佛本行集經

Chapter 44: THE THREE KASSAPA BROTHERS

(Part 2)

At that time, the poisonous dragon saw flames suddenly surging and blazing on all four sides of the fire shrine, while only the place where the Tathagata sat remained peaceful, without even a single tongue of flame. Seeing this, the poisonous dragon gradually approached the Buddha and then sprang into the Tathagata’s bowl.

A verse says:

The last watch of the night ended, and dawn had just broken. Holding in his hand the alms bowl containing the poisonous dragon, the Blessed One went to where Uruvela Kassapa was sitting. Upon arriving, he said to Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, this poisonous dragon caused you all to be afraid to enter the fire shrine. Through my spiritual power, its poisonous fire has now been extinguished; therefore, I have brought it here for you to see.”

The brahmin ascetics spoke this verse:

When the night had just passed away,
The Tathagata came to Kassapa.
In his hand he bore the bowl containing the poisonous dragon
And set it before Kassapa and the whole assembly.

At that time Uruvela Kassapa thought, “Did this great poisonous dragon enter the ascetic’s bowl of its own accord, or did the ascetic command it to enter through his spiritual power?”

The Blessed One knew Kassapa’s thought. At once, the bowl in his hand suddenly turned toward Uruvela Kassapa. The nine-headed poisonous dragon raised its great necks and seemed about to crawl toward Uruvela Kassapa. Seeing the dragon about to approach him, Kassapa became frightened, drew himself in, stood motionless, and covered his face with both hands.

The Blessed One said to Uruvela Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, why do you shrink back like this? Is your mind so frightened and alarmed?”

Kassapa replied:

“Yes, indeed! Yes, indeed, Venerable Ascetic! I am truly very afraid.”

The Buddha said to Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, do not be afraid.”

He then spoke this verse to Kassapa:

Uruvela Kassapa then thought, “This ascetic possesses great spiritual powers and great abilities, for he was able to use the fire of spiritual power to extinguish the evil poisonous fire of the dragon. Although this is so, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

The Blessed One then took the poisonous dragon and released it into the great ocean beside the Cakravada Mountains. Uruvela Kassapa asked the Buddha:

“Venerable Ascetic, where will this poisonous dragon now dwell?”

The Buddha told Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, I have released that poisonous dragon at the Cakravada Mountains.”

Seeing the Buddha display such spiritual power, Kassapa rejoiced and said to him:

“Venerable Ascetic, please remain here. I am prepared to offer you food.”

The Blessed One silently accepted Uruvela Kassapa’s invitation.

(Alternatively, some masters say that the Buddha told Uruvela Kassapa, “If you venerable ones can come and inform me when it is time to eat, I shall accept your invitation.” Kassapa replied, “We shall inform the ascetic when it is time to eat.”)

The devas of the Pure Abodes in the form realm then spoke this verse:

Through the Blessed One’s great loving-kindness,
He was able to subdue the great poisonous dragon.
The three Kassapa ascetics who worship the fire god,
With all their vigorous striving, shall be overcome.

After the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he slowly walked to the Sai-ni-le-ka forest—the Sui translators render this name as “the place where sap issues from a cut branch”—which was not far from Kassapa’s residence. He practiced walking meditation and rested in that forest. At midnight, the Four Great Heavenly Kings who guard the four directions descended into the human world. The light radiating from their bodies illuminated the entire forest. They flew to the Buddha, joined their palms, bowed at his feet, and then withdrew to one side. Bending at the waist and lowering their heads, they paid homage to the Buddha, resembling great masses of fire whose light illuminated the entire Ni-ka forest.

When the night ended and dawn appeared, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, the mealtime is approaching, and the food has been prepared. Venerable Ascetic, may I also ask who those four beings were who came to you at midnight last night, their bodies blazing with light and illuminating this entire forest? They stood motionless with palms joined and heads bowed in reverence, resembling masses of fire emitting dazzling light.”

The Buddha told Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, those four were the Four Great Heavenly Kings. They came to me because they wished to ask about the Dharma.”

Uruvela Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual majesty and mighty virtue, for even the Four Great Heavenly Kings descended to learn the Dharma from him. Although the ascetic possesses such power, he has not attained arhatship as I have today.”

The next day the Blessed One again went to Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling to eat. After finishing his meal, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there in seclusion. At midnight, Sakra, lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven, came to the Buddha. His body emitted a supremely subtle and wondrous radiance that illuminated the entire forest. Upon arriving, he bowed at the Buddha’s feet, withdrew to one side, and stood motionless with palms joined toward the Blessed One. He resembled a great mass of fire emitting brilliant light many times brighter than the bodily light of the Four Heavenly Kings on the previous night, a dazzling radiance beyond compare.

When that night had passed, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, the mealtime has arrived, and the food has been prepared. Venerable Ascetic, may I also ask who it was who emitted such exceedingly dazzling light at midnight, came and bowed to you, and then stood to one side with joined palms? His radiance was many times brighter than the light from the bodies of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

The Buddha replied to Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, that was Sakra, lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven. He came to me to hear the Dharma.”

Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great majestic virtue, for even Lord Sakra comes to hear the Dharma from him. Although he possesses such power, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

On the following day, after the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there. At midnight, a deva of the Yama Heaven, whose body emitted dazzling radiance, came to the Buddha, joined his palms, bowed in homage, and then withdrew to one side. (The account is abbreviated.) Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great power and great spiritual majesty, for even a deva of the Yama Heaven comes to request the Dharma. Although he possesses such majestic virtue, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

The next day, after the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there. At midnight, a deva of the Tusita Heaven, whose body emitted radiance, came to the Buddha.... (The account is abbreviated.) Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great power and great spiritual majesty, for even a deva of the Tusita Heaven comes to request the Dharma. Although he possesses such majestic virtue, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

Again, on the following day, after the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there. At midnight, a deva of the Nirmanarati Heaven, whose body emitted radiance, came to the Buddha.... (The account is abbreviated.) Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual majesty, for even a deva of the Nirmanarati Heaven comes to hear the Dharma. Although he possesses such majestic virtue, he has still not attained arhatship.”

After the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there. At midnight, a deva of the Paranirmita-vasavartin Heaven, whose body emitted radiance, came to the Buddha.... (The account is abbreviated.) Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual majesty and great power, for even a deva of the Paranirmita-vasavartin Heaven comes to request the Dharma. Although he possesses such majestic virtue, he has not attained arhatship as I have today.”

On the following day, after the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there. At midnight, the Great Brahma, lord of the Saha world, came to the Buddha, his body emitting radiance throughout the forest. He joined his palms, bowed in homage, withdrew to one side, and stood silently facing the Buddha. He resembled a great mass of fire emitting dazzling light hundreds of thousands of times brighter than that of the devas of the desire realm previously mentioned. No other radiance could compare with it.

When the night had passed, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, the mealtime has arrived, and the food has been prepared. Great Ascetic, may I also ask who it was who emitted dazzling radiance last night, illuminating the entire forest, came to you with joined palms and bowed in homage, and then withdrew to one side? His radiance surpassed that of the devas of the desire realm previously mentioned.”

The Blessed One told Uruvela Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, the being who came was the Great Brahma, lord of this Saha world. He came to me wishing to hear the Dharma.”

Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great power and great spiritual strength, for even the Great Brahma, lord of the Saha world, comes to request the Dharma. Although he possesses such majestic virtue, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

The next day, after the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and rested there. The following day was the occasion of the annual sacrificial rite established by Uruvela Kassapa and the people of that region. When the appointed time arrived, all the people of Magadha brought various kinds of superb food—things to swallow, chew, lick, and nibble. That morning they all wished to go to Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling.

On the preceding night, Uruvela Kassapa sat alone in his room and thought, “Tomorrow all the people of Magadha will prepare immeasurable quantities of food and drink and gather around me to seek the sacrificial rite. But if this Great Ascetic Gautama appears before the assembly and displays the various extraordinary spiritual powers that he has shown all this while, then all my honor and offerings will turn toward him, and mine will diminish. May the Great Ascetic employ some means not to come here tomorrow morning.”

The Blessed One knew Uruvela Kassapa’s thought. In the morning he went to Uttarakuru, collected alms, and then went to the shore of the great Lake Anavatapta to eat. After eating, he remained by the lake for a short while, quietly gathering his mind. He then returned to the former forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there.

