大方便佛報恩經 7.11

7.11

佛告釋提桓因及諸天人大眾：「汝等善聽！當為汝說宿世之事。釋提桓因！乃往過去無量阿僧祇劫，爾時有王，惡逆無道，非理壓伏，逼奪取財。爾時惡王與一五百，深心相知，密共要言：『若當有人犯官事者，汝當苦治，威恩隨汝。若得財賄，與我共之。』爾時五百常行鞭杖，得財多者，便令不著；若無財者，或致失命，以此為常。時有優婆塞犯小官事，將付五百，應受鞭楚。聞是優婆塞是好善人，便令無著於楚毒中，而得脫難。以是因緣，歡喜無量。憍尸迦！當知爾時五百者，今病比丘是；優婆塞者，今我身是。是故菩薩於無量阿僧祇劫輕恩重報，乃至正覺心常不忘。」

The Buddha said to Śakra Devānām Indra and the great assembly of devas and humans: 'Listen well! I shall explain to you the events of past lives. Śakra Devānām Indra! In the past, immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas ago, there was a king who was wicked, perverse, and unprincipled, who unreasonably oppressed [his people] and extorted their wealth. At that time the wicked king was deeply acquainted with an executioner and made a secret pact with him, saying: "Whenever someone violates official matters, you must severely punish them; the authority and mercy will be up to you. If you obtain wealth and bribes, share them with me." At that time, this executioner constantly administered the whip and rod. If someone gave him much wealth, he would cause them not to be struck; if someone had no wealth, they might even lose their life. He made this a regular practice. Then there was an upāsaka who committed a minor official offense and was handed over to the executioner to receive flogging. Hearing that this upāsaka was a good and virtuous person, [the executioner] caused him not to be struck amidst the torture, and so he escaped disaster. Because of this cause and condition, he rejoiced immeasurably. Kauśika! You should know that the executioner of that time was this sick bhikṣu; the upāsaka was my very person. Therefore, through immeasurable asaṃkhyeya kalpas, the bodhisattva repays slight kindness with great [recompense], and never forgets it in his heart right up to perfect awakening.'