法苑珠林 59.38

59.38

Afterward, the two men took refuge in the Buddha, went forth from home, and received full ordination. The Buddha told Śāriputra: "At that time, the youth Uttara was my own self. The father of Uttara was my present royal father Śuddhodana. As for the potter's son Nandipāla at that time: when I was a prince residing in the palace among the court ladies, at midnight the Ghaṭīkāra devaputra came and told me: 'The time has arrived; you may go forth from home to cultivate the Way'—that was he, Śāriputra! This Nandipāla repeatedly exhorted me to go forth from home; he is indeed a good friend. Formerly, when I spoke evil words to Nandipāla, saying: 'Kāśyapa Buddha is a bald-headed śramaṇa; how could the Buddha's Way be so hard to attain?'—because of these evil words, when I was about to attain Buddhahood, I practiced six years of asceticism, eating one hemp seed, one grain of rice, large beans, and small beans daily; though I suffered hardship, it was of no benefit to the Dharma. Śāriputra, my six years of asceticism was the paying off of that past karmic condition. Having completed it, only then did I attain Buddhahood." The Buddha told Śāriputra: "You observe that all evils in the Tathāgata have been exhausted, and he wishes to liberate all devas, humans, spirits, and all sentient beings, yet even I could not escape my past retributions; how much less can the ignorant who have not yet attained the Way! Śāriputra, one should guard the three [actions] of the body, the four of the mouth, and the three of the mind; one should train in this way." When the Buddha expounded the causes and conditions of his former lives, eleven thousand devaputras attained the path of the srotāpanna, eight thousand dragons and others all received the five precepts, and five thousand yakṣas received the three refuges. When the Buddha finished speaking this, Śāriputra, the five hundred arhats, the great dragon king Anavatapta, and the eight classes of spirits and ghosts rejoiced and practiced accordingly.