.
Chapter 3: A Collection of Passages Revealing the True Faith of the Pure Land Way
117 It is also stated [in the Nirvana Sutra, "Chapter on Kashyapa"]:
Devadatta demonstrated various miracles to the prince: he disappeared from where there was no exit and reappeared through the gate, or went out through the gate and reappeared from where there was no gate. On another occasion, he manifested an elephant, a horse, an ox, a sheep, a man or a woman. Having seen these, Prince Sudarshana entertained the thoughts of friendship, joy and respect. Thereupon, he had various things prepared and offered them to Devadatta. <...>
He further thought, "I will now go to the Tathagata and ask him to grant me his sangha. If the Buddha agrees, I will be able to give instructions as I please and order about Shariputra and others."
Then Devadatta came to me and said, "I request you, Tathagata, to leave the leadership of the sangha to me. I will expound various teachings to them and transform and train them." I replied to this foolish man, "Shariputra and others, having learned the great wisdom, are trusted and respected by the world. Nevertheless, I do not transfer the leadership of the sangha to them. How much less would I leave it to the care of a fool like you who deserves to be spat on!"
Thereupon, as Devadatta's evil thought increased, he said, "Gautama, even though you now keep the sangha under control, its power will not last long. It will perish before my eyes."
As soon as he uttered these words, the earth shook six times. As Devadatta fell to the ground, a violent wind arose about his body, blowing up dust and covering and soiling the body with it. Seeing this bad omen, Devadatta made this remark, "If I am doomed to fall into Avici hell in this present life, I will take revenge of the great evil done to me."
Then Devadatta stood up and went to see Prince Sudarshana. Seeing him, Sudarshana asked the master, "Why do you look so emaciated and sorrowful?"
Devadatta replied, "I am always like this. Do you not know?" Sudarshana said, "Please explain the reason. What is the cause of this?" Devadatta said, "I have become your close friend. Those outside the palace abuse you, saying you are in the wrong. When I hear this, why should I not be sorrowed by this?"
Prince Sudarshana further said, "How do the people of the kingdom abuse and insult me?" Devadatta replied, "They abuse you, calling you 'Unborn Enemy' (Ajatashatru)."
Sudarshana asked, "Why do they call me 'Unborn Enemy'? Who made this name?"
Devadatta answered, "Before you were born, all the soothsayers predicted, 'This child, when born, will surely kill its father.' For this reason, people outside the palace all called you 'Unborn Enemy'. Those inside the palace, however, called you 'Sudarshana' in order to protect your feelings. Having heard the soothsayers' words, Queen Vaidehi, after the delivery, dropped you from the top of the tower. When you hit the ground, one of your fingers was broken. For this reason, people also called you 'Broken Fingered' (Kunika). When I heard this, I was so full of sorrow and resentment that I could not tell this to you."
Devadatta, relating this and other pernicious stories to the prince, instigated him to kill his father. He said, "If you kill your father, I will kill the Mendicant Gautama."
http://www.euroshinshu.org/www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/kgss-d.htm
Chapter 3: A Collection of Passages Revealing the True Faith of the Pure Land Way
117 It is also stated [in the Nirvana Sutra, "Chapter on Kashyapa"]:
Devadatta demonstrated various miracles to the prince: he disappeared from where there was no exit and reappeared through the gate, or went out through the gate and reappeared from where there was no gate. On another occasion, he manifested an elephant, a horse, an ox, a sheep, a man or a woman. Having seen these, Prince Sudarshana entertained the thoughts of friendship, joy and respect. Thereupon, he had various things prepared and offered them to Devadatta. <...>
He further thought, "I will now go to the Tathagata and ask him to grant me his sangha. If the Buddha agrees, I will be able to give instructions as I please and order about Shariputra and others."
Then Devadatta came to me and said, "I request you, Tathagata, to leave the leadership of the sangha to me. I will expound various teachings to them and transform and train them." I replied to this foolish man, "Shariputra and others, having learned the great wisdom, are trusted and respected by the world. Nevertheless, I do not transfer the leadership of the sangha to them. How much less would I leave it to the care of a fool like you who deserves to be spat on!"
Thereupon, as Devadatta's evil thought increased, he said, "Gautama, even though you now keep the sangha under control, its power will not last long. It will perish before my eyes."
As soon as he uttered these words, the earth shook six times. As Devadatta fell to the ground, a violent wind arose about his body, blowing up dust and covering and soiling the body with it. Seeing this bad omen, Devadatta made this remark, "If I am doomed to fall into Avici hell in this present life, I will take revenge of the great evil done to me."
Then Devadatta stood up and went to see Prince Sudarshana. Seeing him, Sudarshana asked the master, "Why do you look so emaciated and sorrowful?"
Devadatta replied, "I am always like this. Do you not know?" Sudarshana said, "Please explain the reason. What is the cause of this?" Devadatta said, "I have become your close friend. Those outside the palace abuse you, saying you are in the wrong. When I hear this, why should I not be sorrowed by this?"
Prince Sudarshana further said, "How do the people of the kingdom abuse and insult me?" Devadatta replied, "They abuse you, calling you 'Unborn Enemy' (Ajatashatru)."
Sudarshana asked, "Why do they call me 'Unborn Enemy'? Who made this name?"
Devadatta answered, "Before you were born, all the soothsayers predicted, 'This child, when born, will surely kill its father.' For this reason, people outside the palace all called you 'Unborn Enemy'. Those inside the palace, however, called you 'Sudarshana' in order to protect your feelings. Having heard the soothsayers' words, Queen Vaidehi, after the delivery, dropped you from the top of the tower. When you hit the ground, one of your fingers was broken. For this reason, people also called you 'Broken Fingered' (Kunika). When I heard this, I was so full of sorrow and resentment that I could not tell this to you."
Devadatta, relating this and other pernicious stories to the prince, instigated him to kill his father. He said, "If you kill your father, I will kill the Mendicant Gautama."
http://www.euroshinshu.org/www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/kgss-d.htm
