分別功德論 5.13

5.13

As for why Kumārakāśyapa is praised as capable of variegated discourses: this monk constantly expounded the four noble truths to people, at times combining praises and drawing upon similes and analogies; for each truth there was a verse of praise drawing upon an analogy, and so on through the four truths, all likewise. Therefore, he is praised as foremost in variegated discourses. 'Kumāra' means youth; 'Kāśyapa' is the clan name. Kumārakāśyapa was indeed a maiden's son. How is this known? Formerly, there was a gṛhapati named Sudatta, whose wealth was boundless. In his family there was an unmarried daughter who was facing the fire at home; the warm vapor entered her body, and she thereupon became pregnant. Her parents were astonished and questioned her about the circumstances. The daughter answered truthfully: "I do not know why it happened." Her parents questioned her again, subjecting her to beatings, but her words did not change. The matter was then reported to the king. The king also interrogated her, and her words were no different; he sentenced her to death. The daughter then cried grievance, saying: "Can there be an unprincipled king in the world who unjustly executes the innocent? If I am unchaste, you may keep me under guard and test me. Why should I suffer such injustice!" The king investigated the duration, and it was just as the girl had said, without discrepancy. The king then said to her parents: "I wish to take her." The parents answered: "Take her as you please. What use have we for this doomed girl?" The king then took her into the palace and provided for her in accordance with the seasons. When the months and days were fulfilled, she gave birth to a boy, upright and handsome. When he grew up, he left home to study the Path. Intelligent and broadly accomplished, before long, through energetic diligence, he attained the path of an arhat and returned to deliver his parents. At that time, there was a king named Pāyāsi, who believed in wrong and inverted views. He did not know that in this life and future lives doing good yields merit and doing evil incurs calamity; he thought that upon death the spirit is annihilated and receives no further rebirth. He did not believe there was a Buddha, nor did he recognize nirvāṇa. He bound his belly with iron plates, fearing his wisdom would overflow, and boasted of his unmatched rule, considering himself without peer. At that time, Kumārakāśyapa went to his gate. When the king saw Kāśyapa's extraordinary attire, walking with calm composure and orderly deportment, the king engaged in debate with him. The king asked the śramaṇa: "The śramaṇa says: 'Doing good brings merit, doing evil brings calamity.'" The king said: "Now in my clan there was a person whose practice of goodness was most pure. When he was on the verge of death, I and several others went together to his side and said to him: 'According to your conduct, upon death you should be born in heaven. If you ascend to heaven, come back and tell me.' It has been a long time since he died, yet he has not come to tell me. By this I know that doing good brings no merit." The śramaṇa answered the king: "A wise person understands through an analogy. Suppose there is a man who falls into a cesspool of a hundred bushels. Someone pulls him out, washes him thoroughly, dresses him in fine clothes, perfumes his body with incense, and seats him upon a high couch. If someone says to this man: 'Go back into the privy,' would this man be willing to go in or not?" The king said: "He would not be willing." The monk said: "Those born in heaven are just like this. In heaven, there is joy and self-indulgence in the five desires; they take ambrosia as food, which naturally digests without the distress of excretion; their bodies are fragrant and clean, and their breath is sweet-scented. Looking down at the world, it is like pigs living in a sty. Even if they wished to come, smelling the stench, they would immediately turn back. In view of this, how could he come to inform you?" Through several dozen such analogies, the king's mind was opened, and he placed his faith in the Three Jewels. Through this circumstance, Kumārakāśyapa was foremost in variegated discourses.