SA 979（九七九） 须跋陀罗

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying in the Kuśinagara country, in the grove of the twin śāla trees where the strong men were born.

At that time, when the World-Honored One's time of parinirvāṇa had come, he said to Venerable Ānanda, "Ānanda, prepare a rope bed for the World-Honored One between the twin trees, with the head pointing north. The Tathāgata will attain parinirvāṇa without remainder in the middle of the night."

At that time, Venerable Ānanda, having received the instruction, prepared a rope bed between the twin trees, with the head pointing north. He then went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! I have already prepared a rope bed between the twin trees, with the head pointing north."

At that time, the World-Honored One went to between the twin trees, lay down on the rope bed with his head pointing north, right side down, feet on top of each other, with mindfulness and clear perception, right mindfulness and right knowledge.

At that time, there was an ascetic named Subhadra in the country of Kuśinagara. He was 120 years old, old and feeble, and was respected and offered by the people of Kuśinagara as if he were an arhat. When Subhadra heard that the World-Honored One would enter parinirvāṇa without remainder in the middle of the night, he had doubts and hoped to resolve them. He thought, "The Śramaṇa Gautama has the power to awaken me. I should now go to the Śramaṇa Gautama and ask him about my doubts." He then left Kuśinagara and went to where the World-Honored One was.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda was walking outside the garden gate. Subhadra said to Ānanda, "I heard that the Śramaṇa Gautama will enter parinirvāṇa without remainder in the middle of the night. I have doubts and hope to resolve them. The Śramaṇa Gautama has the power to awaken me. If Ānanda is not too busy, please go and tell Gautama on my behalf. If he has a moment, he can answer my questions."

Ānanda replied, "Do not trouble the World-Honored One! The World-Honored One is tired."

Thus Subhadra asked Venerable Ānanda three times, but Ānanda still refused three times.

Subhadra said, "I have heard the ancient elders say that a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One appears in the world only after a long time, like the udumbara flower. Now the Tathāgata will enter parinirvāṇa in the realm of no remainder in the middle of the night. I have doubts about the Dharma and abide in faith. The Śramaṇa Gautama has the power to awaken me. If Ānanda is not weary, please inform the Śramaṇa Gautama for me."

Ānanda replied, "Subhadra! Do not trouble the World-Honored One! The World-Honored One is exhausted today."

At that time, the World-Honored One heard Ānanda speaking with Subhadra with his divine ear. He told Venerable Ānanda, "Do not stop the non-Buddhist Subhadra from going forth! Let him come in and ask his doubts. Why is that? This is the last time to debate with non-Buddhists who have gone forth. This is the last time to attain the state of a well-come bhikṣu, namely Subhadra."

At that time, Subhadra, with the World-Honored One opening his roots of goodness, joyfully increased and went to where the World-Honored One was. He exchanged greetings and pleasantries with the World-Honored One, then sat to one side and said to the Buddha, "Gautama! The worldly views are that the six teachers, such as Pūraṇa Kāśyapa, each have their own views: 'This is a śramaṇa, this is a śramaṇa.' How is it, Gautama? Are there really such views?"

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse for him, saying:

At the age of twenty-nine, I left home to cultivate the good
path. Since attaining enlightenment, more than fifty years have passed. I am
endowed with samādhi, wisdom, and practice, and always cultivate pure precepts. Apart
from this small part of the path, there are no śramaṇas outside of this.

The Buddha told Subhadra, "In the true Dharma and Vinaya, those who do not attain the eightfold right path cannot attain the first śramaṇa, nor the second, third, or fourth śramaṇa. Subhadra! In this Dharma and Vinaya, those who attain the eightfold right path attain the first śramaṇa, the second, third, and fourth śramaṇa. Apart from this, there are no śramaṇas among non-Buddhists. They are merely teachers of heterodox paths, empty śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas. Therefore, I now roar like a lion in the assembly."

When this teaching was spoken, the non-Buddhist Subhadra, having left home, was far from defilements and free from obscurations, and attained the purity of the Dharma eye. At that time, Subhadra saw the Dharma, attained the Dharma, knew the Dharma, entered the Dharma, transcended all doubts, did not rely on others' faith, and was not liberated by others. In the true Dharma and Vinaya, he attained fearlessness. He rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, touched his right knee to the ground, and said to Venerable Ānanda, "You have obtained great benefits. You have obtained the Great Master. You are a disciple of the Great Master. You are sprinkled with the Great Master's rain, which is poured on your head. If I can now leave home and receive full ordination in the true Dharma and Vinaya, and attain the status of a bhikṣu, I will also obtain these great benefits!"

At that time, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! This non-Buddhist Subhadra, who has left home, now seeks to leave home and receive full ordination in the true Dharma and Vinaya, and attain the status of a bhikṣu."

At that time, the World-Honored One said to Subhadra, "This bhikṣu has come to practice the holy life."

Venerable Subhadra then left home and received full ordination, becoming a bhikṣu. He contemplated in this way, and his mind was well liberated, attaining arahantship.

At that time, Venerable Subhadra attained arahantship and, knowing the bliss of liberation, thought, "I cannot bear to see the Buddha enter parinirvāṇa. I shall enter parinirvāṇa first." Venerable Subhadra then entered parinirvāṇa first, and then the World-Honored One entered parinirvāṇa.