眾許摩訶帝經

Fascicle 9

After delivering the sixty sages, the Buddha reflected: "Who should be the next person worthy of being liberated?" He recalled Nanda and his eldest daughter, together with their kinsfolk, in the region of Senanigama. While he was still practicing ascetic austerities, he had passed by their house and had been offered milk-rice and honey by them; now, observing that the conditions of their roots had ripened and that they could be liberated, he resolved accordingly.

So the next morning, when the time for the meal arrived, the World-Honored One took up his alms-bowl and entered the village of Senanigama, going from house to house in turn to beg for alms. When he came to Nanda's house, Nanda, his eldest daughter, and their kinsfolk saw the Buddha approaching and were filled with great joy. They at once inquired after the Buddha's well-being:

"How wonderful! O World-Honored One, is your sacred body at ease and well? We beseech you in your compassion to enter our home."

The Buddha then entered the house. Nanda arranged a seat for the Buddha, and together with his daughter and kinsfolk, reverently bowed his head and paid homage at the Buddha's two feet. Having paid homage, they all sat down to one side.

Thereupon the World-Honored One expounded the Dharma for them:

"Nanda, listen attentively, all of you. Giving and the keeping of precepts are causes for rebirth in the heavenly realms; yet though one enjoys pleasure there, the merit is at last exhausted, and in the end one returns to the round of birth and death. Therefore you must cut off all afflictions in order to seek liberation."

The Buddha then expounded in deep and extensive terms the principle of arising and ceasing, so that they might thoroughly realize the truth. Because Nanda's roots and conditions had ripened, when he heard the Buddha expound the Dharma, the delusions and obstructions were immediately dispelled, and as he concentrated his mind in contemplation, boundless joy arose within him. The Buddha then expounded extensively the Four Noble Truths, causing Nanda, his daughter, and his kinsfolk, right there in their seats, to attain wisdom and to realize the principle of the Dharma of the Four Truths, to sever all doubts and confusions, to put an end to craving, and with single-minded devotion to take faith in the Buddha's teaching.

They all then rose, joined their palms, bowed their heads before the Buddha, and said:

"O World-Honored One, we have now, through the Buddha's expounding of the Dharma, attained true knowledge and vision. We now vow to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and vow to be lay disciples drawing near in service, never taking life for the whole of our lives."

They again addressed the Buddha:

"The time for the meal has arrived. We beseech the Buddha in his compassion to accept our offering."

The Buddha remained silent to signify his acceptance. When Nanda and his kinsfolk saw this, they knew the Buddha had accepted, and with their own hands they presented to the Buddha all manner of fragrant flowers, together with food and drink. After the Buddha had taken his meal and had rinsed his mouth and washed his face, Nanda and his kinsfolk sat below to await hearing the Buddha expound the Dharma.

The Buddha skillfully employed suitable methods to expound the teaching. Having heard the Dharma, Nanda and his kinsfolk were all exceedingly joyful; together they paid homage to the Buddha and withdrew.

After liberating Nanda and his family, the Buddha reflected, wishing to go to the country of Magadha to bring benefit according to conditions and to bring peace and happiness to living beings. At that time, in the country of Magadha, there was a skilled master of physiognomy named Uruvilva Kasyapa, who was three hundred years old and considered himself to have attained the fruit of arhatship. He dwelt beside the Nairanjana River. His close disciples numbered as many as five hundred. The king of Magadha, together with his ministers and the populace, all revered and made offerings to him beyond anyone else in the world. Countless people of Magadha, as if deluded, looked upon Uruvilva as their guide.

Although those people were taught by that ascetic, not one of them attained liberation. "Now I shall liberate Uruvilva Kasyapa and the people of that country, causing them to attain the right path!" As the Buddha reflected thus, he arrived at the dwelling place of Uruvilva Kasyapa, on the bank of the Nairanjana River in the country of Magadha. At that time, Uruvilva Kasyapa suddenly saw the Buddha approaching his abode, and seeing that the Buddha possessed many fine marks and an awe-inspiring virtue beyond the ordinary, he advanced to welcome him, his heart filled all the more with reverence, and asked the Buddha:

"How wonderful! O Sramana, where did you formerly dwell, that you have now suddenly come here?"

As Uruvilva asked this, he busied himself preparing a seat and invited the World-Honored One to be seated. The Buddha sat in his place, and the ascetic also sat down, and with beautiful words he inquired after the World-Honored One. The World-Honored One too, with gentle words, opened up the principles of the Way in order to teach and transform him. Their conversation was not yet finished when the sun had already declined toward the west. The Buddha said:

"The day has turned toward evening. Have you a quiet place where I may rest for a night?"

The ascetic replied:

"O Great Sramana, all the rooms are occupied. There is only one quiet place suitable for a Great Sramana, but within it there is a venomous dragon. If you stay there, I fear it may harm you. I beg you to consider this."

The Buddha said to Uruvilva Kasyapa:

"Please permit me to stay in that place; surely there will be no harm."

Uruvilva Kasyapa said:

"If it can be so, then do as you wish."

At that time, the World-Honored One went to the cave of the venomous dragon. After washing his feet, the Buddha entered the cave, found clean grass for himself, spread it out as a seat, sat upon the grass, and entered into right concentration.

The venomous dragon suddenly saw the World-Honored One sitting within its cave, and roused to fury, it transformed into smoke and mist that enveloped both the inside and the outside of the cave. The Buddha, using his spiritual power, likewise produced mist and smoke. The venomous dragon grew yet more enraged, and transformed into fire blazing within the cave. The Buddha too produced fire, and the two kinds of fire blazed up all the more fiercely, enveloping both the inside and outside of the cave, illuminating the entire region. The ascetic Kasyapa, who each night was accustomed to go outside to gaze at the stars, suddenly saw fire towering high from the dragon's cave, and was moved to pity, lamenting:

"What suffering! What suffering! That upright Sramana, because he did not heed my words, the fire of the venomous dragon now blazes a hundredfold more fierce than usual. Surely he has been harmed. What a great pity!"

At that time the disciples of Kasyapa all saw that fire. As for the venomous dragon, it knew that it could not harm the World-Honored One, and its own body had become weary, so that wicked fire too died out of itself. The World-Honored One then withdrew his spiritual power, subdued the venomous dragon, and gathered it into his alms-bowl. At dawn Uruvilva Kasyapa and his disciples came to the dragon's cave to investigate, and upon arriving and seeing the Buddha safe and at peace, they said:

"O Great Sramana, were you safe and at peace last night?"

The Buddha replied:

"I was safe and at peace."

They asked again:

"What do you keep within your alms-bowl?"

The Buddha replied:

"It is the dragon from the cave. You said that in this cave there was a venomous dragon that none dared dwell with; now I have subdued it and gathered it into my alms-bowl. Look and see for yourself whether it is true or not."

Uruvilva Kasyapa was accustomed to regarding himself as advanced in years and great in virtue, practicing ascetic austerities, profound in learning, his understanding surpassed by none; now, seeing that the dragon's fire could not harm the World-Honored One, and that he had moreover subdued that creature and gathered it into his bowl, he spoke in praise:

"How marvelous! The Great Sramana truly possesses great awesome virtue; this I have never before seen. You are indeed a Great Sramana, a Great Hero, a true Arhat."

After the World-Honored One had subdued the venomous dragon, on the second day he walked in meditation peacefully beneath the shade of a tree near the dwelling of Uruvilva Kasyapa. When night came, the four Great Heavenly Kings descended to hear the Buddha expound the Dharma. At that time Kasyapa rose to observe the heavens, and seeing four great fires before the place where the Buddha sat, he said to his disciples:

"That Sramana also worships fire."

His disciples asked:

"How does the master know this?"

Kasyapa said:

"Just now, as I observed the heavens, I saw four great fires before the place of that Sramana; therefore I know that the Sramana must also worship fire."

As soon as day broke, Kasyapa hastened to the Buddha's place and said:

"O Great Sramana, do you too worship fire?"

The Buddha replied:

"I do not worship fire."

Kasyapa asked:

"Last night I observed the heavens and saw four great fires before your place. If you do not worship fire, then what do you use those fires for?"

The Buddha replied:

"They were not fire. It was the four Great Heavenly Kings come to hear me expound the Dharma; that light radiated from their bodies."

Kasyapa, startled, said:

"How marvelous! That a Sramana could accomplish such a thing. Surely it is because you possess great awesome virtue, moving even the Heavenly Kings, that they came to hear the Dharma. Can it be that you are truly an Arhat?"

On the third day, at midnight, Sakra, lord of the gods, descended to the Buddha's place, bowed his head in homage at the Buddha's feet, and then sat to one side. The Buddha then expounded the Dharma for Sakra. Having heard that Dharma, Sakra was exceedingly joyful and uplifted; he paid homage to the Buddha and then withdrew to his heavenly palace. That night, Kasyapa again went out to observe the heavens, and saw beneath the shade of the tree, at the place where the Buddha sat, a truly great fire, its light brilliant like the newly risen sun, and he said to his disciples:

"Surely that Sramana follows the worship of fire."

In the morning, he and his disciples came to the Buddha's place and said:

"O Great Sramana, last night I observed the heavens and again saw at your place a fire brilliant like the newly risen sun. I now hold that you surely worship fire."

The Buddha said:

"I do not worship fire. Last night Sakra descended here to hear the Dharma expounded; that was the light radiating from his body."

Kasyapa praised:

"How marvelous! A Sramana possessing such great awesome virtue—truly this is something never before seen. I now firmly believe that you too are an Arhat."

On the fourth night, Uruvilva Kasyapa likewise went out to gaze at the stars, and again saw before the seat of the Sramana a truly great fire, its light brilliant like the midday sun. Kasyapa then said to his disciples:

"Tonight I went out to gaze at the stars and saw before the place where the Sramana sits a fire whose light was more brilliant than on the previous occasions, like the light of the midday sun. Seeing it thus, surely that Sramana worships fire."

In the morning Kasyapa again came to the Buddha's place and said:

"Last night I gazed at the stars and saw before your place a great fire. I firmly believe you worship fire."

The Buddha replied:

"Kasyapa, what do I seek, that I should have need of fire? Last night the heavenly king Brahma, lord of the Saha world, came to sit before me to hear the Dharma expounded. The light you saw radiated from the bodily form of the Brahma king."

Kasyapa praised again:

"This Great Sramana possesses such great awesome virtue that he could move even the Brahma king to come and hear the Dharma expounded! How extraordinary indeed! I now know for certain that you too have attained arhatship."

On the fifth day, the five hundred disciples of Uruvilva Kasyapa, headed by Manavaka, each used three furnaces to worship fire, totaling one thousand five hundred furnaces. At that time the World-Honored One was beneath the shade of a nearby tree, and it again happened to be the time when the disciples of Kasyapa were using fire to make offerings to the heavens. Those five hundred men, following the usual ritual, kindled their furnaces, but the fire would not burn. They then went to report to their master, saying:

"Master, do you know? Today we kindled our furnaces, but the fire would not burn. We do not know for what reason."

Kasyapa reflected: "This must be because that Sramana is dwelling nearby, and by the awesome power of his subduing, it has come about thus." He then went with his disciples to the Buddha's place and said:

"O Great Sramana, my disciple Manavaka, together with all five hundred men, regularly follow the ritual of using fire to make offerings to the heavens, but this morning they kindled the fire again and again, yet it would not burn. I suspect it is due to the awesome power of the Sramana's subduing. Is it not so?"

The Buddha said:

"Do you wish the fire to burn?"

Kasyapa replied:

"I wish the fire to burn."

The Buddha said:

"Go back; the fire will burn of itself."

When Kasyapa returned, he saw that the fire had already burned. Kasyapa and his disciples all praised:

"This Great Sramana possesses such spiritual power; surely he too has attained the fruit of arhatship."

When they had made their offerings with the fire and wished to extinguish it, the fire would not go out. They used every means, yet could not extinguish the fire. Manavaka and his companions then went to their master and explained the matter. Kasyapa said:

"This too must be the work of that Sramana's subduing."

Having said this, they then went together to the Buddha's place and said:

"O Sramana, though the fire has burned, now it cannot be extinguished. Is this not due to the awesome power of your subduing?"

The Buddha asked:

"Do you wish to extinguish the fire?"

Kasyapa said:

"I wish to make the fire go out."

The Buddha said:

"Go back; the fire will go out of itself."

When Kasyapa returned, the fire had already gone out, and so he uttered words of praise:

"That Great Sramana possesses such spiritual power; truly he too is an Arhat."

On the sixth day, Uruvilva Kasyapa again wished to use fire to make offerings to the heavens, but when he kindled it, it would not burn. He then entered concentration in order to make the fire burn, but still the fire would not burn, and he went to the Buddha's place, where matters unfolded as before; and when he wished to extinguish it, again he could in no way put it out, and he again came to the Buddha's place, and matters likewise unfolded thus.

After the fire was extinguished and the ashes were gathered together in one place, suddenly the ashes blazed up again. Together they tried to put out the fire, yet still could not extinguish it. They again addressed the Buddha, and matters unfolded as on the previous occasions. Kasyapa, astonished, reflected: "That Sramana possesses spiritual power that is truly marvelous. I wish to kindle the fire, and the fire will not burn; when I go and tell him, the fire burns. I wish to extinguish the fire, and the fire will not go out; when I go and tell him, the fire goes out. Then the fire blazes up again and cannot be extinguished; when I go and tell him, the fire goes out of itself. The awesome power of this man is truly great—how extraordinary indeed! This one is truly an Arhat."

The next day, Uruvilva Kasyapa wished to hold a seven-day festival according to the practices of the non-Buddhist path. The king of Magadha and all the people of the country knew of it. Kasyapa reflected: "Now this Great Sramana is dwelling nearby.

Formerly my fire-worship was subdued by the awesome power of this man. If during these seven days that Sramana does not come, then my great assembly will surely succeed. But if he comes, I fear I shall be subdued; moreover, that Sramana's fine marks and dignified bearing surpass the multitude, and if all the people of the country were to behold him, surely they would forsake me and follow him." Because of this matter, Kasyapa kept brooding endlessly.

The Buddha secretly knew this, so during those seven days he went to travel and teach elsewhere. During that time, Kasyapa and his disciples could not find the Buddha anywhere. Throughout the seven-day festival, all the people of the country brought much incense, flowers, and precious goods to make offerings.

When the festival was over, Kasyapa thought again: "That Great Sramana has not been seen these past seven days; now I have received many goods through holding this rite. If the Sramana should come here, I will make offerings to him." The Buddha knew Kasyapa's thoughts and so returned. When Kasyapa saw the Buddha approaching, he was exceedingly joyful and thought: "This Sramana—I had just been thinking of him, and he has come at once." He then addressed the Buddha:

"O Sramana, you have returned!"

The Buddha replied:

"Yes, I have returned."

Kasyapa asked again:

"Why did you not come during these past seven days?"

The Buddha said:

"You had reflected that, during the seven days of holding that Dharma assembly, if that Sramana came you feared the rite would not succeed. I knew your mind, and therefore did not come. Now you have again thought that the assembly is over, and if the Sramana came you would make offerings; I knew this, and therefore have come here."

Kasyapa silently reflected: "This Great Sramana must be a Great Sage, for he knows my thoughts. Surely he is an Arhat." When the Buddha and Kasyapa had finished their conversation, each returned to his own place.

Afterward, Kasyapa, with a sincere and pure heart, prepared an exceedingly fragrant and delicious meal, and waiting until the next day, came in person to address the Buddha:

"O Sramana, I have wholeheartedly prepared the vegetarian meal; I beseech you to come to my place to accept the offering."

The Buddha consented and said:

"Go on ahead; I will come."

After Kasyapa had departed, the World-Honored One entered samadhi, and in but a moment—about the time it takes for a strong man to bend and stretch his arm—he reached the southern continent of Jambudvipa, filled his bowl with the fruit of the Jambu tree, and returned before Kasyapa, sitting cross-legged in the latter's quiet chamber. When Kasyapa arrived and saw that the Buddha had come before him, he said in astonishment:

"Have you already arrived?"

The Buddha replied:

"I arrived long ago."

Kasyapa asked:

"By what road did you come here?"

The Buddha replied:

"From my dwelling I went to the continent of Jambudvipa, gathered the Jambu fruit, and then returned here."

Kasyapa exclaimed in praise:

"The Great Sramana truly possesses extraordinary spiritual power. In so short a time he could go there, gather fruit, and bring it back. You are indeed an Arhat."

The Buddha took the Jambu fruit and showed it to Kasyapa, asking him:

"Have you seen this fruit before?"

Kasyapa replied:

"I have never seen it."

The Buddha asked:

"Would you like to eat it?"

Kasyapa replied:

"I would like to eat it."

The Buddha said:

"Then help yourself freely."

Kasyapa ate the fruit and praised it as something never before tasted. When he had finished eating, Kasyapa himself offered up to the Buddha the drink he had prepared. After the Buddha had taken the meal, rinsed his mouth, and washed his face, he uttered a verse of blessing for Kasyapa, and then returned to the foot of the tree.

On the second day, Kasyapa came to invite the Buddha to receive an offering. As on the previous occasion, the Buddha entered samadhi, went to the land of Purvavideha, gathered the amra fruit, and returned to Kasyapa's dwelling first.

On the third day, after accepting Kasyapa's invitation to make an offering, the Buddha likewise entered concentration, went to the western continent of Aparagodaniya, gathered the viraka-pittha fruit, and returned to Kasyapa's place before the latter arrived.

On the fourth day, Kasyapa again invited the Buddha to come and make an offering. This time the Buddha entered concentration, went to the northern continent of Uttarakuru, took a bowl full of the naturally growing rice, and brought it back, sitting at ease in Kasyapa's house. It was a long while before Kasyapa returned.

Kasyapa asked:

"By what road did you come?"

The Buddha replied:

"I just went to the northern continent of Uttarakuru, took a bowl full of cooked rice of the naturally growing grain, and brought it back here."

Kasyapa again praised the Buddha as a Great Sramana with marvelous spiritual penetrations. The Buddha asked Kasyapa whether he would like the cooked rice of the naturally growing grain brought from Uttarakuru, and Kasyapa replied that he would like to eat it. The Buddha said:

"Help yourself freely."

When Kasyapa had eaten, he praised it as delicious beyond anything he had ever tasted, and then offered up the food he had cooked to the Buddha. After the Buddha had taken the meal, rinsed his mouth, and washed his hands, he uttered a verse of blessing for Kasyapa and then returned to the foot of the tree.

The next day, the Buddha took up his alms-bowl and ascended to the heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, going straight on to the palace of Trayastrimsa to receive the heavenly cream (a special kind of curd), and returned to the foot of the tree to take his meal. Having taken the meal, the Buddha thought of water with which to wash. Sakra, lord of the gods, knowing his thought, came and addressed the Buddha:

"Do you need water?"

The Buddha replied:

"I need water."

Sakra saw that there was a dry pond nearby, and pointed his finger down at the pond; immediately water gushed up and filled the pond, clear, fragrant, and pure, so that the Buddha might have water to use. When the task was completed, Sakra then returned to his heavenly palace.

When Kasyapa arrived, he suddenly saw that the pond, which had been dry of water for a long time, was today brimming over with water—he knew not from where it had come—and, exceedingly astonished, he hastened to the Buddha's place and said:

"O Great Sramana, this pond has been dry of water for a long time. How is it that today water has come from somewhere and filled it so?"

The Buddha replied:

"Today, after I had eaten, there was no water to wash with. Sakra knew of this, and so for my sake came and made the pond have water."

Kasyapa praised:

"Truly this is something never before seen! Ascending to the heavens to obtain food, having water made by Sakra—you possess such power to move even the heavens; truly you are an Arhat."

Kasyapa then named the pond Panikhuda.

Afterward, the Buddha went down into the pond to bathe. On the bank of the pond there was an ancient tree named Arjuna, and the Buddha hung his kasaya robe upon the tree. When Kasyapa came and saw the robe hanging there, he knew the Buddha had gone down into the pond to bathe, and so came to watch the Buddha bathing. When the bathing was finished and the Buddha came up onto the bank, the Buddha raised his hand, and the branch of the tree bent down low of itself. Seeing this, Kasyapa was all the more astonished and silently praised: "This Great Sramana is truly beyond conception, able to move even the insentient trees. Surely he has attained the fruit of arhatship."

After bathing, the Buddha wished to wash his robe, and thought he needed a slab of stone. Sakra, knowing his thought, came and addressed the Buddha:

"O World-Honored One, do you need a slab of stone for washing?"

The Buddha replied:

"Yes, I need one."

Sakra then commanded the yaksha spirits of the mountain to select and prepare a square slab of stone and bring it to the side of the pond so the Buddha might wash his robe. When the washing was done, the Buddha again wished to have a place to dry it, and Sakra again ordered the yakshas to bring a slab of stone and set it on the bank of the pond so that the Buddha might dry his robe.

When Kasyapa came again to the bank of the pond and saw that there were slabs of stone there of themselves, he was greatly astonished and thought: "Formerly there was no stone on the bank of this pond. How is it that now there is?" He then addressed the Buddha:

"O Great Sramana, where did the slabs of stone on the bank of the pond come from?"

The Buddha replied:

"Because I wished to have slabs of stone on which to wash and dry the kasaya, Sakra had them brought there."

Kasyapa praised:

"This Great Sramana does things rarely seen in the world. Surely he has attained the fruit of arhatship; his attainment far surpasses my own."

The Buddha knew that Kasyapa's mind seemed to be on the verge of awakening, and so, with the intention of using every means—such as manifesting strange wonders—to awaken Kasyapa and lead him onto the right path, the Buddha then caused the water of the Nairanjana River suddenly to rise and overflow. Both banks of the river were flooded; places such as slopes, ponds, and lakes that had been dry were now brimming with water, and the place where the Buddha dwelt was at the center of that vast expanse of water.

The Buddha further used his spiritual power to make the water flow around in a circle about his place, so that on all four sides it was like a wall of water, while in the middle it remained dry. When Kasyapa saw the water rising so high, he thought: "The dwelling place of that Great Sramana must surely be flooded," and so he hastily rowed a boat to the spot. But he saw the World-Honored One walking in meditation beneath the shade of the tree, that place entirely dry, blocked moreover by a wall of water through which he could in no way bring his boat.

Exceedingly astonished, he called out from afar, asking:

"O Sramana, are you still safe and at ease? Have you anything to fear?"

The Buddha replied:

"I have nothing to fear. I thank you for your inquiry."

Kasyapa silently thought: "This Sramana possesses many spiritual penetrations; why does he not leave that place?" and so asked the Buddha:

"Do you wish to board the boat to leave that place?"

The Buddha replied:

"I wish to leave."

Kasyapa said:

"If you wish to leave, then board the boat yourself."

The Buddha used his spiritual power and instantly was seated cross-legged within the boat. When Kasyapa saw that the Buddha was already seated in the boat, yet did not know how he had boarded it, he silently thought: "This Sramana is a Great Hero, possessing great awesome power, and so possesses such spiritual penetrations. I too have attained arhatship, but I do not equal his realization." The Buddha, knowing that Kasyapa's mind had turned, then said:

"You say you have attained arhatship, but in truth you have not. " Kasyapa, suddenly hearing the World-Honored One speak thus, was terrified, his hair standing on end, and reproached himself for his fault: "This Great Sramana knows all my affairs. Now I should honor him as my Master in order to advance in the practice of the Way." Having thought thus, Kasyapa then addressed the Buddha:

"O Great Sramana, you know all my thoughts. Now I wish to go forth from home according to the right Dharma, to become a disciple, to study and uphold your teaching in order to cultivate the holy life. I beg you in your compassion to regard me favorably and accept me."

The Buddha, knowing that the time had come when Kasyapa could awaken, and wishing also to use skillful means to liberate his disciples, said to Kasyapa:

"You wish to follow me, going forth from home to become a Sramana; but have you informed all your disciples of this?"

Kasyapa said:

"My disciples do not yet know."

The Buddha said:

"You are their master; you should not act hastily, but must return and discuss it with your disciples. If all are willing, then come here again."

The hour was still early, and Kasyapa, following the Buddha's instruction, hastened back, gathered together with Manavaka and the assembly of disciples in one place, and said:

"That Great Sramana possesses fine marks of unusual quality and spiritual penetrations beyond compare. All his thoughts and deeds are known to the gods; some come to hear him expound the Dharma, and some, knowing what he needs, come at once to assist him. Seeing his transformations, I am truly not his equal. Now I wish to go forth from home and honor him as my Master in order to advance in the practice of the Way. I have already decided. As for you, consider it and tell me truly."

Manavaka addressed his master:

"At first the Great Sramana subdued the venomous dragon; his spiritual penetrations are extraordinary, and he knows the thoughts of others—everyone has witnessed this. All that we have learned has been transmitted by you, master; yet even you are not the equal of that Sramana—what more is there for us to say? If you, master, have resolved to go forth from home, we vow to follow. If you, master, attain the Way, we beg you to liberate us. We have all single-mindedly resolved; now we should go at once, lest we miss the opportunity."

Kasyapa, knowing that his disciples were all sincerely resolved to go forth from home, then told them to take all their fire-worshiping implements, their robes of deerskin and of bark, their water-flasks, staffs, and shoes of animal hide, and cast them all into the Nairanjana River, to show their resolve never to return to the old path. When this was done, master and disciples together went to the Buddha's place, paid homage at his feet, and then sat to one side.

The World-Honored One asked Kasyapa:

"Have you come?"

Kasyapa replied:

"Now I, together with my disciples, all wish to go forth from home and cultivate ourselves according to your Dharma."

The Buddha already knew, but asked again:

"Are your disciples all sincere in heart?"

Kasyapa said:

"I and my disciples are all of one sincere mind. We humbly beg you in your compassion to liberate us."

The Buddha remained silent to signify his acceptance of them as Sramanas, and said:

"From now on you are truly ones who have gone forth from home, truly possessed of the holy life, truly Sramanas wearing the kasaya robe."

Thereupon Uruvilva Kasyapa, his body clad in the kasaya robe in the very form of a Sramana, heard the Buddha instruct:

"Now you are truly one who has gone forth from home, truly possessed of the holy life." Kasyapa was joyful in himself, and the mind of self-clinging was at once utterly destroyed. There arose in him moreover this reflection: "Of old the Great Sages often said that the world is rarely blessed with the appearance of a Buddha to bring it to flourishing. The Buddha has attained omniscience and has attained complete awakening.

He is a Great Sage with the power to bring benefit and joy to all the world, from the heavenly realms to the human realm. Formerly, when at night I went out to observe the heavens and saw a great fire, I thought he worshiped fire and held the same path as I; but it turned out to be the Brahma king, Sakra, and the Four Heavenly Kings coming to hear the Dharma expounded. That alone shows that he is already a Great Sage.

If he is not a Sage, then who else is a Sage?"

From that time on, Kasyapa no longer called the Buddha "Sramana," but called him "World-Honored One."