大方便佛報恩經 7.4

7.4

「爾時婆羅門子聞此語已，譬如人噎，既不得咽，又不得吐。欲告語伴，懼畏諸伴害此一人，若害此人，懼畏諸伴沒三惡道，受無量苦；若默然者，賊當害伴，若殺諸伴，賊墮三惡道，受無量苦。作是念已：『我當設大方便，利益眾生，不自為己。三惡道苦，是我所宜。』思惟是已，即便持刀斷此賊命，使諸同伴安隱無為。爾時眾伴異口同音而作是言：『大婆羅門子！卿是勝人，亦是純善之人，云何今日作此大惡？』爾時婆羅門子，胡跪合掌，心生慙愧：『而我今日不應作惡，為利眾生及諸同伴。』爾時眾伴復作是言：『汝自殺人，於我何益？』答眾人言：『此是惡賊，欲謀害眾伴。為是伴故，斷此人命，令伴安隱還家。而我罪報，甘受地獄。』爾時五百伴人舉聲大哭，悲喜交集，而作是言：『天下所重無過於命，所畏無過於死。所以然者，一切眾生皆捨金銀、珍寶、國城、妻子、衣服、飲食為救身命，我等眾伴便為更生。』作是語已，『此婆羅門子為眾生故，不辭眾苦及三惡報。我等今日當念重恩。報重恩者，今當速發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。』作是語已，即令發心。

"At that time, when the brāhmaṇa youth heard these words, he was like a choking person who could neither swallow nor spit it out. If he wished to inform his companions, he feared that they would kill this one man, and if they killed him, he feared his companions would sink into the three evil paths and suffer immeasurable pain; if he remained silent, the bandits would kill his companions, and if they killed his companions, the bandits would fall into the three evil paths and suffer immeasurable pain. Having reflected thus, [he thought:] 'I must devise a great upāya to benefit sentient beings and not act for myself. The suffering of the three evil paths is what I should bear.' Having contemplated this, he immediately took a knife and cut off this bandit's life, causing all his companions to be safe and at peace. At that time, the multitude of companions said with one voice: 'Great brāhmaṇa youth! You are a superior person, a person of pure goodness; how could you commit such a great evil today?' Then the brāhmaṇa youth knelt on his right knee, joined his palms, and felt shame and remorse in his heart, [saying:] 'Indeed I should not have committed an evil today, [yet it was] to benefit sentient beings and all my companions.' Then the companions spoke again, saying: 'You killed a man on your own; what benefit is that to us?' He answered the multitude, saying: 'This was an evil bandit plotting to harm the companions. For the sake of you companions, I took this man's life so that you companions could return home safely. As for my karmic retribution, I willingly accept hell.' Then the five hundred companions wailed loudly, feeling both sorrow and joy, and said: 'In the world there is nothing heavier than life, and nothing feared more than death. Why is this so? All sentient beings will abandon gold, silver, rare gems, kingdoms, cities, wives, children, clothing, and food to save their lives. We companions have indeed been reborn!' Having said these words, [they thought:] 'For the sake of sentient beings, this brāhmaṇa youth did not refuse all sufferings and retribution in the three evil paths. Today we must remember this great kindness. To repay this great kindness, we should now swiftly give rise to the mind of anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi.' Having said these words, they forthwith aroused the mind [of bodhi].