諸經要集 16.15

16.15

As the Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: The Buddha told the monks: In a past age, there was a city named Vārāṇasī, and the country was named Kāśi. At that time, there was a prominent brāhmaṇa scholar named Purohita, who was the teacher to the king of the country, constantly instructing five hundred disciples. At that time, in the brāhmaṇa's household a slave was born, named Kalaha. He was constantly employed to wait upon the boys. This slave had sharp faculties; whenever he heard the words of the Dharma spoken, he was able to remember and retain them all. Once, this slave had a slight quarrel with the boys and then fled to another country. He falsely proclaimed of himself, saying, 'I am the son of the brāhmaṇa Purohita, named Yajñadatta.' He spoke to the royal preceptor of this country, saying, 'I am the son of Purohita, royal preceptor of the country of Vārāṇasī. I have purposefully come here wishing to study the brāhmaṇa's Dharma from the great master.' The master replied, saying, 'Very well.' This slave was intelligent; having previously heard [the teachings] before, now hearing them again, he was able to retain everything he heard. His master was greatly delighted, and thereupon ordered him to instruct the five hundred disciples: 'You teach in my stead; I shall go back and forth to the royal court.' This master had no sons, having only one daughter. He then said to him, 'Yajñadatta, you should follow my words: do not return to your country. I now give you my daughter as your wife.' He replied, saying, 'I obey your instruction.' Together they made a living, and the household gradually became wealthy and happy. Yajñadatta was difficult to please as a person. When his wife prepared food for him, he would constantly be angry that it was either raw or overcooked, failing to suit his taste. His wife frequently thought, 'If perchance a traveler should come from the country of Vārāṇasī, I shall learn from him the customs and methods of preparing food and drink, and only then make offerings to my husband.' That brāhmaṇa Purohita, having heard all about this matter, then thought: 'My slave Kalaha has escaped to another country. I should go to seize him and bring him back, or perhaps obtain his price.' He then went to that country. At that time, the slave went with the disciples to stroll in a park. While on the road, he saw his former master from afar and was immediately terrified. He whispered to the disciples, 'Return, and each of you recite and study on your own.' When the disciples had left, he then went before his master, bowed his head to his feet, and addressed his master, saying, 'I came to this country and claimed that the master was my father. I then submitted myself to this royal preceptor, studying the classics, and he gave his daughter to me as my wife. May the Venerable One not expose my affairs today! I shall pay the slave's price to offer to the master.' The master brāhmaṇa was well-versed in worldly affairs, so he replied, saying, 'You are truly my son. Only send me off early.' The slave then led him to his wife's home and announced to the household, 'My relative has arrived.' His wife was delighted and prepared various kinds of food and drink for him. When the offering of food was completed, watching for a small moment of leisure, she secretly bowed to the brāhmaṇa's feet and asked him, saying, 'I attend to my husband, but the food and drink I offer never please him. May the Venerable One instruct me: what did he eat when he was at home? I shall prepare food and drink for him according to the former method.' The guest brāhmaṇa then grew angry and thought: 'Just so, just so—he distresses another's daughter! You only send me off quickly, and when I am about to leave, I will teach you a verse that will render your husband speechless.' The woman was delighted to hear this; she took her leave and withdrew. She immediately spoke to her husband, saying, 'The venerable brāhmaṇa has come especially from afar; it is proper to send him off early.' Her husband then thought, 'Just as my wife says, he should indeed be sent off early; do not let him stay long, lest words slip out and cause me no small harm.' He then gave him a great deal of wealth and goods, instructed his wife to prepare food, and went in person to offer it. Since the husband was the head of his guild and was away seeking a companion, the wife finished offering the food, bowed to [the guest's] feet, took her leave, and requested the promised verse. He then taught her the verse, saying: