23.4 （四）婆提

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the elder Bhāti in Śrāvastī became ill and passed away. The elder had no children, and all his wealth and treasures were confiscated by the state. At that time, King Prasenajit, with dust on his body, came to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side.

At that time, the World-Honored One asked the king, "Great King! Why have you come to me with dust on your body?"

King Prasenajit said to the World-Honored One, "In this Śrāvastī city, there was an elder named Bhāti who passed away today. He had no children, and his wealth and treasures were confiscated by the state. There were 80,000 catties of pure gold alone, not to mention other miscellaneous items. While he was alive, the elder ate such coarse food and did not eat fine food. The clothes he wore were dirty and impure, and the carriage and mounts he rode were extremely weak."

The World-Honored One said, "Indeed, Great King! As you have said, 'A stingy person, having obtained this wealth, cannot eat or drink it, and does not give it to parents, wife, children, servants, slaves, friends, acquaintances, śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, or elders. If a wise person obtains this wealth, they can give it away widely, not cherishing anything, and provide for śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, and those of high virtue.'"

King Prasenajit said, "Where was Elder Bhāti reborn after his death?"

The World-Honored One said, "Elder Bhāti was reborn in the great hell of weeping after his death. Because those who sever the roots of goodness are reborn in the weeping hell when their bodies perish and their lives end."

King Prasenajit said, "Did Elder Bhāti sever the roots of goodness?"

The World-Honored One said, "Yes, great king! As you have said, that elder severed the roots of goodness. However, his past merits have been exhausted and he has not created any new ones."

King Prasenajit said, "Does that elder have any remaining merits?"

The World-Honored One said, "No, great king! There is not even a tiny bit of remainder. It is like a farmer who only harvests and does not plant. Later, he becomes impoverished and gradually dies. The reason is that he only consumes past karma and does not create new karma. This elder is also like this. He only consumes past merits and does not create new merits. This elder will be in the weeping hell tonight."

At that time, King Prasenajit was filled with fear. He wiped away his tears and said, "What merits and virtues did this elder create in the past to be born in a wealthy family? What unwholesome roots did he create that he could not enjoy the wealth of this extreme wealth and not enjoy the five pleasures?"

At that time, the World-Honored One told King Prasenajit, "Long ago, during the time of Buddha Kasyapa, this elder was a farmer's son in this city of Sravasti. At that time, after the Buddha passed away, a pratyekabuddha appeared in the world and went to this elder's house. At that time, this elder saw the pratyekabuddha outside the door. Having seen him, he immediately thought, 'It is very difficult for such a venerable one to appear in the world. I should now offer him food.' At that time, the elder then offered food to the pratyekabuddha. Having received the food, the pratyekabuddha then flew up into the sky and left. At that time, the elder saw the pratyekabuddha perform the supernormal power and made this vow, 'With this root of goodness, may I not fall into the three evil destinies in all my future lives, and may I always have abundant wealth.' Later, he had a regretful thought, 'The food I had should have been given to the servants, not given to this bald-headed monk to eat.'

"At that time, was the farmer's son elder someone else? Do not view it like that. The reason is this: the farmer's son elder at that time is none other than this elder Bapati. Having made the offering, he made this vow, holding this merit, not falling into the evil destinies in all his future lives, always having abundant wealth and treasures, being born in a wealthy and noble family, without any lack. Having made the offering, he later gave rise to a regretful thought, 'I should have given the food to the servants, not given it to this bald-headed monk to eat.' Because of this cause and condition, he could not enjoy this extremely wealthy wealth, and he also did not enjoy the five pleasures. He did not provide for himself, nor did he give to his parents, brothers, wife, children, servants, friends, acquaintances, or to the shramanas, Brahmins, and elders. He only ate the old karma and did not create new karma. Therefore, great king! If there are wise people who obtain this wealth, they should widely give it away without being stingy, and they will also obtain inexhaustible wealth. Thus, great king! You should learn in this way."

At that time, King Prasenajit said to the World-Honored One, "From now on, I will widely give to the shramanas, Brahmins, and the four groups of followers. If any non-Buddhist practitioners come to beg, I will not be able to give to them."

The World-Honored One said, "Great King! Do not think like that. The reason is this: all sentient beings depend on food to survive. Without food, they will perish."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

Always remember to give widely, never cut off the mind of giving. You
will surely encounter the sages and cross over the source of birth and death.

At that time, King Prasenajit said to the World-Honored One, "I am now even more joyful towards the Tathāgata. Because all sentient beings depend on food to survive, without food they cannot survive." At that time, King Prasenajit said, "From now on, I shall widely give without being stingy."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke the subtle Dharma to the king. The king then rose from his seat, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and left.

At that time, King Prasenajit, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.