Udanavarga 2.3

2.3

昔佛始得道在羅閱祇國教化，轉到舍衛國，國王群臣莫不宗仰。時有賈客大人名曰波利，與五百賈人入海求寶。時海神出，掬水問波利言：「海水為多？掬水為多？」波利答曰：「掬水為多。所以者何？海水雖多無益時用，不能救彼飢渴之人，掬水雖少值彼渴者，持用與之以濟其命，世世受福不可稱計。」海神歡喜讚言善哉！即脫身上八種香瓔校以七寶，以上波利。海神送之，安善往還到舍衛國，持此香瓔上波斯匿王，具陳所由。「念是香瓔非小人所服，謹以貢上，願蒙納受。」王得香瓔以為奇異，即呼諸夫人羅列前住：「若最好者以香瓔與之。」六萬夫人盡嚴來出。王問：「末利夫人何以不出？」侍人答言：「今十五日持佛法齋素服不嚴，是以不出。」王便瞋恚，遣人呼曰：「如今持齋，應違王主之命不乎？」如是三反，末利夫人素服而出在眾人中，猶如日月倍好於常。王意悚然加敬，問曰：「有何道德，炳然有異？」夫人白王：「自念少福稟斯女形，情態穢垢日夜山積，人命促短懼墜三塗，是以日月奉佛法齋，割愛從道世世蒙福。」王聞歡喜，便以香瓔以與末利夫人。夫人答言：「我今持齋不應著此，可與餘人。」王曰：「我本發意欲與勝者，卿今最勝，又奉法齋道志殊高，是以相與。若卿不受，吾將安置？」夫人答言：「大王勿憂！願王屈意共到佛所，以此香瓔奉上世尊，并採聖訓，累劫之福矣。」王即許焉，即勅嚴駕往到佛所，稽首於地却就王位，王白佛言：「海神香瓔波利所上，六萬夫人莫不貪得，末利夫人與而不取，持佛法齋心無貪欲，謹以上佛，願垂納受。世尊弟子執心護齋直信如此，豈有福乎？」

Formerly, when the Buddha had newly attained the Way, he was teaching and transforming in the country of Rājagṛha, and gradually traveled to the country of Śrāvastī, where the king and his ministers all revered him. At that time there was a great merchant named Po-li, who entered the sea with five hundred merchants to seek jewels. At that time the sea god emerged, cupped some water in his hands, and asked Po-li, saying: "Is the sea water greater, or is this cupped water greater?" Po-li replied, saying: "The cupped water is greater. Why is this? Although the sea water is abundant, it is of no practical use and cannot save those who are hungry and thirsty. Although the cupped water is little, if one meets someone who is thirsty and gives it to him to save his life, he will receive immeasurable blessings lifetime after lifetime." The sea god rejoiced, praised him, saying, "Excellent!" and immediately took off an eightfold fragrant garland adorned with the seven treasures from his body and presented it to Po-li. The sea god escorted him safely back to the country of Śrāvastī. He brought this fragrant garland and presented it to King Prasenajit, reporting fully the circumstances: "Considering that this fragrant garland is not something a humble person should wear, I respectfully offer it, hoping it will be accepted." The king obtained the fragrant garland and considered it wondrous; he immediately called all his consorts to line up before him, saying: "I will give the fragrant garland to whichever of you is the most beautiful." The sixty thousand consorts all adorned themselves and came out. The king asked: "Why has Lady Mallikā not come out?" The attendants replied, saying: "Today is the fifteenth day, and she is observing the poṣadha of the Buddha's Dharma, wearing plain clothes without adornment; therefore she has not come out." The king was angered, and sent a person to summon her, saying: "Even though you are observing the poṣadha, should you disobey the king's command?" After this was repeated three times, Lady Mallikā came out in plain clothes among the crowd, like the sun or moon, twice as beautiful as usual. The king was awed and felt added respect, asking: "What Way and virtue do you possess, that you are so strikingly radiant and distinct?" The lady addressed the king: "I reflect that I have little merit and have received this female form; my defilements and passions pile up day and night like mountains, and human life is short, so I fear falling into the three bad destinies. Therefore, on the sun and moon [poṣadha days] I uphold the poṣadha of the Buddha's Dharma, cutting off attachments to follow the Way, to receive blessings lifetime after lifetime." Hearing this, the king rejoiced, and offered the fragrant garland to Lady Mallikā. The lady replied, saying: "Today I am observing the poṣadha and should not wear this; it may be given to someone else." The king said: "My original intention was to give it to the most superior. You are now the most superior, and furthermore you uphold the poṣadha of the Dharma, with an exceptionally lofty aspiration for the Way; therefore I give it to you. If you will not accept it, where shall I place it?" The lady replied, saying: "Great King, do not worry! I hope the king will deign to go together to the Buddha's place, present this fragrant garland to the Bhagavat, and receive the sage's instructions; this will bring blessings for kalpas to come." The king then assented, immediately ordered his carriages prepared, and went to the Buddha's place. Bowing his head to the ground, he stepped back to his royal seat. The king addressed the Buddha, saying: "The sea god's fragrant garland was presented by Po-li. The sixty thousand consorts all coveted it, but Lady Mallikā did not take it when offered. Upholding the poṣadha of the Buddha's Dharma, her mind is free from greed. I respectfully offer it to the Buddha, wishing that you deign to accept it. When a disciple of the Bhagavat holds the mind to protect the poṣadha with such upright faith, is there indeed merit in it?"