On the following day, after the meal, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, the mealtime arrived and the food was prepared. I do not know why you did not come. Nevertheless, I did not forget you; of all the superb food, I reserved a portion for you.”

The Blessed One told Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, last night, while sitting alone in your quiet room, did you not think: ‘Tomorrow the annual sacrificial rite will be held at my residence, and all the men and women of Magadha will bring various kinds of food and drink to offer me. But I fear that this great bhiksu Gautama may display spiritual powers and superhuman qualities before the assembly, whereupon all my honor and offerings will turn toward this Great Ascetic and mine will diminish’?

In your mind you wished that I would not come this morning. Venerable Kassapa, at that very time I knew your thought. Therefore, the next morning I flew to Uttarakuru, collected alms, and then went to the shore of Lake Anavatapta, where I ate in accordance with the Dharma.

After practicing walking meditation there for an appropriate length of time, I returned to this forest and have rested here until now.”

Uruvela Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual power and mighty authority. Although he has such awareness and transformative power, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.” (This passage is related by the Mahisasakas.)

At that time, a great annual gathering called the Day of the Winged Constellation was held at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling. On this festival day, tens of millions of people from Magadha gathered there. A marketplace was also held during the festival so that the people could purchase whatever they wished. Uruvela Kassapa thought, “If the ascetic comes here tomorrow, all the people will gaze at him and will not prepare the meal offerings for me.” Having thought this, he went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, tomorrow a great gathering will be held in the forest where you practice. Hundreds of thousands of people will gather, and there will be great noise and commotion. Since the Great Ascetic delights in solitude and ordinarily practices walking meditation in deep and peaceful places, you may leave this place and find a quiet place in which to dwell.” (This passage is related by the Mahasanghikas.)

The Blessed One then left Kassapa’s forest and went to the Sai-le-ka forest. Upon arriving, he turned his thoughts toward the four Garuda kings named Khả Xúc, the four Dhrtarastra Dragon Kings, the four aquatic spirit-dragons, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, Sakra the lord of the devas, all the devas of the desire realm, and the Great Brahma, lord of the Saha world....

The four Garuda kings named Khả Xúc and the others knew the Buddha’s thought and immediately caused a violent gale to arise. Flying through the sky from Uruvela Kassapa’s residence, they instantly reached the Sai-le-ka forest. Upon arriving, they bowed at the Buddha’s feet, joined their palms, and withdrew to one side, paying homage to the Buddha from a distance.

The four Dhrtarastra Dragon Kings and the four aquatic spirit kings also knew the Buddha’s intention. They gathered clouds and poured down heavy rain, then flew through the sky from Uruvela Kassapa’s residence toward the Sai-le-ka forest. Upon arriving, they bowed at the Buddha’s feet, joined their palms, withdrew to one side, and respectfully faced the Buddha from a distance.

The Four Great Heavenly Kings of the four directions also knew the Buddha’s intention. They manifested exceedingly handsome forms that everyone delighted to behold, splendid in majesty and radiating light from their own bodies. Each mounted a white elephant and rose from the earth, traveling from Uruvela Kassapa’s residence to the Sai-le-ka forest. Upon arriving, they bowed at the Blessed One’s feet and respectfully joined their palms toward the Buddha from a distance.

Sakra, lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven, the devas of the desire realm, and the Great Brahma, lord of the Saha world, all knew the Buddha’s intention. Their bodies emitted radiance that illuminated this land. At the same moment, they flew through the sky from Uruvela Kassapa’s residence to the Sai-le-ka forest. Upon arriving, they bowed at the Blessed One’s feet and respectfully inclined their heads toward the Buddha from a distance.

When all the people there saw the manifestations of the devas, dragons, and others, they became frightened and the hair on their bodies stood on end. Together they went to ask Uruvela Kassapa:

“Venerable Master, which deities have produced these strange manifestations? Do they portend a calamity? Is there to be an epidemic? Is some terrible danger approaching? Do they foretell the outbreak of a great war? Or are the Kata Putana demons and the demons of darkness about to come here?”

