MĀ66 pūrvakathāsūtram

[Translated originally from the Sanskrit Sarvāstivāda Madhyamāgama to Classical Chinese by a team led by Sarvāstivāda scholar Gautama Saṃghadeva of Kāśmīra in 398CE.
Translated from the Chinese Taisho Tripiṭaka back to Sanskrit by Ramakrishnan Suryanarayanan in 2024-26.]

madhyamāgame rājasaṃyuktavarge pūrvakathāsūtraṃ dvitīyam.

evaṃ mayā śrutam. ekasminsamaye bhagavānvārāṇasyāṃ viharati smarśyavṛjane mṛgadāve.

tena khalu samayena sambahulā bhikṣavaḥ paścādbhaktapiṇḍapātapratikrāntā upasthānaśālāyāṃ sanniṣaṇṇāḥ sannipatitā evamantarākathāṃ samudapādayan—kiṃ nu khvāyuṣmanto gṛhapatīnāṃ gṛheṣu yadi bhikṣuḥ śīlavānkalyāṇadharmā sampanneryāpathaḥ kulaṃ praviśya piṇḍapātaṃ pratigṛhṇāti tatpravaramuta pratyahaṃ śatasahasraguṇo lābhasatkāra iti.

tatraike bhikṣava evamavocan—āyuṣmantaḥ kiṃ prayojanaṃ śatasahasraguṇena lābhena. idamevātra paramam. yadi bhikṣuḥ śīlavānkalyāṇadharmā sampanneryāpathaḥ kulaṃ praviśya piṇḍapātaṃ pratigṛhṇāti na tatpratyahaṃ śatasahasraguṇena lābhena samamiti.

tena khalu samayenāyuṣmānanuruddhastasyāṃ parṣadi sanniṣaṇṇo'bhūt. athāyuṣmānanuruddho bhikṣūnāmantrayata—āyuṣmantaḥ kiṃ prayojanaṃ śatasahasraguṇena lābhena yadi vā tadadhikena. idamevātra paramam. yadi bhikṣuḥ śīlavānkalyāṇadharmā sampanneryāpathaḥ kulaṃ praviśya piṇḍapātaṃ pratigṛhṇāti na tatpratyahaṃ śatasahasraguṇena lābhena samamiti. tatkasya hetoḥ? anusmarāmyahamāyuṣmantaḥ pūrvamasyāmeva vārāṇasyāṃ daridraḥ puruṣo'bhavamuñchavṛttyā dāsakarmakarabhāreṇa ca jīvikāṃ kalpayāmi sma. tasminsamaye vārāṇasyāṃ durbhikṣamabhūdakālikaṃ śītaṃ vātavṛṣṭidoṣaḥ kīṭāśca prādurbhūtāḥ sasyāni na prapakvāni janapado durbhikṣahataḥ kṛcchrajīviko'bhūtpiṇḍakamapi durlabhamabhūt. tena khalu samayenopariṣṭo nāma pratyekabuddho'syāṃ vārāṇasyāmupaniśritya viharati sma. athopariṣṭaḥ pratyekabuddhastāṃ rātriṃ vitīrya pūrvāhṇe nivāsya pātracīvaramādāya vārāṇasīṃ piṇḍāya prāviśat. ahamapyāyuṣmantastasminsamaye uñchavṛttyarthaṃ prabhāte vārāṇasyā niragaccham. āyuṣmanto yadāhaṃ niragacchaṃ tadā vārāṇasīṃ praviśantamupariṣṭaṃ pratyekabuddhamadrākṣam. tasminsamaya upariṣṭaḥ pratyekabuddhaḥ śuddhaṃ pātramādāya praviśya yathā praviṣṭastathā śuddhamevāriktaṃ pātramādāya niṣkrāntaḥ.

