SA 970（九七〇） 舍罗步

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha.

At that time, there was an ascetic named Śāradvatīputra in Rājagṛha, who was staying by the side of the Sumāgadhā Pond. He proclaimed to his own assembly, "I know all the Dharma of the Śramaṇa Śākya. I have already known their Dharma and Vinaya, but I have abandoned them all."

At that time, many bhikṣus put on their robes in the morning, took their alms bowls, and entered Rājagṛha to beg for food. They heard that there was an ascetic named Śāradvatīputra who was staying by the side of the Sumāgadhā Pond in Rājagṛha. He proclaimed to his own assembly, "I have already known all the Dharma and Vinaya of the Śramaṇa Śākya. I have already known their Dharma and Vinaya, and then abandoned them." Having heard this, after finishing their alms round, they returned to the monastery, put away their robes and bowls, washed their feet, went to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet, sat to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! We put on our robes in the morning, took our alms bowls, and entered Rājagṛha to beg for food. We heard that there was an ascetic named Śāradvatīputra who was staying by the side of the Sumāgadhā Pond in Rājagṛha. He proclaimed to his own assembly, 'I have already known all the Dharma and Vinaya of the Śramaṇa Śākya. I have already known their Dharma and Vinaya, and then abandoned them.' Excellent! World-Honored One! Please go to the side of the Sumāgadhā Pond out of compassion for him!"

At that time, the World-Honored One silently consented. In the afternoon, he arose from meditation and went to the side of the Sumāgadhā Pond where the ascetic Śāradvatīputra was.

At that time, the ascetic Śāradvatīputra saw from afar that the World-Honored One was coming. He immediately prepared a seat and invited the Buddha to sit.

The Buddha then took his seat and said to Śāradvatīputra, "Is it true that you said, 'I have already understood all the teachings and discipline of the Śramaṇa disciples. Having understood their teachings and discipline, I then abandoned them'?" At that time, Śāradvatīputra remained silent and did not answer.

The Buddha said to Śāradvatīputra, "You should now speak. Why are you silent? I will rejoice in what you have fully understood, and I will make you fully understand what you have not yet understood." At that time, Śāradvatīputra still remained silent. He was silent like this a second and a third time.

At that time, Śāradvatīputra had a disciple who practiced the same way. He said to Śāradvatīputra, "Master, you should go to the Śramaṇa Gautama to speak about what you know and see. Now the Śramaṇa Gautama has come here himself. Why don't you speak? The Śramaṇa Gautama also told you, 'If you are satisfied, I will rejoice. If you are not satisfied, I will make you satisfied.' Why are you silent and not speaking?" When that disciple of Śāradvatīputra urged him, he also remained silent.

At that time, the World-Honored One said to Śāradvatīputra, "If someone says, 'The Śramaṇa Gautama is not a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One,' if I were to admonish and question him well, and when I admonish and question him well, he would then speak about various external matters; or he would be angry, arrogant, and obstinate, and would not be able to manifest himself due to opposition and intolerance; or he would remain silent, ashamed and bowing his head, secretly reflecting on himself, just like Śāradvatīputra now. If someone says, 'The Śramaṇa Gautama does not have the right Dharma and Vinaya,' if I were to admonish and question him well, he would also remain silent like you today. If someone says, 'The Śramaṇa Gautama's disciples do not go in the right direction,' if I were to admonish and question him well, he would also remain silent like you today." At that time, the World-Honored One, having roared the lion's roar by the side of the Sumāgadhā Pond, rose from his seat and departed.

At that time, Śāradvatīputra's disciple said to Śāradvatīputra, "It is like a cow whose two horns have been cut off. It enters an empty cow pen and kneels down, roaring loudly. The teacher is also like this, roaring like a lion among the disciples of the Śramaṇa Gautama. It is like a woman who wants to make a man's voice, but when she speaks, she makes a woman's voice. The teacher is also like this, roaring like a lion among the disciples of the Śramaṇa Gautama who are not disciples. It is like a jackal who wants to make a fox's voice, but when it speaks, it still makes a jackal's voice. The teacher is also like this, wanting to roar like a lion among the disciples of the Śramaṇa Gautama who are not disciples.

At that time, Śāradvatīputra's disciple, having reproached and reviled Śāradvatīputra in front of him, rose from his seat and left.