places. They met the Brahmin mountain king, who, seeing the food was fragrant and delicious, gave rise to jealousy and thought: ‘These shave-headed śramaṇas ought properly to eat horse barley; they should not eat these sweet offerings of food.’ He told the youths: ‘Do you see these shave-headed men of the Way eating sweet and delicious delicacies?’ The youths said: ‘Indeed we see them; this teacher and master should also only eat horse barley.’ The Buddha told Śāriputra: “Do you know that the mountain-king Brahmin at that time was none other than myself? The five hundred youths at that time were the present five hundred arhats. The sick bhikṣu Maitreya at that time was the present Maitreya Bodhisattva. Because I gave rise to jealousy at that time and cursed them, saying they should not eat sweet delicacies and ought properly to eat horse barley, and you all said the same, on account of this condition, I and you all passed through hell for countless thousands of years. Even though I have now attained buddhahood, owing to a residue of karmic conditions from that time, I and you all had to eat horse barley in the town of Verañjā for ninety days. Because at that time I did not say to give horse barley to the Buddha, but only said to give it to the bhikṣus, for this reason I now received pounded barley from people. Because you all added the words that it should be given to the Buddha, today you ate barley with the husks on.”