SA-2 327（三二七）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at the Karanda Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha. At that time, there was a bhikṣuṇī named Śuklā at the royal garden monastery. At that time, the people of the country all held a joint Maitra star festival for seven days and seven nights, gathering for entertainment. None of them invited that bhikṣuṇī. At that time, there was a yakṣa who had faith and respect for the bhikṣuṇī Śuklā. Knowing that none of the people of the country had invited her, he spoke this verse in the streets:

The people of Rājagṛha are all asleep, drunk
They do not invite the bhikṣuṇī, who cultivates
the faculties. Śuklā, the bhikṣuṇī of pure Dharma
is well-concentrated, forever free from defilements, peacefully extinguished
reaching nirvāṇa. Such a great person should be
diligently honored. Why do you now not invite
her at all?

At that time, the people of the city, having heard this verse, each brought clothing and food to offer to the bhikṣuṇī. Then the yakṣa, seeing that she had obtained clothing and food, again spoke a verse:

The bhikṣuṇī Śuklā has cut off the bonds
of craving. The wise upāsaka is able to
offer her food. By offering her food, he
obtains immeasurable merit. The bhikṣuṇī Śuklā has cut
off stinginess and greed. The wise upāsaka is
able to offer her clothing. By offering her
clothing, he obtains immeasurable merit.