ahamāyuṣmanta uñchaṃ kṛtvā vārāṇasīṃ praviśanbhūyo'pyupariṣṭaṃ pratyekabuddhaṃ niṣkrāntamadrākṣam. sa ca māṃ dṛṣṭvaivamacintayat—mayā pūrvāhṇe praviśatāyaṃ puruṣo nirgacchandṛṣṭa idānīṃ niṣkrāmatā sa eva praviśandṛṣṭaḥ. asau puruṣo nūnamāhāraṃ na labdhavān. yannvahamimaṃ puruṣamanugaccheyamiti. tataḥ sa pratyekabuddho māmanugataśchāyeva rūpam. ahamāyuṣmanta uñchamādāya gṛhaṃ prāpya bhāraṃ nyasya paścādavalokayanmāmanugacchantamupariṣṭaṃ pratyekabuddhamadrākṣaṃ chāyeva rūpam. dṛṣṭvā caitadacintayam—mayā pūrvāhṇe nirgacchatāyaṃ ṛṣiḥ piṇḍāya praviśandṛṣṭa idānīṃ nūnamanena ṛṣiṇāhāro na labdhaḥ. yannvahamātmana āhāraṃ nyūnīkṛtya svasyāhāramasmai ṛṣaye dadyāmiti. evaṃ vicāryāhaṃ svabhāgamādāya pratyekabuddhāya prādām. añjaliṃ praṇamyāvocaṃ ca—jānītu maharṣe eṣo'hārabhāgo madīyaḥ, tāmanukampāmupādāya praticchediti. tato māṃ pratyekabuddho'vocat—jānīhi gṛhapate'sminvarṣe durbhikṣamutpannamakālikaṃ śītaṃ vātavṛṣṭidoṣaḥ kīṭāśca prādurbhūtāḥ sasyāni na prapakvāni janapado durbhikṣahato durlabhapiṇḍakaḥ. tvaṃ cārdhaṃ mama pātre dadyāḥ svayaṃ cārdhaṃ bhuñjīthā evaṃ hyubhayoḥ prāṇayāpanā bhavatīti tadeva śobhanamiti. punaścāhamavocam—jānītu maharṣe'haṃ gṛhastho me gṛhe cullī vidyatendhanaṃ vidyate dhānyaṃ ca vidyate. āhāraḥ sāyaṃ prātarvā na durlabhaḥ. anukampāmupādāya maharṣirme sarvamimaṃ piṇḍapātaṃ pratigṛhṇātviti. tataḥ pratyekabuddho'nukampāmupādāya sarvamevainaṃ pratyagṛhṇāt.

āyuṣmantastasyaikapātradānapuṇyasya vipākenāhaṃ saptakṛtvo deveṣūpapanno devendro'bhavam. saptakṛtvo manuṣyeṣūpapanno rājā cakravartyabhavam. āyuṣmantastasyaikapātradānapuṇyasya vipākenedānīṃ śākyakule mahādhane mahābhoge prabhūtapaśuke prabhūtadāsīdāsakarmakare prabhūtadhanadhānyahiraṇyasuvarṇamaṇimuktāpravālasampanne kule pratyājātaḥ. āyuṣmantastasyaikapātradānapuṇyasya vipākenāhamanekaśatasahasraniṣkānapāsya śākyarājakulātkeśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajitaḥ kiṃ punaranyāni vividhopakaraṇāni. āyuṣmantastasyaikapātradānapuṇyasya vipākenāhaṃ rājabhī rājāmātyairbrāhmaṇagṛhapatibhiḥ sarvajanaistu satkṛto gurukṛto mānitaḥ pūjitaścatuṣparṣadā bhikṣubhikṣuṇyupāsakopāsikābhiśca satkṛto gurukṛto mānitaḥ pūjitaḥ. āyuṣmantastasyaikapātradānapuṇyasya vipākenāhamabhīkṣṇaṃ yācito'smi yathāhamannaṃ pānaṃ vastraṃ śayanāsanaṃ mṛdukauśeyakambalaṃ glānapratyayabhaiṣajyapariṣkāraṃ sarvajīvitopakaraṇāni paribhuñjīyeti, nāyācitaḥ. yadyahamāyuṣmantastasminsamaye taṃ śramaṇamarhaṅkṣīṇāsravo'yamiti jñātavānsyāṃ tato me puṇyavipāko bhūyasyā mātrayā vivardhiṣyata mahāphalataro mahānuśaṃsataro mahādyutikaro mahāprabhāvataro'bhaviṣyat.

