法苑珠林 6.66

6.66

Therefore, the Zhuangyan lun (Kalpanāmaṇḍitikā) states: The Buddha said, “Long ago, I heard that there was the son of a great caravan leader named Koṭīkarṇa. He went to sea to gather jewels, and having obtained them, he was returning. He slept apart from his companions, lost track of them, and became panicked. Pressed by hunger and thirst, he saw a city in the distance and thought there would be water there. He went to the edge of the city, wishing to seek water to drink. But this city was a city of hungry ghosts (preta). Arriving in the city, at the crossroads where crowds gather, it was empty and he saw nothing. Pressed by hunger and thirst, he cried out, pressed by hunger and thirst. He again saw a city, thought there would be water, and went to the edge of the city wishing to seek water to drink. But this city was a city of hungry ghosts. Arriving in that city, at the crossroads where crowds gather, it was empty and he saw nothing. Pressed by hunger and thirst, he cried out, ‘Water! Water!’ The hungry ghosts heard the sound of ‘water’ and all gathered like clouds, [thinking,] ‘Who is this compassionate one who wishes to give us water?’ The bodies of these hungry ghosts were like charred pillars, wrapped in their own hair. They all came with palms joined and spoke thus: ‘We beg of you, give us water!’ Koṭīkarṇa said to them: ‘I am pressed by thirst, and that is why I have come seeking water.’ At that time, when the hungry ghosts heard that Koṭīkarṇa was himself pressed by thirst and seeking water, their hopes were completely extinguished. Each sighed deeply and spoke thus: ‘Do you not know? This is a city of hungry ghosts. Why do you seek water here?’ They then spoke a verse: