Udanavarga 2.61

2.61

昔有一國名曰賢提，時有長老比丘，長病委頓羸瘦垢穢，在賢提精舍中臥，無瞻視者。佛將五百比丘往至其所，使諸比丘傳共視之，為作糜粥，而諸比丘聞其臭處皆共賤之。佛使天帝釋取湯水，佛以金剛之手洗病比丘身體，地尋震動㸌然大明，莫不驚肅。國王臣民天龍鬼神無央數人，往到佛所稽首作禮白佛言：「佛為世尊，三界無比道德已備，云何屈意洗此病瘦垢穢比丘？」佛告國王及眾會者：「如來所以出現於世，正為此窮厄無護者耳。供養病瘦沙門道士及諸貧窮孤獨老人，其福無量、所願如意，譬五河流福來如是，功德漸滿會當得道。」王白佛言：「今此比丘宿有何罪，困病積年療治不差？」佛告王曰：「往昔有王名曰惡行，治政嚴暴，使一多力五百主令鞭人。五百假王威怒私作寒熱，若欲鞭人責其價數，得物鞭輕不得鞭重，舉國患之。有一賢者為人所誣，應當得鞭，報五百言：『吾是佛弟子，素無罪過，為人所抂，願小垂恕。』五百聞是佛弟子，輕手過鞭無著身者。五百壽終墮地獄中，考掠萬毒罪滅復出，墮畜生中恒被撾杖五百餘世，罪畢為人，常嬰重病痛不離身。爾時國王者，今調達是也；時五百者，今此病比丘是也；時賢者者，吾身是也。吾以前世為其所恕鞭不著身，是故世尊躬為洗之。人作善惡殃福隨身，雖更生死不可得免。」

In days gone by there was a country called Kin-tai (Gandhāra?), in which was a very old mendicant afflicted with a very loathsome disease, which caused him to pollute every place he occupied. Being in a certain Vihāra belonging to the place, no one would come near him or help him in his distress. On this Buddha came with his 500 followers, and obtaining all sorts of necessary utensils and warm water, they together visited the place where the old mendicant lay. The smell in the place was so offensive that all the Bhikshus were filled with contempt for the man: but the World-honoured causing Śakra-deva to bring the warm water, then with his own hand (diamond hand) began to wash the body of the mendicant and attend to his maladies. Then the earth shook, and the whole place was filled with a supernatural light, so that the King and his ministers, and all the heavenly host (Devas, Nāgas, etc.) flocked to the place, and paid adoration to Buddha. Having done so, they all addressed the World-honoured, and inquired how one so highly exalted could lower himself to such offices as these, on which Buddha explained the matter thus:

“The purpose of Tathāgata in coming into the world is to befriend these poor and helpless and unprotected—to nourish those in bodily affliction, whether they be Shamans or men of any other religion (Tao-sse)—to help the impoverished, the orphan, and the aged—and by so doing, and persuading others so to do, the consequent merit is so great that all his former vows are hereby accomplished, and he attains the great goal of all life, as the five rivers when they are lost in the sea.”

The King then asked as to the former condition of this old mendicant, and why he was born to so sad a lot, to whom Buddha replied:

“In days gone by there was a king called Evil-conduct (Pāpakamma?), who governed his subjects with tyranny and oppression. He used to send out his officers to afflict the people, and with cruel lashes to extort from them all they could get. There was a certain man of eminence about to be whipped, when he begged for mercy as he was a disciple of Buddha. On this the officer laid the whip lightly on him; but, nevertheless, because of his evil deeds he was afterwards born in hell, and repeatedly as a beast, and at last as a man, but always miserably diseased. Now at that time the King was Devadatta, the executioner was this diseased monk, and the eminent man was myself; but because I was the one who begged for mercy, my lot is now to help this wretched man, as he had mercy on me.”