Udanavarga 2.28

2.28

昔佛在舍衛國。有山民村五六十家，去國五百里，村中有一貧家，其主人婦懷妊十月雙生二男，甚大端政無比，父母愛之便為作字，一名雙德，二名雙福。生五六十日，其父放牛來還，懈息却臥床上，其母出田拾薪未還，此二小兒左右顧視不見父母，便共相責。語一人言：「前世之時垂當得道，正坐愚意謂命可常，退墮生死不可計劫，今乃得生此貧家作子，穰草之中以氈褐自覆，食飲麤惡纔自支身，如此至久云何得道？皆坐前世戀慕富貴，放身散意快樂須臾，從爾以來長塗受苦，如今憂惱當何恃怙？」一人答曰：「我爾時小難一時之懃，不竟精進，而令數世遭諸苦患，此是自為非父母作也，但共當之，復何所言？」父聞二子相責如是，甚大怪之，謂呼是鬼祟來生災變，云何數十日小兒乃作此言？恐其後日殺親滅族，曼小未大宜當殺之。其父驚出閉門捨去，到田取薪欲燒殺之。其母來還，問夫用此薪為？夫言：「甚大可怪所說如是，此似是鬼，必破人門族，以其曼小欲燒殺之。」其母聞此，意中愕然猶豫未信，小停數日更聽其言。至明日夫婦俱出於戶外，潛聽二兒在內相責如故，夫婦重共聞之，甚怪所以，便共集薪密欲燒之。佛以天眼見此夫婦欲燒殺二子，愍其可憐，宿福應度，往到其村普放光明，天地大動，山川樹木皆作金色；村中大小驚到佛所，為佛作禮莫不歡喜，知佛至神三界無比。佛到雙生小兒家，二兒見佛光明喜踊難量，父母又驚，各抱一子將至佛所，問佛世尊：「此小兒生來五六十日，所說如是，甚共怪之，恐作禍害欲火燒殺之，正值佛來未及得燒。不知此小兒為是何等鬼魅也？唯願解說是何災怪？」小兒見佛踊躍歡喜，佛見小兒大笑，口出五色光普照天地。佛告小兒父母及村人大小：「此二小兒非是鬼魅，福德之子。前迦葉佛時曾作沙門，少小共為朋友，同志出家各自精進，臨當得道，欻起邪想共相沮敗，樂世榮華恃福生天，下為侯王國主長者，欻起是想便墮退轉不得涅槃。更此生死，彌連劫數常相鈎牽，輒共雙生。遭我世時，今始乃生。已往供養佛功德故，餘福應度罪滅福生，自識宿命，是以世尊故來度之，我不度者橫為火所燒。」

In old times, when Buddha was residing in Śrāvastī, there was a village about 500 li off, in which dwelt some fifty or sixty families (mountain people). Amongst these there was a certain poor man and his wife, to whom had been born two boys (twins), very lovely to behold, and of incomparable grace. The one they called “Grace" (tih), the other “Fortunate" (fuh). Now it so happened one day the father had returned from his work, and lain down on his bed to rest, whilst the mother was still in the fields. The two children, who were then only seven or eight weeks old, not seeing their father, began to speak reproachfully one with the other, because they were born in such circumstances as they were, and had to fare so badly as they did. The father, overwhelmed with astonishment at hearing the children talking thus, and thinking that they were demons in human shape, resolved to kill them and burn their bodies. Accordingly, he went out into the fields to gather wood for the purpose, and meeting his wife he told her all about it. On this the mother, moved with pity, and scarce believing the truth of the matter, begged a respite for the children for a few days. On the morrow she herself went outside the dwelling and listened, when lo! she heard the children reproaching one another as before. On this, being persuaded that they were demons in children's form, she consented to the course usual in these cases, that they should be burned (either “burned alive,” or “killed and burned"). At this time Buddha, knowing the circumstances of the case, transported himself to the village, and, resplendent with glory, lit up the place and all the surrounding country with the brightness of his presence. On this the villagers, and especially the parents of the children, came near to worship him. On seeing the parents, and hearing their account of the children, Buddha smiled, and from his mouth proceeded the five-coloured rays that shone through heaven and earth, and then he related the history of the twins, how that they had been disciples of Kāśyapa Buddha, and were in a fair way to arrive at perfect deliverance, when by mutual conversation on heretical doctrines they had hindered their escape, and had continued to be born, at one time in high degree, at another time in poverty, and at last as the twins of the poor people before him; and then the World-honoured recited these gāthas: