大方便佛報恩經 2.55

2.55

The Buddha said: "Good man, in the far distant past, during saṃsāra of incalculable kalpas, at that time because of heavy afflictions I gave rise to the karma of body, speech, and mind, and so fell into the eight great hells, namely: the Ahaha Hell, the Ababa Hell, the Aṭaṭa Hell, the Copper Cauldron and Great Copper Cauldron [Hells], the Black Stone and Great Black Stone [Hells], up to the Fire Cart Hell. At that time, I fell into the Fire Cart Hell, pulling a fire cart alongside two other people. The ox-headed Apāṅga sat upon the cart, his lips sealed, gnashing his teeth, his eyes wide as he blew fire; from his mouth, eyes, ears, and nose, smoke and flames arose together. His body was extraordinarily large, his arms and legs twisted and muscular, his color reddish-black; in his hand he held an iron rod, with which he whipped them as they moved. In agonizing pain at that time, I pulled the cart with all my might, exerting myself to advance. My companions, however, were weak and had little strength, lagging behind in their weakness. Thereupon the ox-headed Apāṅga pierced their bellies with an iron fork and whipped their backs with an iron rod, so that their blood poured forth as if bathing them, flowing over their bodies. Those people were in severe pain, screaming loudly; the pain being unbearable, some called out to their parents, and some to their wives and children. Although they cried out like this, it was of no benefit to them. Seeing this at that time, witnessing their great suffering and distress, pity arose in my heart; because loving-kindness arose, I generated the bodhimind. For the sake of these sinners, I pleaded with the ox-headed Apāṅga: 'These sinners are truly pitiable. Show them a little pity, and extend your loving-kindness and compassion.' When the ox-headed Apāṅga heard this, rage arose in his heart, and he immediately thrust his iron fork forward into my neck. I died at that very moment, and was immediately freed from the sins of a hundred kalpas in the Fire Cart Hell. Because I generated the mind of anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi, I was freed from the sins of the Fire Cart Hell."