Section Two: The Past Cause of Śāmīvatī
Heard like this:
At one time, the Buddha was at Anavatapta Spring, accompanied by five hundred great bhikṣus, all of whom were Arhats, possessing the six supernatural powers, except for one bhikṣu, who was different. It was Ananda.
At that time, the Buddha said to Śāriputra, “In a time long ago, ninty one kalpas ago, there was a king named Eloquent, and the city he ruled was called Eloquent Constructed. In this city, there was a Brahmin named Yanjoda. He was very fond of learning and highly knowledgeable, skilled in external teachings, the Three Vedas, astronomy, divination, omens, arts, understanding seven holy books, and the doctrines of the ford-makers. He had profound knowledge of various teachings and was familiar with the secular texts, totaling thirty types, and he frequently taught five hundred noble youths. There was another Brahmin named Brahma, very wealthy, owning treasures, elephants, horses, the seven jewels, servants, and attendants. His wife, named Melodious, was extraordinarily beautiful, her appearance unmatched, with a gentle nature, free from jealousy. Yanjoda was supported by Brahma, and Melodious provided food, clothing, bedding, and medicine for Yanjoda.
At that time, there was a PratyekaBuddha named Studious, who came to the city, holding his robe and alms bowl, ready for alms. He happened to arrive at Brahma’s house, where Melodious saw him. He was dressed neatly, his conduct was dignified, and his six faculties were pure. She felt great joy and immediately invited him to accept her offerings, saying, ‘From now on, I will provide you with clothing, food, bedding, and medicine. Please accept my offerings.’ Melodious then gave him a large meal, filling his bowl. The PratyekaBuddha accepted the bowl, flew into the air, circled seven times, and then flew back to his dwelling. The people in the city witnessed this miracle and said, ‘With such a saint in the land, we are truly blessed.’ The entire country rejoiced and made continuous offerings.
Melodious’s offerings to the PratyekaBuddha grew increasingly abundant, while her offerings to Yanjoda gradually diminished. Yanjoda felt neglected and, seeing that the PratyekaBuddha was being treated better, grew jealous and began to slander him: ‘This bhikṣu does not observe the precepts. Why? Because he has an impure relationship with Melodious. That is why she treats him with such special favor.’ Yanjoda then said to his five hundred disciples, ‘This bhikṣu has broken the precepts and lacks diligence in his practice. You should go home and spread the word that this bhikṣu has impure behavior, and he is involved with Melodious.’ The disciples replied, ‘Yes, as the teacher says, this bhikṣu indeed has desires.’ The five hundred disciples followed the teacher’s instructions, entered the city, and spread the rumor through the streets, saying, ‘This bhikṣu has desires and is involved with Melodious.’ The people of the city were confused, saying, ‘How can someone with such miraculous powers have such a reputation?’ This rumor persisted for seven years before being clarified. Eventually, the PratyekaBuddha demonstrated eighteen miraculous transformations and attained Nirvana. The people then understood that Yanjoda’s words were false and that the PratyekaBuddha was pure and innocent.”
The Buddha then said to Śāriputra, “Do you know who Yanjoda was at that time? He was me. The Brahma at that time was King Udayana of today. Melodious at that time is now Śāmīvatī. The five hundred boys at that time are now the five hundred Arhats here. The PratyekaBuddha at that time was Metteya Bodhisattva.”
The Buddha continued to say to Śāriputra, “At that time, because I lost the offerings, I became jealous, and with you all, I slandered the PratyekaBuddha. Because of this, I, along with you, fell into heck and endured endless suffering. Due to the residual effects of this karma, even though I have now attained Buddhahood, I still suffer from Śāmīvatī’s slander.”
At this point, the Buddha recited the following verse about the causes and effects of past lives:
“I was once a Brahmin, widely learned in the external teachings and the four Vedas,
Living in a grove of trees, I taught five hundred boys.
There was a PratyekaBuddha, pure and possessing miraculous powers.
I saw him receive offerings and unjustly slandered him,
Saying to the boys that the bhikṣu’s conduct was impure.
When I spoke these words, the boys were delighted.
The boys, hearing this, went through all the streets,
Telling everyone that the bhikṣu had impure conduct.
Because of this karmic cause, we suffered in heck for a long time,
I and you all endured endless suffering.
Due to this residual karma, you five hundred,
Were unjustly slandered by Śāmīvatī.
Now, in this final life, I have attained the unsurpassed Buddhahood,
And still, I suffer from Śāmīvatī’s slander.”
I myself have become the honored Buddha, the leader of the three realms,
And thus I recount the karmic causes of past lives, here at Anavatapta Spring.”
The Buddha then said to Śāriputra, “Look at me, the Tathagata. All my evil deeds have been eradicated, and all my good deeds have been perfected. I can guide the Heavenly beings, Nāgas, gods and spirits, kings, ministers, common people, insects, and worms—all can be liberated and attain the peaceful state of non-action. Even though I have this merit, I still cannot fully escape the karmic consequences of my past lives. How much more so for those ignorant beings who have not yet attained the Way? “
The Buddha then said to Śāriputra, “You should learn this, as should all Arhats and all sentient beings. “
The Buddha then said to Śāriputra, “You should protect the three precepts of the body, the four precepts of the speech, and the three precepts of the mind. Śāriputra! You should learn this.”
As the Buddha spoke these words, Śāriputra, the five hundred Arhats, the Anavatapta Nāga King, the Heavenly beings, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, all the beings gathered, listened to the Buddha’s teachings and accepted them with great joy, following them in practice.
Dharma Torch 