SA-2 204（二〇四）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was staying at the banks of the Sumāgadhā Pond in Rājagṛha. At that time, the brāhman Śāradvatīputra was in a large assembly, saying, "I know the teachings spoken by the Śākya son. What I know and see is superior to that of the Śākya son." At that time, many bhikṣus entered the city to beg for food. Seeing the brāhman Śāradvatīputra at the banks of the pond, they heard him say, "I know the teachings of the Śākya son. What I know surpasses his." Having heard this, the bhikṣus returned to the monastery, put away their robes and bowls, washed their hands and feet, went to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at the Buddha's feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! Today, we entered the city to beg for food. After eating, we returned. On the way, we passed by the Sumāgadhā Pond. On the banks of the pond, there was a brāhman named Śāradvatīputra. In a large assembly, he proclaimed, 'I know the teachings of the Śākya son. What I know surpasses his.' Excellent! World-Honored One! Please go to the banks of the pond." At that time, the Tathāgata silently consented. Surrounded by the bhikṣus in front and behind, he went to the Sumāgadhā Pond.

At that time, Śāradvatīputra saw the Buddha coming from afar. He immediately rose from his seat, prepared a high seat, and said to the Buddha, "Please sit here." The Buddha then sat down and said to him, "Did you really say, 'I know the teachings of the Śākya son. What I know surpasses his'? Is that what you said?" The brāhman remained silent. The Buddha said again, "Why do you remain silent and not answer me? If you understand, then speak according to your understanding; if you do not understand, I will explain it to you so that you can fully understand. If you can fully explain it now, I will rejoice with you. Brāhman, you should know that if there are people in the world who say, 'The Tathāgata is not an Arhat, a Samyak-Saṃbuddha,' I would say, 'Good!' and ask them, 'What is the reason you say the Tathāgata is not an Arhat, a Samyak-Saṃbuddha?' These beings will not be able to answer this question. They will speak about other worldly discussions, interspersing them with various words. Arrogant and conceited, they will give rise to a mind of destruction. Unable to answer this question, they will remain silent, ashamed and with lowered heads, losing their eloquence. Śāradvatīputra, you are now also like this. If someone says, 'The Śramaṇa Gautama is able to skillfully reveal this faulty Dharma,' I would also say, 'Good!' and ask them, 'With what wisdom do you know this matter?' They will not be able to answer. They will speak about other worldly discussions, interspersing them. When their words are exhausted and their principles are refuted, they will be ashamed and with lowered heads, remaining silent, losing their eloquence. You are now also like this, not different.

At that time, Śāradvatīputra's fellow brāhman practitioners said to Śāradvatīputra, "Why are you silent and not answering? In the past, you always said in the midst of a large assembly of people, 'What I know and see surpasses the teachings of Gautama.' You should now ask Śramaṇa Gautama. How could it be that Śramaṇa Gautama would turn around and ask you questions, interrogating you to speak like this: 'What you say, if you can fully explain, I will rejoice with you and praise it as good; if you cannot fully explain it, I will explain it to you, enabling you to fully understand it'?" When Śāradvatīputra heard these words, he also remained silent, unable to say anything.

At that time, the World-Honored One, having roared the lion's roar on the banks of the Sumāgadhā Pond, rose from his seat and returned to Rājagṛha.

Not long after the Buddha left, those fellow practitioners reproached Śāradvatīputra in various ways, saying, "You are like a bull with its horns cut off, roaring in a secluded place. You are also like this. You roar like a lion in a quiet place, but in the presence of Śramaṇa Gautama, you are silent and have nothing to say. It is also like a girl trying to make a man's voice, but she cannot do it and it still sounds like a woman's voice. You are also like this. You want to learn from Gautama to roar like a lion, but you cannot succeed. It is also like a female jackal trying to roar like a lion, but its voice is still that of a jackal, and it cannot become the voice of a lion." Having reproached Śāradvatīputra in various ways, the fellow practitioners dispersed.