63. At Vebhaḷiṅga （六三）鞞婆陵耆经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Kosala.

At that time, the World-Honored One was traveling with a great assembly of bhikṣus. On the way, he smiled happily. Venerable Ānanda saw the World-Honored One smile, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One, what is the cause and condition for your smile? Tathāgatas, Arhats, Perfectly Enlightened Ones do not smile without cause or condition. I wish to hear the meaning of it."

At that time, the World-Honored One said, "Ānanda! In this place, Kāśyapa Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One sat here and taught the Dharma to his disciples."

Then Venerable Ānanda quickly prepared a seat there, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! I only wish that the World-Honored One would also sit here and teach the Dharma to the disciples, so that this place will be frequented by two Tathāgatas, Arhats, Perfectly Enlightened Ones."

Then the World-Honored One sat on the seat prepared by Venerable Ānanda. Having sat down, he said, "Ānanda! In this place, Kāśyapa Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One had a lecture hall. Kāśyapa Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One sat there and taught the Dharma to his disciples. Ānanda! In this place, there was formerly a village named Vebhaṅga, which was extremely prosperous, peaceful, and had many people. Ānanda! In the village of Vebhaṅga, there was a great brāhman householder named Amita, who was extremely wealthy, with immeasurable wealth, livestock, and industries. He had many households and fiefs, and was well-endowed with various things. Ānanda! The great brāhman householder Amita had a son named Udraka Rāmaputra, who was raised by his parents and born pure. For seven generations, his parents' lineage was unbroken. He was born without evil, was well-versed, and recited the four Vedas. He deeply understood the five kinds of statements: causes, conditions, right, texts, and plays. Ānanda! The young man Udraka had a good friend named Nātaputta, a potter, who was always loved and delighted by the young man Udraka.

Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta took refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha. He had no doubts about the Three Jewels, and was not confused about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. He attained faith, upheld the precepts, was learned, generous, and accomplished wisdom. He gave up killing, stopped killing, and abandoned weapons. He had a sense of shame and conscience, had compassion, and benefited all beings, even insects. He purified his mind from killing. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up stealing, stopped stealing, and took only what was given. He enjoyed giving and was always happy to give, without holding back. He did not expect anything in return. He purified his mind from stealing. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up unwholesome conduct, stopped unwholesome conduct, diligently practiced wholesome conduct, diligently practiced the sublime conduct, was pure and undefiled, free from desire and stopped sexual activity. He purified his mind from unwholesome conduct.

Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up false speech, stopped false speech, spoke the truth, enjoyed the truth, abided in the truth without wavering, was trustworthy, and did not deceive the world. He purified his mind from false speech. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up divisive speech, stopped divisive speech, practiced non-divisive speech, did not break others apart, did not hear this and tell that in order to break them apart, did not hear that and tell this in order to break them apart, wanted to reconcile those who were divided, and brought joy to those who were united. He did not form factions, did not enjoy factions, and did not praise factions. He purified his mind from divisive speech. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up harsh speech, stopped harsh speech. Whatever he spoke was gentle, soft, pleasant to the ear, agreeable, delightful, and brought peace and happiness to others. His voice was clear and did not frighten others, and it brought others to concentration. He spoke such words. He purified his mind from harsh speech. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up idle chatter, stopped idle chatter. He spoke at the right time, spoke the truth, spoke the Dharma, spoke the meaning, spoke about cessation, spoke about the joy of cessation, and spoke about matters that were timely and appropriate. He gave good advice and good rebuke. He purified his mind from idle chatter.

Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up commerce, stopped commerce, abandoned weighing and measuring, abandoned receiving goods, did not bind others, did not hope for a discount, and did not deceive others with small profits. He purified his mind from commerce. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up taking widows and girls, stopped taking widows and girls. He purified his mind from taking widows and girls. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up taking slaves and servants, stopped taking slaves and servants. He purified his mind from taking slaves and servants. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up taking elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep, stopped taking elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep. He purified his mind from taking elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up taking chickens and pigs, stopped taking chickens and pigs. He purified his mind from taking chickens and pigs. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up taking fields, businesses, and shops, stopped taking fields, businesses, and shops. He purified his mind from taking fields, businesses, and shops. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up taking raw rice, wheat, and beans, stopped taking raw rice, wheat, and beans. He purified his mind from taking raw rice, wheat, and beans.

Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up alcohol, stopped alcohol. He purified his mind from drinking alcohol. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up high and wide beds, stopped high and wide beds. He purified his mind from high and wide beds. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up garlands, necklaces, perfumes, and cosmetics, stopped garlands, necklaces, perfumes, and cosmetics. He purified his mind from garlands, necklaces, perfumes, and cosmetics. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up singing, dancing, and acting, and going to see them, stopped singing, dancing, and acting, and going to see them. He purified his mind from singing, dancing, and acting, and going to see them. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up receiving gold and silver, stopped receiving gold and silver. He purified his mind from receiving gold and silver. Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta gave up eating after the midday meal, stopped eating after the midday meal. He ate at one time, not at night, and learned to eat at the right time. He purified his mind from eating after the midday meal.

Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta, for as long as he lived, kept his hands away from hoes and shovels, did not dig the earth himself, nor did he instruct others. If the bank of a river collapsed or a rat damaged the earth, he would take it to make vessels. He would put them aside and say to the buyers, 'If you have peas, rice, wheat, sesame, mung beans, mustard seeds, pour them into the vessels and take them away as you wish.' Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta, for as long as he lived, served his parents. His parents were blind and relied on others. Therefore he served them.

Ānanda! The potter Nātaputta, having passed the night, went to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa in the morning. Having arrived, he paid homage, sat to one side, and the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa taught him the Dharma, inspiring, arousing, and gladdening him. Having taught him the Dharma with countless skillful means, inspiring, arousing, and gladdening him, he remained silent. Ānanda! Then the potter Nātaputta, having been taught the Dharma by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, inspired, aroused, and gladdened, rose from his seat, paid homage at the feet of the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, circumambulated him three times, and departed.

At that time, the young man Uttara, riding in a white horse-drawn carriage with five hundred young men, passed the night and in the morning left the village of Vepacitti to go to a place without people, intending to teach the disciples from various countries to read the Brāhmanical texts. Then the young man Uttara saw from afar the potter Nātaputta coming, and upon seeing him, asked, 'Nātaputta! Where are you coming from?' Nātaputta replied, 'I am coming from paying homage and serving the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa. Uttara! You should come with me to pay homage and serve the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa.' Then the young man Uttara replied, 'Nātaputta! I do not want to see a shaven-headed monk. A shaven-headed monk cannot attain the path, because the path is difficult to attain.' Then the potter Nātaputta grabbed the topknot of the young man Uttara's head and pulled him down from the carriage. Then the young man Uttara thought, 'This potter Nātaputta is always not playful, not crazy, not foolish. Now he grabs my topknot, there must be a reason.' Having thought so, he said, 'Nātaputta! I will follow you, I will follow you.' Nātaputta was pleased and said again, 'It is very good to go.

Then the potter Nātaputta and the young man Uttara went together to where the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa was. Having arrived, they paid homage and sat to one side. The potter Nātaputta said to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, 'World-Honored One! This young man Uttara is my friend. He always loves me and is always happy to see me, never tiring of it. He has no faith and respect for the World-Honored One. I only pray that the World-Honored One will teach him the Dharma well, so that he may be delighted and attain faith and respect.' Then the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa taught the Dharma to the potter Nātaputta and the young man Uttara, inspiring, arousing, and gladdening them. Having taught them the Dharma with countless skillful means, inspiring, arousing, and gladdening them, he remained silent. Then the potter Nātaputta and the young man Uttara, having been taught the Dharma by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, inspired, aroused, and gladdened, rose from their seats, paid homage at the feet of the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, circumambulated him three times, and departed.

