諸經要集 6.29

6.29

Furthermore, the Dharmapada-avadāna-sūtra states: The Buddha was dwelling in the vihāra of the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada Park in the country of Śrāvastī, preaching the Dharma for gods, nāgas, and spirits. To the east was a country named Uttaravatī, where five hundred brahmins led one another intending to go to the bank of the Gaṅgā River, where there was a divine pond with three shrines, to bathe away impurities and, naked, seek immortality according to the Nirgrantha practice. Because they were lost in a great marsh, they could not cross it, and their provisions ran out halfway. Looking into the distance, they saw a large tree that appeared to possess divine presence, and thinking someone lived there, they ran toward it, but could see no one. The brahmins raised their voices in loud weeping, being exhausted by hunger and thirst and facing death in this marsh. The tree spirit manifested its body and asked the brahmacārins, 'Whence come you ascetics, and where do you wish to go now?' They answered in one voice, saying, 'We wish to go to the divine pond to bathe and seek immortality. Today we are hungry and thirsty; we pray that you will show mercy and save us.' The tree spirit raised its hands, and food and drink of a hundred flavours flowed forth from them, providing food and drink to the multitude so that all were sated, with remaining provisions sufficient for their journey. As they were about to depart, they approached the spirit and asked, 'What virtue did you practice in the past that brought about such magnificent power?' The spirit answered the brahmacārins, 'The place where I formerly dwelt was in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a great minister of the state named Sudatta provided a meal for the Buddha and the Saṅgha. He bought curd in the marketplace, but had no one to carry the curd, so he hired me to carry it. Going to the vihāra, he had me pour it out, and when that was done, distribute washing water. Stately, I listened to the Dharma; all rejoiced and praised it as immeasurably good. At that time, I upheld the fast, and returning home in the evening, I did not eat. My wife questioned me with suspicion: "I do not know what grievance you hold." [I said:] "I saw the elder Sudatta offering a meal to the Buddha in the park, and he invited me to take the fast; the fast is called the Eight Precepts." His wife became angry and said with indignation, "Gautama disrupts worldly customs; why should his words be heeded? You violate ancestral rules, and calamity will arise from this fault!" Under her unrelenting pressure, I then ate with her. That very night, my allotted lifespan was exhausted, and I died at midnight; my spirit came and was born here. Because this foolish woman broke my fast precepts, I did not complete that practice, and was born in this marsh as this tree spirit. Due to the merit of carrying the curd, food and drink issue from my hands; had I completed the fast precepts, I should have been born in heaven to enjoy spontaneous pleasures.' Then he spoke a verse for the brahmacārins, saying: