諸經要集 5.48

5.48

When the brāhmaṇa heard this verse, [he thought:] 'The Great Sage knows my mind fully!' Filled with shame, he took his bowl, entered his house, filled it with fine food, and offered it to the Buddha. The Buddha would not accept it, saying: 'Because I spoke a verse, I obtained this food. I shall not eat it.' The brāhmaṇa said: 'To whom then should this food be given?' The Buddha said: 'I see no one among gods or humans who can digest this food. Take it and place it on ground with little grass, or in water without living creatures.' He followed the Buddha’s instruction, taking the food and casting it into water without living creatures. The water immediately boiled violently, with smoke and fire bursting forth together, just as when a great hot iron is plunged into it. Seeing this, the brāhmaṇa was terrified and exclaimed: 'Unprecedented! That even in food there should be such spiritual power!' He bowed to the Buddha, repented, and begged to leave home (pravrajyā) and receive the precepts. Gradually severing the fetters, he attained the path of an arhat. Later, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī offered the Buddha a precious golden-coloured robe. The Buddha urged her to bestow it on the Saṅgha, [saying they] could digest and receive it. Therefore we know that in the merit of the Buddha-jewel and the Saṅgha-jewel there is neither more nor less. Therefore a verse says: