SA 980（九八〇） 毘舍利贾客

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was traveling among the people of the Vṛji country and arrived at the city of Vaiśālī, where he stayed at the pavilion by the Monkey Pond. At that time, there were many merchants in the city of Vaiśālī who were preparing to travel to the country of Takṣaśilā. Having heard that the World-Honored One was traveling among the people of the Vṛji country and had arrived at the city of Vaiśālī, where he was staying at the pavilion by the Monkey Pond, they came to where the Buddha was, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side. The Buddha taught the Dharma to the merchants in various ways, showing, teaching, illuminating, and delighting them. Having shown, taught, illuminated, and delighted them, he remained silent.

At that time, the merchants rose from their seats, adjusted their robes, bowed to the Buddha, joined their palms, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One! We merchants are preparing to travel to the country of Takṣaśilā. We only wish that the World-Honored One and the great assembly would accept our offerings tomorrow."

At that time, the World-Honored One silently accepted.

At that time, the merchants, knowing that the World-Honored One had accepted the invitation, rose from their seats, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and returned to their own homes. They prepared various pure and delicious foods, laid out seats, and placed clean water. In the morning, they sent a messenger to inform the Buddha, saying, "The time has come."

At that time, the World-Honored One, together with the great assembly, put on his robes and took his alms bowl. He went to where the merchants were and took his seat.

At that time, the merchants personally served pure and delicious food. After the meal and washing the bowls, they took a low seat and sat in front of the great assembly to listen to the Buddha's teaching.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the merchants, "When you are traveling in the wilderness, there will be many terrifying things that make your hair stand on end. At that time, you should think of the Tathāgata, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One, up to the Buddha, the World-Honored One. If you think like this, your fear will be removed. Also, think of the Dharma, the Buddha's true Dharma and Vinaya, which can be realized in this life, not waiting for a time, and can be realized through personal experience. Also, think of the Saṃgha, the disciples of the World-Honored One who are well-directed and rightly directed, up to the field of merit in the world. If you think like this, your fear will be removed.

In the past, the gods and asuras fought together. At that time, Śakra, Lord of the Gods, told the gods, 'When you fight with the asuras, if you are afraid, you should think of my banner called the Banner of Subjugation. When you think of that banner, your fear will be removed. If you do not think of my banner, you should think of the banner of the god Vaiśravaṇa; if you do not think of the banner of the god Vaiśravaṇa, you should think of the banner of the god Dhṛtarāṣṭra. When you think of those banners, your fear will be removed.' Thus, merchants! When you are in the wilderness and are afraid, you should think of the Tathāgata, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha.

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse of offering and rejoicing for the merchants of Vaiśālī:

Offering to the bhikṣu saṃgha, with food and drink according to the
season, single-mindedly contemplating and reflecting, with right knowledge and practicing equanimity. Pure
objects are good fields of merit, which you all possess in full
Relying on these merits and benefits, you will attain peace and happiness
for a long time. If you give rise to the aspiration to
seek various benefits, they will all be accomplished. Two-legged and four-legged beings
will be at peace, and the roads for coming and going will
be peaceful. Peaceful at night and peaceful during the day, free from
all evil, like a fertile and good field, with pure and excellent
seeds. Irrigating them with timely moisture, the harvest is immeasurable. Pure precepts
are good fields of merit, with fine and delicious food as seeds
Practicing correctly in accordance with them, the ultimate wonderful fruits will be
accomplished. Therefore, those who practice giving, wishing to attain all virtues, should
follow the practice of wisdom, and various fruits will naturally be accomplished
To the one who is accomplished in wisdom and practice, with a
correct mind, pay utmost respect. Cultivating various roots of goodness, one will
ultimately attain great benefits and blessings. Truly knowing the world, one will
attain the complete fulfillment of right views. Fully endowed with the right
path, one will progress fully, far removed from all defilements, attaining the
path of nirvāṇa, ultimately reaching the end of suffering. This is called
being fully endowed with all virtues.

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke various teachings to the merchants of Vaiśālī, showing, teaching, illuminating, and delighting them. Having arisen from his seat, he departed.