諸經要集 15.82

15.82

At that time, after praising the Buddha, the devaputra circumambulated the Buddha three times and returned to the heavenly palace. At that time, King Bimbisāra heard the Buddha speak on the causes and conditions of stinginess and greed. Among the people assembled at that time, some attained the four fruits of a śramaṇa, and some gave rise to the aspiration for anuttara-bodhi, rejoicing and putting it into practice. Furthermore, the Avadānaśataka says: When the Buddha was in the country of Kośala, he led the bhikṣus toward the base of a lakuca tree. Coming to a marsh, there were five hundred water buffaloes that were extremely fierce and vicious. There were also five hundred herdsmen. Seeing from afar that the Buddha was coming and leading the bhikṣus along this road, they called out loudly, 'We only pray that the Bhagavat will not travel by this road! In this herd of cattle there is a large, vicious buffalo that charges and gores people to injure them; it is difficult to pass through.' At that time, the Buddha told the herdsmen, 'You should not be greatly worried and terrified now. Even if that water buffalo comes to gore me, I will know the proper time myself.' While they were still speaking, the vicious buffalo suddenly rushed forward with raised tail and lowered horns, pawing the ground, roaring, jumping, and bounding straight ahead. At that time, from the tips of his five fingers, the Tathāgata conjured five lions to his left and right, and on all four sides all around there were large pits of fire. At that time, that vicious buffalo was terrified; running in the four directions, there was nowhere to go. Only in front of the Buddha's feet was there a small patch of ground, peaceful and cool. Rushing toward it, its mind became calm and it had no more fear. Kneeling down and prostrating its head, it licked the Bhagavat's feet, and then raised its head to look at the Buddha, the Tathāgata, with unbounded joy. At that time, knowing that the vicious buffalo's mind was subdued, the Bhagavat spoke a verse for the buffalo: