諸經要集 15.80

15.80

Furthermore, the Avadānaśataka says: When the Buddha was in the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove at Rājagṛha, there was in that city an elder named Bhadramukha. His wealth and treasures were immeasurable and incalculable, yet he was full of deceit and flattery, stingy, greedy, jealous, and envious, completely without any intention to give. He would even drive away flying birds so that they did not approach his house. Whenever śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, or poor beggars begged from him, he reviled and cursed them. Later, when his life came to an end, he took rebirth in the body of a poisonous snake and returned to guard his former wealth. If anyone approached, it glared with blazing anger, and looking at them with furious eyes, could cause them to die. King Bimbisāra, having heard of this, felt astonished and thought, 'Now this poisonous snake harms people whenever it sees them. Only the Buddha can subdue it.' Having thought this, he immediately led his ministers to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, sat down to one side, and related the matter in detail, saying, 'We only pray that the Bhagavat will subdue this snake so that it does not harm people.' The Buddha voiced his assent. On the following day, donning his robes and holding his bowl, he went to the snake's dwelling. Seeing the Buddha approach, the snake flared up with intense wrath and wished to bite the Tathāgata. By the power of loving-kindness, the Buddha emitted five-coloured radiant light from the tips of his five fingers, illuminating the snake's body. The snake immediately experienced coolness; its fiery venom was dispelled, and its heart was filled with joy. Raising its head and looking around in the four directions, it wondered, 'What blessed person can emit this light, shining upon my body to make it cool with unspeakable delight?' At that time, seeing that the snake was subdued, the Bhagavat told it of its original conditions. Hearing the Buddha's words, the snake reproached itself deeply. The cloud of hindrances was dispelled, and it remembered its past lives: when it was an elder, the evil karma it had created now resulted in this retribution. Thereupon, before the Buddha, it generated deep faith and reverence. The Buddha told it, 'In your former life you did not comply with my words, and thus received this snake body. Now you should be docile and compliant and receive my instructions.' The snake answered the Buddha, 'I will follow whatever the Buddha instructs; I dare not disobey your command.' The Buddha told the snake, 'If you are docile and compliant, enter into my bowl.' When the Buddha finished speaking, it immediately entered the bowl. The Buddha brought it to the grove. When the king and his ministers heard that the Bhagavat had subdued and transformed the poisonous snake and was bringing it in his bowl, all the people of the country went together to see. Seeing the crowd, the snake felt deep shame and remorse, developed revulsion toward this snake body, and immediately died, to be born in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. It then thought, 'What merit have I created to be born in heaven?' It immediately observed and saw that when it was in the world, it had received the body of a poisonous snake; because it saw the Buddha, it had generated a mind of faith and reverence, felt revulsion toward the snake body, and thus was able to be born here to enjoy heavenly bliss. 'Now I should return to repay the kindness of the Buddha, the Bhagavat.' Carrying incense and flowers, with radiant light shining brightly, it came to where the Buddha was, prostrated at the Buddha's feet, and after completing the offerings, sat down to one side to listen to the Buddha preach the Dharma. Its mind opened in comprehension, and it attained the fruit of srotāpanna. It then spoke a verse in front of the Buddha praising the Buddha: