Udanavarga 3.22

3.22

昔有婆羅門國王名多味寫，其王奉事異道九十六種。王忽一日發於善心欲大布施，如婆羅門法，積七寶如山持用布施，有來乞者，聽令自取重一撮去，如是數日其積不減。佛知是王宿福應度，化作梵志往到其國。王出相見共相禮，問起居曰：「何所求索？莫自疑難。」梵志答言：「吾從遠來，欲乞珍寶持作舍宅。」王言：「大善！自取重一撮去。」梵志取一撮行七步，還著故處。王問：「何故不取？」梵志答曰：「此纔足作舍廬耳，復當娶婦，俱不足用，是以不取。」王言：「更取三撮。」梵志即取？行七步復還著故處。王問梵志：「何以復爾？」答曰：「此足娶婦，復無田地奴婢牛馬，計復不足，是以息意也。」王言：「更取七撮。」梵志即取行七步，復還著故處。王言：「復何意故？」梵志答言：「若有男女當復嫁娶，吉凶用費計不足用，是以不取。」王言：「盡以積寶持用相上。」梵志受而捨去。王甚怪之重問意故？梵志答曰：「本來乞丐欲用生活，諦念人命處世無幾，萬物無常旦夕難保，因緣遂重憂苦日深，積寶如山無益於己，貪欲規圖唐自艱苦，不如息意求無為道，是以不取。」王意開解願奉明教。於是梵志現佛光相，踊住空中，為說偈言：

In days of old there was a certain Brahman King, whose name was To-mi-seay (Dhamasa?). It came into the heart of this King one day to distribute, according to the fashion of the Brahmans, an unlimited quantity of precious stones, etc., among the followers of his faith, the rule being that every Brahmachārin who came as a recipient (beggar) might take a handful from the heap and go. And so for many days the affair was conducted; and yet the pile of wealth did not appear to diminish. On this, Buddha, knowing the condition of the King, and his aptitude (capacity) for conversion, transformed himself into a Brahmachārin, and went to the spot. The King going out from his palace, when he beheld him approaching, paid him due respect, and conducting him within, inquired what he would desire to receive, and requested him to have no reserve in asking. On this the Brahmachārin replied, “I have come from far, and I desire to beg a few jewels, that I may have enough to build me a house.” The King immediately answered, “Most virtuous sir, you may take a handful, and welcome.” On this the Brahmachārin took so much from the heap, and then having gone seven paces, he returned and replaced them on the heap. On this the King inquired why he acted thus, in not taking the jewels. Whereupon the Brahmachārin replied, “This handful is indeed enough to enable me to build a house; but afterwards I shall want to take a wife, and for that purpose this handful is not sufficient.” On this the King bade him take three handfuls, and welcome. Having done so, and gone seven paces, again he returned and replaced the jewels on the heap. Whereupon the King once more inquired his reason for so doing, to which he replied, “These might be enough to provide me with house and wife, but then I shall have to buy slaves and oxen and horses, and for this purpose the three handfuls are not sufficient.” On this the King said, “Take then seven handfuls, and welcome.” The Brahmachārin having done so, and gone seven paces, again returned and did as before, saying that these seven handfuls, though enough for the purpose assigned, would yet not suffice for the maintenance and welfare of his children. On this the King bade him take the whole heap of jewels, and use them for the purposes named. Accordingly the Brahmachārin did so, and departed. On this the King, astonished, cried out to him in a loud voice what his reason for so acting might be? To which the man replied, that those who begged sought only things for the present life; whilst those who thought, found out the instability and impermanence of all worldly things, and the ever-accumulating mass of sorrow and pain that resulted from a worldly life. And on this, resuming his own glorious body as Buddha, he added these stanzas :—