諸經要集 6.52

6.52

如雜寶藏經云。昔佛在世時須達長者。最後貧苦。財物都盡。客作庸力得米四升。炊作飯食。值阿那律來從乞食。婦即取鉢盛滿飯與。後須菩提迦葉目連舍利弗等。次第來乞。悉施滿鉢。末後佛來亦與滿鉢。須達在外行還到家從婦索食。婦即語言。其若尊者阿那律來。汝當自食。為施尊者不。須達答言。寧自不食當施尊者。婦又語言。若復迦葉。大目連。及須菩提。舍利弗等。乃至佛來。汝當云何。亦答婦言。寧自不食盡當施與。婦即語夫言。朝來諸聖盡來索食。所有飲食盡施與之。夫聞歡喜而語婦言。我等罪盡。福德應生。即開庫藏。穀帛飲食悉皆充滿。用盡復生。果報云。云不可說盡。又雜譬喻經云。昔長者須達七貧。後貧最劇乃無一錢。後糞壤中得一木升。其實是栴檀。出市賣之得米四升。語婦併炊一升。吾當索菜茹。還時共食。佛念曰。當度須達令福更生。炊米方熟。舍利目連迦葉佛來。四升米。次第炊盡將去。後富更請佛僧。供養盡空。佛為說法得道。

As the Zabaozang jing states: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, the elder Sudatta became destitute at the end of his life, his wealth and possessions completely exhausted. Through hired labor he obtained four sheng of rice and cooked it into food. It happened that Aniruddha came begging for food; his wife immediately took his bowl, filled it with rice, and gave it to him. Later, Subhūti, Kāśyapa, Maudgalyāyana, Śāriputra, and others came in succession to beg, and she gave a full bowl to each. Lastly, the Buddha came, and she also gave him a full bowl. Sudatta, who had been out, returned home and asked his wife for food. His wife said to him, 'If the Venerable Aniruddha came, would you eat it yourself or give it to the Venerable One?' Sudatta replied, 'I would rather not eat myself and offer it to the Venerable One.' The wife again asked, 'If Kāśyapa, Mahāmaudgalyāyana, Subhūti, Śāriputra, and others, or even the Buddha came, what would you do?' He also replied to his wife, 'I would rather not eat myself and offer it all to them.' The wife then said to her husband, 'This morning all the sages came asking for food, and all the food and drink was given to them.' When the husband heard this, he rejoiced and said to his wife, 'Our demerits are exhausted, and our blessings and merits must arise.' They immediately opened their storehouses: grains, silks, and food and drink were all brimming full. Whenever used up, they reappeared. The karmic retribution is beyond words to describe. Furthermore, the Zapiyu jing states: In the past, the elder Sudatta was impoverished seven times. The last poverty was the most severe, to the point of not having a single coin. Later, in a dunghill, he found a wooden sheng measure, which was actually made of sandalwood. Taking it to the market, he sold it and obtained four sheng of rice. He told his wife, 'Cook one sheng together, and I will seek vegetables; when I return we shall eat together.' The Buddha thought: 'I should liberate Sudatta and make his merits arise again.' Just as the cooked rice was done, Śāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, Kāśyapa, and the Buddha arrived. The four sheng of rice were successively cooked, exhausted, and taken away. Afterwards, when he became rich again, he invited the Buddha and the Saṃgha, making offerings until the house was empty. The Buddha preached the Dharma for him, and he attained the Way.