Then the young man Uttara returned not far and asked, 'Nātaputta! Having heard such subtle and wonderful Dharma from the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, why do you stay at home? Are you unable to leave and study the noble path?' Then the potter Nātaputta replied, 'Uttara! You should know that I have served my parents for my whole life. My parents are blind and rely on others. I serve and attend to my parents.' Then the young man Uttara asked Nātaputta, 'May I go forth from the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa to study the path, receive the full ordination, become a bhikṣu, and practice the holy life?' Then the potter Nātaputta and the young man Uttara went together again to where the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa was. Having arrived, they paid homage and sat to one side.

The potter Nātaputta said to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, 'World-Honored One! Not long after the young man Uttara left, he asked me, "Nātaputta! Having heard such subtle and wonderful Dharma from the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, why do you stay at home? Are you unable to leave and study the noble path?" World-Honored One! I replied to him, "Uttara! You should know that I have served my parents for my whole life. My parents are blind and rely on others. I serve and attend to my parents." Uttara then asked me again, "Nātaputta! May I go forth from the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa to study the path, receive the full ordination, become a bhikṣu, and practice the holy life?" I pray that the World-Honored One will allow him to go forth to study the path, grant him the full ordination, and make him a bhikṣu.' The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa silently accepted Nātaputta's request. Then the potter Nātaputta, knowing that the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa had silently accepted, rose from his seat, paid homage, circumambulated him three times, and departed.

Then, not long after the potter Nātaputta left, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa allowed the young man Uttara to go forth to study the path, granted him the full ordination, and made him a bhikṣu. Having granted him the full ordination, he stayed in the village of Vebhaṅga for several days, taking up his robe and bowl. Together with a large assembly of bhikṣus, he traveled to the city of Benares, wandering and traveling, and arrived at the city of Benares, wandering and staying in the Deer Park at the place of the seers.

Then King Udayana heard that the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa was traveling in the country of Kāsi, together with a large assembly of bhikṣus, and had arrived at the Deer Park at the place of the seers in the city of Benares. Having heard this, he told his charioteer, 'You should prepare the chariot. I wish to go to where the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa is.' At that time, the charioteer received the king's order, immediately prepared the chariot, and after preparing it, returned to inform the king, 'The chariot is ready. Please do as you wish, Your Majesty.'

Then King Udayana, having mounted the fine chariot, left the city of Benares and went to the Deer Park at the place of the seers where the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa was. At that time, King Udayana saw from afar the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa among the trees, upright and beautiful, like the moon among the stars, shining brightly, dazzling like a golden mountain, with all the marks complete, majestic and majestic, with his faculties calm and collected, without obstruction, accomplished in self-control, with his mind at peace and silent. Having seen him, he got down from the chariot and walked to where the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa was. Having arrived, he paid homage and sat to one side. After King Udayana had sat to one side, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa taught the Dharma for him, inspiring and uplifting him, bringing about joy and happiness. Having taught the Dharma for him with immeasurable skillful means, inspiring and uplifting him, bringing about joy and happiness, he remained silent.

Then King Udayana, for whom the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa had taught the Dharma, inspiring and uplifting him, bringing about joy and happiness, immediately rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and said to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, 'May the World-Honored One, together with the assembly of bhikṣus, accept my invitation tomorrow.' The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa accepted King Udayana's invitation with silence. Then King Udayana, knowing that the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa had accepted with silence, bowed his head in homage, circumambulated him three times, and departed, returning to his own residence. During the night, he prepared various abundant and delicious food and drink. Having prepared it during the night, in the morning he arranged the seats and announced, 'The World-Honored One! The time has come. The meal is ready. May the World-Honored One please come at his convenience.'

Then the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, having passed the night, in the morning, put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and together with the assembly of bhikṣus, went to the residence of King Udayana. In the assembly of bhikṣus, he spread out a seat and sat down. Then King Udayana, seeing the Buddha and the assembly of bhikṣus seated, personally served the water for washing, and with various abundant and delicious food and drink, served it himself, causing them to be satisfied. After they had finished eating and the bowls were put away, he served the water for washing. Having finished, he spread out a small seat, sat separately, and listened to the Dharma. After King Udayana had sat down, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa taught the Dharma for him, inspiring and uplifting him, bringing about joy and happiness. Having taught the Dharma for him with immeasurable skillful means, inspiring and uplifting him, bringing about joy and happiness, he remained silent.