athāyuṣmānanuruddho'rhaṅkṣīṇāsravaḥ samyagvimukto gāthāmabhāṣata—

anusmarāmi tatkṛcchramuñchavṛttiṃ purākṛtām dāsakarmeṇa jīvāmi bhāravāhī daridrakaḥ svāhāraṃ śramaṇe dattamupariṣṭe mahātmani anukampāmupādāya nirāsrave ca bhikṣave tasya karmavipākena śākyeṣūtpannavānaham anuruddheti khyāto gītavāditrakovidaḥ krīḍāratiṣu sampanno nityaṃ hṛṣṭamanāstathā apaśyaṃ lokanāthaṃ vai sambuddhamamṛtaṃ yathā dṛṣṭvā prasādasampannaḥ pravrajito'smyanagārakaḥ pūrvanivāsaṃ jānāmi yatrotpanno'smi pūrvakam trāyastriṃśeṣu deveṣu saptakṛtvaḥ samutthitaḥ sapta caiva manuṣyeṣu caturdaśabhavāḥ smṛtāḥ mānuṣeṣu ca deveṣu nābhijānāmi durgatim cyutiṃ cotpattimevāhaṃ jānāmi gatisambhavam paracittaṃ tathā jñātamāryapañcarataḥ sadā pañcāṅgadhyānamāpanno dāntaḥ śāntamanāstathā samāhito hi tatrāhaṃ divyacakṣurvyaśodhayam yasyārthāya pravrajito vivekāya gṛhāttathā sa me'rtho hi samāvapto buddhasyāntikaśāsane nābhinandāmi maraṇaṃ nābhinandāmi jīvitam kālameva pratīkṣāmi smṛtimānsamprajānanaḥ vaiśālyāṃ veṇugulme ca tatra me jīvitakṣayaḥ tatraiva veṇugulme'haṃ nirvāsyāmyanupādhikaḥ

tena khalu samayena bhagavānpratisaṃlayana upaviṣṭo divyena śrotradhātunā viśuddhenātikrāntamānuṣyakeṇa teṣāṃ bhikṣūṇāṃ paścādbhaktapiṇḍapātapratikrāntānāmupasthānaśālāyāṃ sanniṣaṇṇānāmevamantarākathāṃ śrutavān. śrutvā ca bhagavānsāyāhnasamaye pratisaṃlayanādvyutthāya yenopasthānaśālā yena bhikṣavastenopajagāma. upetya prajñapta evāsane nyaṣīdat. niṣadya bhagavānbhikṣūnāmantrayata—kenārthenadānīmāyuṣmantaḥ sannipatitāḥ, kā ca punarvo'ntarākathā viprakṛteti.

evamukte te bhikṣavo bhagavantametadavocan—ime vayaṃ bhagavannidānīmāyuṣmato'nuruddhasya pūrvakathāmārabhya dharmīṃ kathāṃ pravartayāma iti.

bhagavānavocat—icchatha yūyaṃ bhikṣavastathāgatasyāntikādanāgatamadhvānaṃ cārabhya dharmīṃ kathāṃ śrotumiti.

te bhikṣavo'vocan—etasya bhagavankāla etasya sugata kālo yadbhagavānanāgatamadhvānamārabhya dharmīṃ kathāṃ kuryāt. bhagavato'ntikācchrutvā bhikṣavo dhārayiṣyantīti.

bhagavānavocat—tena hi bhikṣavaḥ śṛṇuta sādhu ca suṣṭhu ca manasikuruta bhāṣiṣye. evaṃ bhadanteti te bhikṣavo bhagavataḥ pratyaśrauṣuḥ.

bhagavānidamavocat—anāgate'dhvani bhikṣavo dīrghe kāle manuṣyāṇāmaśītivarṣasahasrāṇyāyurbhaviṣyati. aśītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu bhikṣavo manuṣyeṣvayaṃ jambūdvīpa ṛddhaśca bhaviṣyati sphītaśca kṣemaśca subhikṣaścakkuṭasampātikagrāmanigamākīrṇabahujanamanuṣyaśca. aśītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu bhikṣavo manuṣyeṣu pañcaśatavarṣikā kanyā patikulaṃ gamiṣyati. aśītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu bhikṣavo manuṣyeṣvime eva vyādhayo bhaviṣyanti. yaduta śītamuṣṇamaśanā pipāsā uccārapraśravaṇaṃ jaraiva na tvanyo vyādhiḥ.

aśītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu bhikṣavo manuṣyeṣu śaṅkho nāma rājotpatsyate cakravartī cāturanto vijitāvī dhārmiko dharmarājaḥ saptaratnasamanvāgataḥ. tasyemāni saptaratnāni bhaviṣyanti. tadyathā cakraratnaṃ hastiratnamaśvaratnaṃ maṇiratnaṃ strīratnaṃ gṛhapatiratnaṃ pariṇāyakaratnameva saptamam. pūrṇaṃ cāsya sahasraṃ putrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati śūrāṇāṃ vīrāṇāṃ varāṅgarūpāṇāṃ parasainyapramardanānām. sa imāṃ samudraparyantāṃ mahāpṛthivīmadaṇḍenāśastreṇa dharmeṇa vijityānuśāsiṣyati prajāḥ sukhe cāvasthāpayiṣyati. tasya mahānsauvarṇayūpa utthāpito bhaviṣyati nānāratnālaṅkṛtaḥ sahasrakiṣkurūrdhvaṃ ṣoḍaśakiṣkuparimaṇḍalaḥ. sa taṃ yūpamucchrāpayiṣyati. ucchrāpya ca taṃ śramaṇabrāhmaṇakṛpaṇavaṇīpakānāṃ dānamanupradāsyati. tadyathānnaṃ pānaṃ vastraṃ śayanāsanaṃ yānaprasthānāni mālāgandhavilepanaṃ gṛhaṃ śayyāṃ mṛdukauśeyakambalaṃ pradīpaṃ ca. sa dānaṃ dattvā keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajiṣyati. yena cārthena kulaputrāḥ keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajanti. tadanuttaraṃ brahmacaryaparyavasānaṃ dṛṣṭa eva dharme svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyati—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti prajñāsyati.

tena khalu samayenāyuṣmānajitastasyāṃ parṣadi sanniṣaṇṇo'bhūt. athāyuṣmānajita utthāyāsanādekāṃsamuttarāsaṅgaṃ kṛtvā yena bhagavāṃstenāñjaliṃ praṇāmya bhagavantametadavocat—ahaṃ bhagavannanāgate'dhvani dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu śaṅkho nāma rājotpatsye cakravartī cāturanto vijitāvī dhārmiko dharmarājaḥ saptaratnasamanvāgataḥ. mamemāni saptaratnāni bhaviṣyanti. tadyathā cakraratnaṃ hastiratnamaśvaratnaṃ maṇiratnaṃ strīratnaṃ gṛhapatiratnaṃ pariṇāyakaratnameva saptamam. pūrṇaṃ ca me sahasraṃ putrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati śūrāṇāṃ vīrāṇāṃ varāṅgarūpāṇāṃ parasainyapramardanānām. ahamimāṃ samudraparyantāṃ mahāpṛthivīmadaṇḍenāśastreṇa dharmeṇa vijityānuśāsiṣyāmi prajāḥ sukhe cāvasthāpayiṣyāmi. mama mahānsauvarṇayūpa utthāpito bhaviṣyati nānāratnālaṅkṛtaḥ sahasrakiṣkurūrdhvaṃ ṣoḍaśakiṣkuparimaṇḍalaḥ. ahaṃ taṃ yūpamucchrāpayiṣyāmi. ucchrāpya ca taṃ śramaṇabrāhmaṇakṛpaṇavaṇīpakānāṃ dānamanupradāsyāmi. tadyathānnaṃ pānaṃ vastraṃ śayanāsanaṃ yānaprasthānāni mālāgandhavilepanaṃ gṛhaṃ śayyāṃ mṛdukauśeyakambalaṃ pradīpaṃ ca. ahaṃ dānaṃ dattvā keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajiṣyāmi. yena cārthena kulaputrāḥ keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajanti. tadanuttaraṃ brahmacaryaparyavasānaṃ dṛṣṭa eva dharme svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyāmi—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti prajñāsyāmīti.

evamukte bhagavānāyuṣmantamajitamavocat—aho tvaṃ moghapuruṣa, ekaṃ maraṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā punardvitīyaṃ maraṇaṃ prārthayase. tatkasya hetoḥ? yattvaṃ vicārayasi—ahaṃ bhagavannanāgate'dhvani dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu śaṅkho nāma rājotpatsye cakravartī cāturanto vijitāvī dhārmiko dharmarājaḥ saptaratnasamanvāgataḥ. mamemāni saptaratnāni bhaviṣyanti. tadyathā cakraratnaṃ hastiratnamaśvaratnaṃ maṇiratnaṃ strīratnaṃ gṛhapatiratnaṃ pariṇāyakaratnameva saptamam. pūrṇaṃ ca me sahasraṃ putrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati śūrāṇāṃ vīrāṇāṃ varāṅgarūpāṇāṃ parasainyapramardanānām. ahamimāṃ samudraparyantāṃ mahāpṛthivīmadaṇḍenāśastreṇa dharmeṇa vijityānuśāsiṣyāmi prajāḥ sukhe cāvasthāpayiṣyāmi. mama mahānsauvarṇayūpa utthāpito bhaviṣyati nānāratnālaṅkṛtaḥ sahasrakiṣkurūrdhvaṃ ṣoḍaśakiṣkuparimaṇḍalaḥ. ahaṃ taṃ yūpamucchrāpayiṣyāmi. ucchrāpya ca taṃ śramaṇabrāhmaṇakṛpaṇavaṇīpakānāṃ dānamanupradāsyāmi. tadyathānnaṃ pānaṃ vastraṃ śayanāsanaṃ yānaprasthānāni mālāgandhavilepanaṃ gṛhaṃ śayyāṃ mṛdukauśeyakambalaṃ pradīpaṃ ca. ahaṃ dānaṃ dattvā keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajiṣyāmi. yena cārthena kulaputrāḥ keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajanti. tadanuttaraṃ brahmacaryaparyavasānaṃ dṛṣṭa eva dharme svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyāmi—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti prajñāsyāmīti.

bhagavānavocat—ajita, tvaṃ nūnamanāgate'dhvani dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu śaṅkho nāma rājā bhaviṣyasi cakravartī cāturanto vijitāvī dhārmiko dharmarājaḥ saptaratnasamanvāgataḥ. tavemāni saptaratnāni bhaviṣyanti. tadyathā cakraratnaṃ hastiratnamaśvaratnaṃ maṇiratnaṃ strīratnaṃ gṛhapatiratnaṃ pariṇāyakaratnameva saptamam. pūrṇaṃ ca te sahasraṃ putrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati śūrāṇāṃ vīrāṇāṃ varāṅgarūpāṇāṃ parasainyapramardanānām. tvamimāṃ samudraparyantāṃ mahāpṛthivīmadaṇḍenāśastreṇa dharmeṇa vijityānuśāsiṣyasi prajāḥ sukhe cāvasthāpayiṣyasi. tava mahānsauvarṇayūpa utthāpito bhaviṣyati nānāratnālaṅkṛtaḥ sahasrakiṣkurūrdhvaṃ ṣoḍaśakiṣkuparimaṇḍalaḥ. tvaṃ taṃ yūpamucchrāpayiṣyasi. ucchrāpya ca taṃ śramaṇabrāhmaṇakṛpaṇavaṇīpakānāṃ dānamanupradāsyasi. tadyathānnaṃ pānaṃ vastraṃ śayanāsanaṃ yānaprasthānāni mālāgandhavilepanaṃ gṛhaṃ śayyāṃ mṛdukauśeyakambalaṃ pradīpaṃ ca. tvaṃ dānaṃ dattvā keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajiṣyasi. yena cārthena kulaputrāḥ keśaśmaśrvavatārya kāṣāyāṇi vastrāṇyācchādya samyageva śraddhayāgārādanagārikāṃ pravrajanti. tadanuttaraṃ brahmacaryaparyavasānaṃ dṛṣṭa eva dharme svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyasi—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti prajñāsyasīti.

