Viyahapannatti 5.4.228

5.4.228

At that time and in that period, there was a disciple of the Śramaṇa, the Venerable Mahāvīra, a young monk named Atimukta, naturally gentle, naturally pacified, with naturally attenuated anger, pride, deceit, and greed, endowed with softness and mildness, secluded, and disciplined.
Then, on one occasion, when a great mass of rain was falling, that young monk Atimukta set out outside to ease nature, taking his broom and alms-bowl under his arm.
Then that young monk Atimukta saw a flowing stream of water; having seen it, he built an earthen dam, and having built it, saying 'My boat, my boat,' like a boatman making his alms-bowl into a boat, sailed it along the water and amused himself. And the senior monks saw him. They went to where the Śramaṇa, the Venerable Mahāvīra was, and having approached, spoke thus:
"Indeed, Beloved of the Gods, you have a disciple, a young monk named Atimukta. Venerable Sir, in how many rebirths will that young monk Atimukta become perfected, enlightened, liberated, completely unburdened, and make an end of all suffering?"
'O Noble Ones!' the Śramaṇa, the Venerable Mahāvīra said thus to those senior monks: "Indeed, Noble Ones, my disciple, the young monk named Atimukta, is naturally gentle […] up to […] disciplined; that young monk Atimukta will become perfected […] up to […] make an end [of all suffering] in this very birth. Therefore, Noble Ones, do not disparage, reproach, revile, blame, or disrespect the young monk Atimukta! Beloved of the Gods, tirelessly look after the young monk Atimukta, tirelessly support him, tirelessly attend upon him with food, drink, and modest reverence! The young monk Atimukta is indeed one who puts an end [to karma], one in his final embodiment."
Then those revered senior monks, having been addressed thus by the Śramaṇa, the Venerable Mahāvīra, venerated and paid homage to the Śramaṇa, the Venerable Mahāvīra, and tirelessly looked after the young monk Atimukta, tirelessly supported him, and tirelessly attended upon him with food, drink, and modest reverence.