SA-2 186（一八六）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha. At that time, the elder Sudatta had some minor business and came from Śrāvastī to Rājagṛha, going to the house of the elder Gopālaka. He saw that in the house, the whole night was spent without sleeping, chopping firewood to make a fire, preparing various offerings, arranging high seats, and laying out various beds and mats. Having seen this, the elder Sudatta thought: "Now this elder is arranging offerings, is it to celebrate a marriage and a joyful feast? Or is it to invite King Bimbisāra and his ministers?" He further thought: "If it is to invite the king and officials for a marriage feast, this elder should not personally be so busy, taking on the toil and trouble of making the fire and cooking the food. There must be a superior person, I wonder who it is? I should ask about it." Having thought this, he immediately asked the elder about his thoughts.

The elder Gopālaka then replied: "I am not holding a marriage feast, nor am I inviting King Bimbisāra and his ministers for this gathering. I will invite the Buddha and the bhikṣus tomorrow, and therefore I am making these preparations."

When the elder Sudatta first heard the name "Buddha," his body hair stood on end, and he asked in surprise and joy: "What is meant by 'Buddha'?"

Gopālaka replied: "A Śākya prince has renounced the householder's life, shaved his head and beard, and attained the unsurpassed true path. He is called a Buddha."

Sudatta then asked: "What is meant by 'saṃgha'?"

The elder replied: "If a kṣatriya prince shaves his head and beard, renounces the householder's life to follow the Buddha, and the same is true for brahmins, householders, and śūdras, who all renounce the householder's life to follow the Buddha, they are called the saṃgha. I now invite the Buddha and the saṃgha."

Sudatta asked: "Is the Tathāgata visible today?"

Humkara replied: "The Tathāgata is nearby in the Karanda Bamboo Grove. Please wait a moment, and the Buddha will come himself to accept your offerings."

At that time, Sudatta was overjoyed in his heart, thinking of seeing the World-Honored One. He then took a short nap. After sleeping, he woke up. It was still not yet dawn, but he thought it was already morning. He then got up early and went to the city gate. However, the city gate was always open during the two periods of the night. When Sudatta arrived at the gate, he saw the city gate open and thought it was already dawn. He then went outside the city, intending to go to where the Buddha was. Because he was thinking of the Buddha, there was light that illuminated his body. After arriving outside the city, he saw a shrine and immediately circumambulated the shrine, paying homage with respect. It then became dark again. He thought to himself: "The sky is very dark. If it is a person or a non-person, they may harm me. I should return to the city."

At that time, the god Shipa emitted light to illuminate all the way to the Jetavana, making it very bright. The god then said to Sudatta: "You should go forward, do not retreat." At that time, the god spoke a verse, saying:

Even if one were to load a hundred horses with precious
treasures, and also a hundred golden men, and use them to
make offerings, and so on, making offerings all over Jambudvipa, the
merit accumulated from such offerings would be only a fraction of
the merit of a single person who generates the aspiration to
go to where the Buddha is. The merit of taking a
single step forward is sixteen times greater. Even if one were
to offer a hundred powerful elephants from the snowy mountains, adorned
with gold and jewels, with majestic bodies and extremely swift movements
wild and twice as strong, fully loaded with various treasures, the
merit from such offerings would be only a fraction of the
merit of going to where the Buddha is and taking a
single step forward. The merit of taking a single step forward
is sixteen times greater. Even if one were to offer a
hundred precious women from the Sword-Bearing Mountains, with extremely beautiful faces
adorned with necklaces, with golden crowns on their heads, and jeweled
necklaces, the merit obtained from such offerings would be only a
fraction of the merit of going to where the Buddha is
and taking a single step forward. The merit of taking a
single step forward is sixteen times greater. Therefore, I encourage you
not to retreat from here.

At that time, Sudatta asked him: "Who are you?"

The god replied: "I am your old friend, the good man Sunaksatra. At the time of my death, I gave rise to a joyful mind in the presence of Sariputra and Maha Maudgalyayana. After death, I was reborn in heaven as the son of the Northern Heavenly King Virudhaka. By giving rise to the aspiration to rejoice in the disciples of the Tathāgata, I have attained such blessings. How much more so for the Buddha himself?"

At that time, Sudatta further thought to himself: "Now this heavenly spirit praises him in this way. Judging from this, I must know that that person's merits and virtues are supreme and victorious." At that time, the World Honored One was walking in the open air. The elder Sudatta then went to where the Buddha was. When he first saw the World Honored One, he did not know how to pay respect. He went forward and sat down directly. At that time, that heavenly spirit transformed into a brahmin, came to where the Buddha was, circumambulated the Buddha three times, bowed his head in respect, and then sat down. When Sudatta saw this, he then imitated him, paid respect and sat down, and asked: "I do not know if the holy body is at ease and at peace?"

At that time, the World Honored One replied in verse:

All things are at ease, the brahmin has attained nirvana, unstained
by desires, liberated from all existences. The mind has cut off
all desires and seeking, the mind has removed the illness of
afflictions. The mind has attained purity, peacefully and peacefully sleeping in tranquility.

At that time, the World Honored One led the elder Sudatta into the room, spread out a seat, and sat down. When Sudatta had paid homage at the Buddha's feet, he sat to one side. The Buddha spoke various teachings to him, showing, teaching, benefiting, and delighting him, discussing giving, discussing precepts, discussing rebirth in the heavens, explaining that desires are impure and that liberation is blissful. The Buddha knew that Sudatta's mind was focused and upright, and he was joyful and delighted. The Buddha spoke to him about the Four Noble Truths. He saw the Four Noble Truths right there on the seat, just as a new, clean cloth easily accepts dye. Sudatta's easy understanding was also like this. He saw the Dharma, realized the Dharma, cut off the eighty koṭis of afflictions, and attained the stage of stream-entry. He then rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, paid homage at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, "World Honored One! My name is Sudatta. Because I give to the poor and needy, people call me 'the one who gives to the destitute.'"

The Buddha said, "What country are you from? What family are you born into?"

Sudatta said, "I was born in the country of Sravasti. I only wish that the World Honored One would go to that country. I will provide for your needs for the rest of my life."

The Buddha said to Sudatta, "Is there a monastery in that country?"

Sudatta said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, just go there. I will build it so that the monks can come and go there." At that time, the Tathāgata silently accepted the invitation.

At that time, Sudatta heard the Buddha's words and accepted the invitation. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet and left joyfully.