天竺國摩訶羅比丘
Heavenly India Mahāra Bhikṣu
昔天竺國有一阿蘭若比丘名摩訶羅。大讀摩訶衍。德行彌著。國王正信。甞布髮掩泥令比丘蹈。又有比丘來白王言。此人不多讀經。何大供養。王言。我曾一日夜半欲見此比丘。即至其所。見彼在一窟中讀法華經。有一金色光明人乘白象。王合掌供養。我方親近。彼即滅沒。我問大德。以我來故。金色光明人滅耶。比丘言。此是徧吉菩薩。徧吉自言。若有人誦法華經。我當乘白象來教導之。我讀是經。徧吉自來矣。徧吉即法華經中普賢菩薩也。我聞是已。禮足而退。是故我今常當供養(大智度論)。
In ancient times, in India, there was a forest monk named Maharaka who lived in a secluded monastery. He devotedly studied the Mahayana scriptures and his virtuous conduct was widely esteemed. The king had deep faith in him and once spread his own hair on muddy ground for the monk to walk on.
Another monk came to the king and said, "This man does not study the scriptures much; why do you honor him so greatly?" The king replied, "One night at midnight, I wanted to see this monk. I went to his dwelling and saw him in a cave reciting the Lotus Sutra. There was a figure of golden light riding a white elephant. I joined my palms and paid homage. Just as I drew near, the figure vanished. I asked the venerable monk, 'Did the golden light disappear because of my arrival?' The monk said, 'This is the Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. He has said, "If anyone recites the Lotus Sutra, I will ride a white elephant to guide them." As I recite this sutra, the Universal Worthy naturally comes.' The Universal Worthy is known as Samantabhadra in the Lotus Sutra. After hearing this, I bowed at his feet and withdrew. Therefore, from that time on, I have always made offerings to him."
(Source: The Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom (Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra))