諸經要集 15.84

15.84

At that time, when that water buffalo heard the Buddha, the Bhagavat, speak this verse, it gave rise to deep shame and remorse and suddenly gained comprehension. The cloud of hindrances was dispelled, and it knew the evil karma it had created when in the human realm in a previous life. Doubling its shame and remorse, it did not eat water or grass, and immediately died, being born in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. It suddenly grew to the size of an eight-year-old child, and thought, 'What merit did I cultivate to be born in this heaven?' It immediately observed and knew, 'When in the world, I received the body of a water buffalo; through the Buddha's transformation and salvation, I was able to be born in heaven. I should now return to repay the Buddha's kindness.' Having thought this, it took incense and flowers and came to where the Buddha was. With bright radiance illuminating the Bhagavat, it prostrated at the Buddha's feet and sat down to one side. The Buddha then preached the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths for it. Its mind opened in comprehension, and it attained the fruit of srotāpanna; then it circumambulated the Buddha three times and returned to the heavenly palace. At that time, the five hundred herdsmen came to where the Buddha was that morning. When he preached the wondrous Dharma for them, their minds opened in comprehension, each attained the trace of the Way, and they requested to leave home. The Buddha then said to them, 'Welcome, bhikṣus!' Their hair and beards fell away of themselves, Dharma robes covered their bodies, and they became śramaṇas. Cultivating with diligent effort, they attained the fruit of arhat. At that time, seeing this event, the bhikṣus said to the Buddha, 'What past karma did this water buffalo and the five hundred herdsmen create to be born among water buffaloes? And what merit did they cultivate to encounter the Buddha, the Bhagavat?' The Buddha told the bhikṣus, 'If you wish to know the evil karmic conditions created by their past karma, I shall now speak a verse for you:'