Uruvela Kassapa thought, “These events must be manifestations produced through the Great Ascetic’s power.” He then told the multitude:

“All of you, do not be afraid or alarmed. This is no calamity, no epidemic, and no conflict caused by demons or spirits. There is nothing to fear. All shall be exceedingly peaceful; no strange event, danger, or sickness will occur. These manifestations are entirely auspicious and bring no suffering. They are exceedingly good.”

Uruvela Kassapa then thought, “I should go to the Great Ascetic and examine this matter. I must learn why these manifestations have occurred.” Having thought this, he went to the Blessed One. As he drew near, the Tathagata suddenly displayed spiritual power and transformed the space before Kassapa into a vast, lofty mountain barring his path. Kassapa wished to cross it but was utterly unable to do so. He reached the foot of the mountain and then turned back.

The next day, Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, why did such strange manifestations appear yesterday? Although I have lived here for a very long time, I have never seen such things.”

The Blessed One clearly explained the matter to Kassapa. Upon hearing it, Uruvela Kassapa considered it exceedingly extraordinary and rare. He thought, “For many years I have lived here, continually offering sacrifices to the fire god, yet not even a whirlwind has ever come to me, much less any other deity. But today the ascetic Gautama possesses such great majestic virtue that all the devas approach him.” Having thought this, he developed reverence and faith in the Buddha and regarded him as extraordinary. He then invited the Buddha mentally: “May the Great Ascetic come to my dwelling tomorrow morning at mealtime and accept my offering of exquisite food and drink. If the Buddha is omniscient, he will know my thought.”

The Tathagata knew that Uruvela Kassapa had silently invited him in his mind, and he silently accepted Kassapa’s mental invitation. Kassapa returned to his dwelling. The next morning he told his young disciples:

“Go to the Great Ascetic and see whether he is putting on his robe in preparation to collect alms or is seated silently.”

Obeying Uruvela Kassapa, the young disciples went to the Sai-le-ka forest. Upon arriving, they saw the Buddha sitting silently in contemplation beneath a tree. His body emitted radiance throughout the surrounding area. Content with whatever food he received, he sat silently and did not go to collect alms.

Seeing this, the young disciples approached the Buddha and said:

“Great Ascetic, why are you not going to collect alms today?”

The Blessed One told them:

“Young disciples, someone has invited me today.”

They asked:

“Venerable Ascetic, who has invited you?”

The Buddha replied:

“The one who invited me is your master.”

The young disciples were exceedingly astonished and considered it truly extraordinary: “This ascetic knows what is in another person’s mind even though it has not been spoken.” They were so filled with joy and delight throughout their bodies that they could not contain themselves.

The young disciples returned to Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling and said:

“Venerable Master, we now know with certainty that this Great Ascetic is omniscient. Although you silently invited him only in your mind, he knew your intention and told us, ‘I have accepted your master’s mental invitation.’”

When Uruvela Kassapa heard this, he prepared a large seat. Having done so, he formed this thought: “If the ascetic Gautama is truly omniscient, may he respond to my thought and appear upon this very seat!”

The Blessed One immediately knew Uruvela Kassapa’s thought and at once appeared seated upon the seat. Seeing the Blessed One sitting there with dignified composure, Uruvela Kassapa rejoiced greatly. With his own hands he brought various superb foods—hard foods, soft foods, things to bite, and things to nibble—and offered them to the Buddha to partake of as he wished. He then thought, “How extraordinary! How extraordinary! This Great Ascetic possesses great majestic virtue and great spiritual power, for he is able to know my thoughts. Although he possesses such spiritual power, he has not attained arhatship as I have today.”

After the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the Sai-le-ka forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there. At that time, the kasaya worn by the Blessed One had become torn and worn out. Just then, a man from the village of the Brahmin General died, and his family discarded his body in the charnel forest. The Blessed One saw it and went to retrieve the corpse’s discarded rag robe. Having taken it, he thought, “Where should I wash this rag robe?”

Sakra, lord of the Trayastrimsa Heaven, knew the Blessed One’s thought. Before the Buddha, Sakra dug into the earth with his hand and made a pool of clear water. When the pool was completed, Sakra said to the Buddha:

“Excellent, Blessed One! Please use the water of this pool to wash the rag robe.”

Seeing the water in the pool, the Blessed One thought, “There is water now, but upon what shall I wash the robe?” Sakra knew the Buddha’s thought and brought a great stone from the Cakravada Mountains, placing it beside the pool before the Buddha. Having set down the stone, Sakra said:

“Blessed One, please wash the robe upon this stone.”

The Blessed One again thought, “There is now a stone, but what shall I hold on to while standing and treading upon the robe to wash it?” At that time, a tree named Kakubha—the Sui translators render this as “maple”—had long stood beside the pool. The tree spirit dwelling there knew the Buddha’s thought and pressed down a branch until it bent close to the ground. The spirit then said to the Buddha:

“May the Blessed One hold on to this branch while treading upon and washing the rag robe.”

The Buddha again thought, “After washing this robe, upon what shall I spread it to dry?” Sakra knew the Buddha’s thought and immediately brought an exceedingly broad stone from the Cakravada Mountains and placed it before the Buddha. Having done so, he said:

“May the Blessed One spread the robe upon this stone to dry.”

The Blessed One then spread the rag robe upon the stone. The next morning, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, the mealtime has arrived. The food has been prepared.”

He then asked the Buddha:

“Venerable Ascetic, formerly there was no pool here. Why has a pool full of water suddenly appeared today? Formerly there were no two stones here; from where have they now come? Previously this tree had no downward-bending branch; why does a branch hang down like this today? For what reason have these manifestations suddenly appeared?”

After asking these questions, Kassapa stood silently. The Blessed One told Uruvela Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, I obtained a rag robe here.

“At that time I thought, ‘Where shall I obtain water to wash this rag robe?’ Just then Sakra knew my thought and dug this pool with his hand. He then said to me, ‘May the Blessed One use the water of this pool to wash the rag robe.’ For this reason, it has been handed down to the present day under the name ‘Pool Dug by Sakra’s Hand.’

“After the pool had been filled with water, I thought, ‘Upon what shall I wash this rag robe?’ Sakra then knew my thought, brought a great stone from the Cakravada Mountains, placed it here, and said to me, ‘May the Blessed One wash the robe upon this stone.’ For this reason, this stone is now called the ‘Stone Cast by a Nonhuman Being.’ I then thought, ‘What shall my hands grasp while I tread upon and wash this robe?’ The spirit of the Kakubha tree knew my thought, pressed this branch downward with its hand, and said to me, ‘May the Blessed One grasp this tree with his hands and tread upon the robe with his heels.’ For this reason, the branch bends down from above in this manner.

“After there was a branch to grasp, I thought, ‘Upon what shall I now spread this robe to dry?’ Sakra knew my thought, brought a broad stone from the Cakravada Mountains, placed it before me, and said, ‘May the Blessed One spread the washed robe upon this stone to dry.’ For this reason, it is now named the ‘Stone Cast by a Nonhuman Being.’”

Uruvela Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great power and great spiritual abilities, for even Sakra, lord of the devas, comes to attend upon him. Although such manifestations occur, this ascetic has not attained arhatship as I have today.”

After the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest, practiced walking meditation, and dwelt there.

Early the next morning, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Great Ascetic, the mealtime has arrived, and the food has been prepared.”

The Blessed One told Kassapa:

“Venerable Kassapa, go ahead. I shall follow afterward.”

After telling Kassapa to return, the Blessed One exercised his spiritual power and flew to Mount Sumeru. On that mountain stood a Jambu tree. It was because of this Jambu tree that the name Jambudvipa arose. The Blessed One picked one of its fruits, returned before Kassapa, and sat with dignified composure in Kassapa’s fire shrine. Kassapa arrived only afterward. Seeing that the Tathagata was already seated in the fire shrine, Kassapa was exceedingly astonished and asked:

“Great Ascetic, when I departed, you were still in the forest. By what road did you travel that you suddenly arrived before me and are seated here in the fire shrine?”

The Buddha told Kassapa:

“Kassapa, after you departed, I went to Mount Sumeru. There is a tree there called Jambu, after which this continent is named Jambudvipa. Fruit grows upon that tree. I picked one and brought it back here.”