Then King Udayana, for whom the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa had taught the Dharma, inspiring and uplifting him, bringing about joy and happiness, immediately rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and said to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, 'May the World-Honored One, together with the assembly of bhikṣus, accept my invitation tomorrow.' The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa accepted King Udayana's invitation with silence. Then King Udayana, knowing that the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa had accepted with silence, bowed his head in homage, circumambulated him three times, and departed, returning to his own residence. During the night, he prepared various abundant and delicious food and drink. Having prepared it during the night, in the morning he arranged the seats and announced, 'The World-Honored One! The time has come. The meal is ready. May the World-Honored One please come at his convenience.'

Then King Udayana, unable to bear it, unwilling, greatly distressed, thought, 'The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa will not accept my invitation to spend the summer retreat here in Vārāṇasī, together with the assembly of bhikṣus.' Having thought this, King Udayana said to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa, 'World-Honored One! Is there any other layperson who serves the World-Honored One as I do?'

The Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa said to King Udayana, 'There is, in your realm, in the village of Vepacitti, which is very prosperous and peaceful, with many people. Great King! In the village of Vepacitti there is a potter named Nanda-prabha. Great King! Nanda-prabha takes refuge in the Buddha, takes refuge in the Dharma, takes refuge in the assembly of bhikṣus, has no doubts about the Three Jewels, is not confused about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path, has faith, upholds the precepts, is learned, generous, and accomplished in wisdom. He has given up killing, stopped killing, abandoned weapons, has a sense of shame, a sense of decency, a compassionate mind, and benefits all beings, even insects. He has purified his mind of killing. Great King! Nanda-prabha has given up stealing, stopped stealing, takes only what is given, delights in taking what is given, is always fond of giving, joyfully gives without stinginess, and does not expect anything in return. He has purified his mind of stealing. Great King! Nanda-prabha has given up sexual misconduct, stopped sexual misconduct, diligently practices celibacy, diligently practices the sublime practices, is pure and undefiled, has given up desire and stopped sexual activity. He has purified his mind of sexual misconduct.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up false speech, stopped false speech, speaks the truth, delights in the truth, abides in the truth without wavering, is trustworthy, does not deceive the world. He has purified his mind of false speech. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up divisive speech, stopped divisive speech, practices non-divisive speech, does not break others apart, does not hear this and tell that in order to break them apart, does not hear that and tell this in order to break them apart. He wants to reconcile those who are divided, delights those who are united, does not form factions, does not delight in factions, does not praise factions. He has purified his mind of divisive speech. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up harsh speech, stopped harsh speech. Whatever he says is gentle, soft, pleasant to the ear, agreeable, pleasing to the masses, not causing distress, leading to concentration. He has stopped such speech. Whatever he says is clear, gentle, soft, pleasant to the ear, agreeable, pleasing to the masses, causing happiness, with a voice that is distinct, not causing fear, leading to concentration. He speaks such words. He has purified his mind of harsh speech. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up idle chatter, stopped idle chatter. He speaks at the right time, speaks the truth, speaks the Dharma, speaks the meaning, speaks cessation, speaks delight in cessation, speaks in accordance with the matter, at the right time, appropriately, teaches well, and reproaches well. He has purified his mind of idle chatter.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up commerce, stopped commerce, abandoned weighing and measuring, also does not accept goods, does not bind people, does not hope for a discount, does not deceive others with small profits. He has purified his mind of commerce. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting widows and girls, stopped accepting widows and girls. He has purified his mind of accepting widows and girls. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting slaves and servants, stopped accepting slaves and servants. He has purified his mind of accepting slaves and servants. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep, stopped accepting elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep. He has purified his mind of accepting elephants, horses, cattle, and sheep. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting chickens and pigs, stopped accepting chickens and pigs. He has purified his mind of accepting chickens and pigs. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting fields, businesses, and shops, stopped accepting fields, businesses, and shops. He has purified his mind of accepting fields, businesses, and shops. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting raw rice, wheat, and beans, stopped accepting raw rice, wheat, and beans. He has purified his mind of accepting raw rice, wheat, and beans.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up alcohol, stopped alcohol. He has purified his mind of drinking alcohol. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up high and wide beds, stopped high and wide beds. He has purified his mind of high and wide beds. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up garlands, necklaces, perfumes, and cosmetics, stopped garlands, necklaces, perfumes, and cosmetics. He has purified his mind of garlands, necklaces, perfumes, and cosmetics. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up singing, dancing, and acting, and going to see them, stopped singing, dancing, and acting, and going to see them. He has purified his mind of singing, dancing, and acting, and going to see them. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up accepting raw silk and jewels, stopped accepting raw silk and jewels. He has purified his mind of accepting raw silk and jewels. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter has given up eating after noon, stopped eating after noon. He always eats one meal a day, not at night, and practices eating at the right time. He has purified his mind of eating after noon.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter, for as long as he lives, keeps his hands away from hoes and shovels, does not dig the ground himself, nor does he instruct others. If the bank of a river collapses or a rat damages the soil, he takes it to make vessels, puts them aside, and tells the buyers, "If you have peas, rice, wheat, sesame, mung beans, mustard seeds, pour them in and take the vessels as you wish." Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter, for as long as he lives, serves his parents. His parents are blind and rely on others. Therefore he serves them.

