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法言：「染神億劫不朽，煎熬生死，得道乃止。」昔佛泥曰後五百十年，有一國王，精進勇猛世所希有，供養六萬沙門三月一時，甘香餚饍極世之味，最上座道人博綜群籍探古達今，得應真。去此國東四百八十里有一國王，供養五百婆羅門，亦盡世之美，作百種幢幡裝挍繒綵、綿潔、金寶、雜物，一幢直五百兩金，以此伎樂而娛樂之。其有能作此技藝者，便以與之。諸國貧人聞彼國王有此寶物，各各四面雲集合五百人，路由精舍，各習技藝欲取彼寶，糧食乏盡不能得達，便詣上座前求作沙門。上座即觀之，乃惟衛佛時賢者家奴客，曾為道人作食飲，又聞法言，從是以來天上人中受福自然，福今始盡法言故存，此等可度。便下鬚髮授以戒法，將入宮，食還大歡喜。師知其意，為說此飯不可妄食，人無至誠而食此飯者，當累劫為王作牛馬奴婢。五百新學比丘，聞此恐怖，厲志精進，九十日皆得應真。比丘已得道，欲自說本末，便大走行，喚入王門，「共相撲來！三毒、十二因緣、五陰、六衰我皆撲之，誰能與我對者？」眾坐愕然：「此何言也？」比丘曰：「吾等本習技藝，欲取彼寶利養，為沙門自致羅漢，三界眾邪吾等已撲滅之，蒙大師恩快樂無極。」
The Dharma says: "A contaminated spirit endures for countless eons, burning in the cycle of birth and death, and only attains peace through enlightenment." Five hundred and ten years after the Buddha entered Nirvana, there was a king, rare in the world for his diligence and courage. He offered support to sixty thousand monks for a three-month retreat, with fragrant delicacies and exquisite foods beyond worldly comparison. The senior seat among these monks was a man broadly learned in scriptures, ancient and modern, who had attained the state of an Arhat.
Four hundred eighty miles east of that kingdom, there was another king. He supported five hundred Brahmins with equal worldly splendor, creating a hundred types of banners and canopies, adorned with silk, cotton, pure gold, and precious gems. Each banner was worth five hundred ounces of gold. He used music and performance to entertain them, promising to give such treasures to anyone who could master these arts.
Poverty-stricken people from various kingdoms, hearing of this king's treasures, gathered together five hundred individuals. Their route took them past the monastery. They planned to learn the arts and claim the prize, but their food ran out before they could reach their destination. So they approached the senior sitting monk and asked to become monks.
The senior monk observed them. He saw that in the time of the Buddha Vipasyin, these individuals had been servants of a noble family, preparing meals for practitioners and hearing the Dharma. From then on, they had enjoyed blessings in heaven and among humans naturally. Now their old blessings were exhausted, but the Dharma's words still remained. "These people can be saved," he decided.
So he shaved their heads and gave them the precepts, then brought them into the palace. After receiving food, they returned with great joy. The teacher understood their minds and warned them: "This food cannot be eaten carelessly. Anyone who is not sincere yet eats this food will become a horse, ox, servant, or slave for the king over many lifetimes."
The five hundred new monks, hearing this, were terrified. They dedicated themselves to vigorous effort, and within ninety days all attained the state of Arhats. Having achieved enlightenment, these monks wanted to express their realization. They ran about excitedly, calling out as they entered the king's gate: "Come wrestle with us! The three poisons, the twelve links of causation, the five aggregates, and the six senses—we have thrown them all down! Who can match us?"
The entire assembly was startled. "What is this nonsense?" they said.
The monks replied: "We originally learned skills to seek that treasure and worldly gain. But by becoming monks, we have attained Arhatship. Now we have overcome all defilements of the three realms. Thanks to our great teacher's kindness, our joy knows no bounds."