The Buddha then showed Kassapa the Jambu fruit. It was beautiful in shape and color, fragrant in aroma, and exquisite in flavor. He said, “You may take this sweet fruit and taste it.”

Kassapa said to the Buddha:

“Venerable Ascetic, that would not be proper. You should eat this sweet fruit; I am not permitted to do so.”

Kassapa then thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual power and great majestic virtue, for after telling me to return first, he went to Mount Sumeru, picked a Jambu fruit, returned, and sat in the fire shrine before me. Although this is so, he has not attained arhatship as I have today.”

After the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he quickly returned to the forest and practiced walking meditation.

The following day, when dawn broke, Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, if you know that the time is appropriate, the food and drink have been prepared.”

The Blessed One told Kassapa:

“Kassapa, go ahead. I shall come afterward.”

After telling Kassapa to go ahead, the Buddha returned to Mount Sumeru. Not far from the Jambu tree was a tree called Amra. He picked an Amra fruit, returned before Kassapa, and sat in Kassapa’s fire shrine. Kassapa arrived only afterward. Seeing the Blessed One seated in the fire shrine, he asked:

“Venerable Ascetic, by what road did you travel that you returned and sat in the fire shrine before me?”

The Buddha told Kassapa:

“After telling you to return first, I went to Mount Sumeru, picked an Amra fruit, and brought it back here....”

...He told Kassapa to eat the fruit. Kassapa said to the Buddha:

“I do not dare eat it.”

Uruvela Kassapa then thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual power and great might.... After telling me to return first, he went to Mount Sumeru, picked an Amra fruit, returned, and sat in my fire shrine. Although this is so, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

After the Blessed One had eaten at Uruvela Kassapa’s dwelling, he returned to the forest and practiced walking meditation.

The following day, when dawn broke, Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Great Ascetic, if you know that the time is appropriate, the food and drink have been prepared.”

...Not far from the Jambu tree stood a Haritaki tree. The Blessed One picked one of its fruits, returned before Kassapa, and sat in Kassapa’s fire shrine....

...Kassapa thought, “The Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual power. Although this is so, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

On the following day, after the Blessed One had eaten, he returned to the forest and practiced walking meditation.... Not far from the Jambu tree stood a Vibhitaka tree. He picked one of its fruits, returned before Kassapa, and sat in the fire shrine.... As related previously.... Kassapa thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual power. He told me to return first and afterward went to pick the fruit. Although this is so, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

The next day, after the Blessed One had eaten, he returned to the forest and practiced walking meditation.... Not far from the Jambu tree stood another tree called Amalaki. He picked one of its fruits, returned before Kassapa, and sat in the fire shrine.... Kassapa thought, “This ascetic possesses great spiritual power. He told me to return first and afterward went to pick the fruit, then returned and sat in the fire shrine. Although this is so, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”

On the following day, after the Blessed One had eaten, he returned to the forest and practiced walking meditation.

The next day, Uruvela Kassapa went to the Buddha and said:

“Venerable Ascetic, if you know that the time is appropriate, the food and drink have been prepared.”

The Buddha told Kassapa:

“Go ahead. I shall come afterward.”

After the Blessed One had sent Kassapa ahead, he went to Godaniya. Upon arriving, he obtained a bowl full of milk, returned before Kassapa, and sat in the fire shrine. Seeing this, Uruvela Kassapa asked the Buddha:

“Venerable Ascetic, by what road did you travel that you returned and sat in the fire shrine before me?”

The Buddha told Kassapa:

“After telling you to go ahead, I went to Godaniya, obtained a bowl full of milk, returned, and sat here. Kassapa, this milk has a wondrous color and a delicious fragrance and flavor. If you wish, you should take and drink it.”

Kassapa said to the Buddha:

“I do not dare drink it. Ascetic, please partake of it yourself.”

Kassapa then thought, “This Great Ascetic possesses great spiritual majesty. After telling me to return first, he went to the land of Godaniya, obtained a bowl full of milk, returned, and sat in the fire shrine before me. Although this is so, he has still not attained arhatship as I have today.”