大方便佛報恩經 5.38

5.38

復次，如來方便慈善根力不可思議。爾時流離王伐舍維國，毀害諸釋種已，選諸釋女，擇取端正，才能過人，各無數伎，取五百人，前後圍遶，作倡伎樂，還歸本國。夫人婇女昇正殿上，結加趺坐，告大眾言：「我今快樂，稱善無量。」時諸釋女問流離王言：「汝今云何快樂？」答言：「我得勝怨。」諸釋女言：「汝不得勝。假使汝國一切四兵不敵於我釋種一人，然我釋種是佛弟子，不與物諍，令汝得勝。若起惡者，汝前後三四起兵向舍維國，而常退縮。汝第一往時，我諸釋種而作是言：『此流離王不識恩分，反生惡逆。若我等與彼戰者，賢愚不別，皂白不明。我等今者，宜應恐怖，令彼退散。』即立誓令：『今者，諸人齊共射之，令箭莫傷。』即起四兵往逆流離，去四十里，挽弓射之，箭箭相續，筈筈相拄。時流離王見是事已，即懷恐怖，退還歸去。過九十日，復起四兵伐諸釋種。爾時諸釋尋共議言：『流離惡人不知慙愧，而復更來，欲相危害。』爾時諸釋復立誓限：『今日諸人齊共射鎧，莫令傷人。』時諸釋種齊共射之，悉令諸人所著鎧仗，鉀鉀斷壞，裸身而住。時流離王心懷怖懼，即集諸臣而共議言：『我等今者恐不全濟。』中有第一大臣白大王言：『是諸釋種皆佛弟子，持不殺戒，修行慈悲。若不爾者，我等身命，久已殞滅。』王言：『審如是者，更可前進。』

Furthermore, the power of the Tathāgata's upāya and root of benevolence is inconceivable. At that time, King Virūḍhaka attacked the country of Śrāvastī, and after destroying and harming the Śākya clan, he selected the Śākyan women, choosing five hundred who were beautiful, surpassing in talent, and skilled in countless arts. Surrounded before and behind, with musicians performing, he returned to his own country. With his queen and palace women, he ascended the main hall, sat cross-legged, and announced to the great assembly: "I am joyful today, praising goodness without measure." Then the Śākyan women asked King Virūḍhaka: "Why are you joyful today?" He answered: "I have conquered my enemies." The Śākyan women said: "You have not conquered. Even if your country's entire fourfold army were assembled, it could not match a single one of our Śākyas. Yet because our Śākya clan are disciples of the Buddha, we do not contend with living beings, which is what allowed you to win. If we had raised malice—you raised troops three or four times against Śrāvastī, yet you always retreated. When you first came, our Śākya clan said: 'This King Virūḍhaka does not recognize kindness and instead gives rise to wicked rebellion. If we fight with them, the wise and the foolish will not be distinguished, and black and white will not be clear. We should now terrify them and cause them to disperse in retreat.' They then made a pact: 'Now, let all shoot together, but let no arrow cause injury.' They then raised the fourfold army to go meet Virūḍhaka. Forty li away, they drew their bows and shot at them, arrow after arrow in succession, nock touching nock. When King Virūḍhaka saw this, he became terrified and retreated home. After ninety days, he again raised the fourfold army to attack the Śākya clan. Then the Śākyas again conferred together: 'Virūḍhaka is an evil man who knows no shame; he has come again wishing to harm us.' The Śākyas then made another covenant: 'Today, let all shoot at their armor together, and let no one be harmed.' The Śākyas shot together, causing the armor worn by all the men to be shattered piece by piece, leaving them standing naked. At that time, King Virūḍhaka was terrified; he assembled all his ministers and conferred with them: 'I fear we shall not escape whole today.' Among them, the prime minister addressed the great king: 'These Śākyas are all disciples of the Buddha; they uphold the precept against killing and cultivate benevolence and compassion. Were it not so, our lives would have perished long ago.' The king said: 'If it is truly so, we may advance further.'"