Great King! I remember in the past, I was wandering near the village of Vipulya. Great King! At that time, in the morning, I put on my robe, took my bowl, entered the village of Vipulya to beg for food, and gradually begged for food. I went to Nanda-prabha the potter's house. At that time, Nanda-prabha was out for a small matter. Great King! I asked Nanda-prabha the potter's parents, "Elders! Where is the potter now?" They replied to me, "World-Honored One! The attendant is temporarily out for a small matter. Well-Gone One! The attendant is temporarily out for a small matter. World-Honored One! There is rice in the basket and bean soup in the pot. Please take it as you wish out of compassion." Great King! I then accepted the Uḍḍiyāna method and took the soup and rice from the basket and pot and left.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter returned home later and saw that the rice in the basket was less and the soup in the pot was reduced. He asked his parents, "Who took the soup and rice?" His parents replied, "Good son! Today the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa came here to beg for food. He took the soup and rice from the basket and pot." Hearing this, Nanda-prabha the potter thought, "I have good benefits and great merit. The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa freely took the soup and rice in my house." He was delighted and cross-legged, his mind at peace and silent, for seven days. During the fifteenth day, he was joyful. His parents were also joyful for seven days.

Great King! I remember in the past, I was wandering near the village of Vipulya. Great King! At that time, in the morning, I put on my robe, took my bowl, entered the village of Vipulya to beg for food, and gradually begged for food. I went to Nanda-prabha the potter's house. At that time, Nanda-prabha was out for a small matter. Great King! I asked Nanda-prabha the potter's parents, "Elders! Where is the potter now?" They replied to me, "World-Honored One! The attendant is temporarily out for a small matter. Well-Gone One! The attendant is temporarily out for a small matter. World-Honored One! There is cooked rice in the large pot and soup in the small pot. Please take it as you wish out of compassion." Great King! I then accepted the Uḍḍiyāna method and took the soup and rice from the large and small pots and left.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter returned home later and saw that the rice in the large pot was less and the soup in the small pot was reduced. He asked his parents, "Who took the rice from the large pot and the soup from the small pot?" His parents replied, "Good son! Today the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa came here to beg for food. He took the soup and rice from the large and small pots and left." Hearing this, Nanda-prabha the potter thought, "I have good benefits and great merit. The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa freely took the soup and rice in my house." He was delighted and cross-legged, his mind at peace and silent, for seven days. During the fifteenth day, he was joyful. His parents were also joyful for seven days.

"Great King! I remember in the past, I spent the summer retreat near the village of Vipulya. Great King! At that time, I had a new house that was not yet covered. Nanda-prabha the potter had a new roof for his old pottery house. Great King! I told my attendant monks, "You should go and dismantle Nanda-prabha the potter's old pottery house and bring it to cover my house." The attendant monks accepted my instruction, went to Nanda-prabha the potter's house, pulled down the old pottery house, made bundles of it, and brought it to cover my house. Nanda-prabha the potter's parents heard that the old pottery house was being dismantled. Hearing this, they asked, "Who is dismantling Nanda-prabha's old pottery house?" The monks replied, "Elders! We are the attendant monks of the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa. We are dismantling Nanda-prabha the potter's old pottery house, making bundles of it, to cover the house of the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa." Nanda-prabha the potter's parents said, "Gentlemen! Take it as you wish. There is no one to stop you.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter returned home later and saw that the old pottery house was being dismantled. He asked his parents, "Who is dismantling my old pottery house?" His parents replied, "Good son! Today the attendant monks of the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa dismantled the old pottery house, made bundles of it, and took it away to cover the house of the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa." Hearing this, Nanda-prabha the potter thought, "I have good benefits and great merit. The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa freely took the soup and rice in my house." He was delighted and cross-legged, his mind at peace and silent, for seven days. During the fifteenth day, he was joyful. His parents were also joyful for seven days.

Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter's old pottery house did not leak at all during the four months of summer. Why? Because of the Buddha's spiritual power. Great King! Nanda-prabha the potter had no unwillingness, no unwillingness, no sorrow in his mind: "The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa freely took the soup and rice in my house." Great King! You are unwilling, you are unwilling, your mind is greatly sorrowful: "The Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa did not accept my invitation to spend the summer retreat here in Vārāṇasī, together with the assembly of monks." Then the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa taught the Dharma for King Udayana, inspiring him with yearning, bringing him to accomplishment and joy. Having taught the Dharma for him with immeasurable skillful means, inspiring him with yearning, bringing him to accomplishment and joy, he rose from his seat and departed.

Great King! Not long after the Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One Kāśyapa left, King Udayana ordered his attendants, "You should load five hundred carts with white rice and various delicacies from the king's table, and take them to Nanda-prabha the potter's house, and say to him: 'Nanda-prabha! These five hundred carts are loaded with white rice and various delicacies from the king's table. King Udayana sends them to you as a gift out of compassion. You should accept them now.'" At that time, the attendants received the king's order and loaded five hundred carts with white rice and various delicacies from the king's table, and sent them to Nanda-prabha the potter's house. Having arrived, they said, "Nanda-prabha the potter! These five hundred carts are loaded with white rice and various delicacies from the king's table. King Udayana sends them to you as a gift out of compassion. You should accept them now." Then Nanda-prabha the potter declined and did not accept, and said to the attendants, "Gentlemen! King Udayana's kingdom has many important affairs and wide expenditures. I know this, and therefore I do not accept."'

The Buddha told Ānanda, "What do you think? Do you think that the young man Utpalavarṇa at that time was someone else? Do not think like that. You should know that he was me. Ānanda! At that time, I spoke the Dharma for the benefit of myself, for the benefit of others, for the benefit of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the sake of benefit and happiness for gods and humans. At that time, the Dharma I spoke did not reach the ultimate, did not reach the ultimate purity, did not reach the ultimate practice of the holy life, did not reach the ultimate completion of the practice of the holy life. At that time, I was not free from birth, old age, sickness, death, wailing, and sorrow, and I was not yet able to be free from all suffering. Ānanda! Now I have appeared in the world as a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the Secular World, Unsurpassed Person, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, called the Buddha, the Fortunate One. Now I speak the Dharma for my own benefit, for the benefit of others, for the benefit of many people, out of compassion for the world, for the sake of benefit and happiness for gods and humans. Now the Dharma I speak reaches the ultimate, reaches the ultimate purity, reaches the ultimate practice of the holy life, reaches the ultimate completion of the practice of the holy life. Now I am free from birth, old age, sickness, death, wailing, and sorrow. Now I have attained freedom from all suffering."

The Buddha spoke thus. The Venerable Ānanda and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.