bhagavānbhikṣūnāmantrayata—anāgate'dhvani bhikṣavo dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu maitreyo nāma tathāgato loka utpatsyate'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. tadyathāhametarhi loka utpanno'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. sa imaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyati. tadyathāhametarhīmaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya viharāmi. sa dharmaṃ deśayiṣyatyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyati. tadyathāhametarhi dharmaṃ deśayāmyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayāmi. sa vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyatyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayiṣyati. tadyathāhametarhi vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayāmyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayāmi. tasya cāprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāro bhaviṣyati. tadyathā mamaitarhyaprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāraḥ.

tena khalu samayenāyuṣmānmaitreyastasyāṃ parṣadi sanniṣaṇṇo'bhūt. athāyuṣmānmaitreya utthāyāsanādekāṃsamuttarāsaṅgaṃ kṛtvā yena bhagavāṃstenāñjaliṃ praṇāmya bhagavantametadavocat—ahaṃ bhagavannanāgate'dhvani dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu maitreyo nāma tathāgato loka utpatsye'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. tadyathā bhagavānetarhi loka utpanno'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. ahamimaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyāmi. tadyathā bhagavānetarhīmaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya viharati. ahaṃ dharmaṃ deśayiṣyāmyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyāmi. tadyathā bhagavānetarhi dharmaṃ deśayatyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayati. ahaṃ vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyāmyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayiṣyāmi. tadyathā bhagavānetarhi vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayatyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayati. mama cāprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāro bhaviṣyati. tadyathā bhagavatastarhyaprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāraḥ.

evamukte bhagavānāyuṣmantaṃ maitreyaṃ sādhukāreṇābhyanandat—sādhu sādhu maitreya, tvayā paramakalyāṇaścitto'tpāditaḥ kṛto yanmahāsaṃghaṃ parigrahīṣyasi. tatkasya hetoḥ? yattvamevaṃ vicārayasi—ahaṃ bhagavannanāgate'dhvani dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu maitreyo nāma tathāgato loka utpatsye'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. tadyathā bhagavānetarhi loka utpanno'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. ahamimaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyāmi. tadyathā bhagavānetarhīmaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya viharati. ahaṃ dharmaṃ deśayiṣyāmyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyāmi. tadyathā bhagavānetarhi dharmaṃ deśayatyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayati. ahaṃ vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyāmyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayiṣyāmi. tadyathā bhagavānetarhi vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayatyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayati. mama cāprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāro bhaviṣyatīti.

bhagavānavocat—maitreya, tvamanāgate'dhvani dīrghe kāle'śītivarṣasahasrāyuṣu manuṣyeṣu maitreyo nāma tathāgato loka utpatsyase'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. tadyathāhametarhi loka utpanno'rhansamyaksambuddho vidyācaraṇasampannaḥ sugato lokavidanuttaraḥ puruṣadamyasārathiḥ śāstā devamanuṣyāṇāṃ buddho bhagavān. tvamimaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya vihariṣyasi. tadyathāhametarhīmaṃ lokaṃ sadevakaṃ samārakaṃ sabrahmakaṃ saśramaṇabrāhmaṇīṃ prajāṃ sadevamanuṣyāṃ svayamabhijñāya sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya viharāmi. tvaṃ dharmaṃ deśayiṣyasyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyasi. tadyathāhametarhi dharmaṃ deśayāmyādau kalyāṇaṃ madhye kalyāṇaṃ paryavasāne kalyāṇaṃ sārthaṃ savyañjanaṃ kevalaparipūrṇaṃ pariśuddhaṃ brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayāmi. tvaṃ vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayiṣyasyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayiṣyasi. tadyathāhametarhi vistareṇa brahmacaryaṃ samprakāśayāmyanantajanasamāgame devamanuṣyeṣu sādhu prajñāpayāmi. tava cāprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāro bhaviṣyati. tadyathā mamaitarhyaprameyāni bhikṣuśatasahasrāṇi parivāraḥ.

tena khalu samayenāyuṣmānānando vyajanahastaḥ pṛṣṭhato bhagavantamupavījayati sma. atha bhagavānpratyavalokyāyuṣmantamānandamāmantrayata—ānanda, suvarṇasūtravayitaṃ cīvaramānaya, tadahamidānīṃ maitreyāya bhikṣave dāsyāmīti.

athāyuṣmānānando bhagavataḥ śāsanādeva tatsuvarṇasūtravayitaṃ cīvaramānīya bhagavate prādāt. atha bhagavāntadānandātpratigṛhya maitreyamāmantrayata—maitreya, tvaṃ tathāgatādidaṃ suvarṇasūtravayitaṃ cīvaraṃ pratigṛhya buddhadharmasaṅgheṣu dadyāḥ. tatkasya hetoḥ? maitreya, sarve tathāgatā arhantaḥ samyaksambuddhā lokapālā lokamanukampyārthāya hitāya sukhāya ca carantīti.

athāyuṣmānmaitreyastathāgatāttatsuvarṇasūtravayitaṃ cīvaraṃ pratigṛhya buddhadharmasaṅgheṣu prādāt.

atha māraḥ pāpīyānevamacintayat—asau śramaṇo gautamo vārāṇasyāṃ viharatyṛśyavṛjane mṛgadāve. sa śrāvakāṇāmanāgatamārabhya dharmaṃ deśayati. yannvahaṃ tatra gatvā vighnaṃ kuryāmiti. atha māraḥ pāpīyānyena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya bhagavato'ntike gāthāmabhāṣata—

niścitaṃ te hi lapsyante rūpamuttamameva ca | mālāścaivābharaṇāni maṇiratnaṃ bhuje tathā || ketumatyāṃ rājadhānyāṃ śaṅkhasya rājño vijite |

atha bhagavānevamacintayat—ayam māraḥ pāpīyān māmupasaṅkrānto vighnaṃ kartukāmaḥ. iti bhagavānmāraṃ pāpīyāṃsaṃ viditvā tasyāntike gāthāmabhāṣata—

niścitaṃ te hi lapsyante hyajeyamacalaṃ tathā | jātimṛtyukṣayaṃ cāpi kṛtakṛtyā anāsravāḥ || ye cātra brahmacaryaṃ vai caranti maitreyamaṇḍale |

atha māraḥ pāpīyānpunargāthāmabhāṣata—

niścitaṃ te hi lapsyante vastrāṇyuttamakāni ca | candanena ca liptāṅgāḥ śubhraṃ dīrghaṃ kalevaram || ketumatyāṃ rājadhānyāṃ śaṅkhasya rājño vijite |

atha bhagavānpunargāthāmabhāṣata—

niścitaṃ te hi lapsyante'svāmikamanagārakam | na ca hiraṇyadhāriṇo hyakāmā aśocino vai || ye cātra brahmacaryaṃ vai caranti maitreyamaṇḍale |

atha māraḥ pāpīyānpunargāthāmabhāṣata—

niścitaṃ te hi lapsyante dhanāni bhaktamuttamam | gītavāditranṛtye ca krīḍante nityahṛṣṭatāḥ || ketumatyāṃ rājadhānyāṃ śaṅkhasya rājño vijite |

atha bhagavānpunargāthāmabhāṣata—

te hi pāraṃ gamiṣyanti chittvā pāśānmṛgā iva | dhyānena vihariṣyanti sadā tuṣṭāśca nirvṛtāḥ || pāpīyaṃstvaṃ hi jānīhi mayā tvaṃ cāsi nirjitaḥ |

atha māraḥ pāpīyāñjānāti māṃ bhagavāñjānāti māṃ sugata iti duḥkhī durmanā viṣaṇṇastatraivāntaradhīyata.

idamavocadbhagavān. āttamanasa āyuṣmānmaitreyo'jita āyuṣmānānandaste ca bhikṣavo bhagavato bhāṣitamabhyanandan.

pūrvakathāsūtraṃ dvitīyaṃ samāptam.