法苑珠林 78.39

78.39

At that time, having heard the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, speak this verse, that water buffalo felt deep shame and remorse. Suddenly awakening and comprehending, the clouds of hindrances and coverings were removed. Knowing that in its previous existence it was among human beings, and seeing the evil karma it had created, its shame and remorse doubled. Refusing to eat water and grass, its life thereupon came to an end. Reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, it suddenly grew up to look like an eight-year-old child, and then thought to itself: 'What merit did I cultivate to be reborn in this heaven?' It quickly examined itself and knew that it had received the body of a water buffalo in the world, and that through the Buddha's transforming salvation it had been able to be reborn in heaven. 'I should now return to repay the Buddha's kindness.' Having thought this, carrying incense and flowers, it went to the Buddha's abode, its brilliant light illuminating the Buddha, the World-Honoured One. It bowed before the Buddha's feet and sat back to one side. The Buddha then preached the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths for it; its heart opened and its mind was liberated, attaining the fruit of a srotāpanna. It circumambulated the Buddha three times and returned to the heavenly palace. At that time, the five hundred cattle herders came to the Buddha's abode in the morning. The Buddha preached the Dharma for them; their hearts opened and their minds were liberated, and each obtained the trace of the Way and sought to leave household life. The Buddha then said to them: 'Welcome, bhikṣus!' Their hair and beards fell away of themselves, the kāṣāyas covered their bodies, and they immediately became śramaṇas. Diligently cultivating their practice, they attained the fruit of an arhat. At that time, seeing this event, the bhikṣus addressed the Buddha: 'What karma did this water buffalo and the five hundred cattle herders create in past lives to be born among water buffaloes, and what merit did they cultivate to encounter the Buddha, the World-Honoured One?' The Buddha told the bhikṣus: 'If you wish to know the conditions of the evil karma created by past deeds, I shall now tell you.' The verse says: