大方便佛報恩經 5.16

5.16

“At that time the great king went into the palace and announced to his consorts: ‘All affection and love in the world must end in separation; what is born must die, and what succeeds must fail; things sprout in spring and naturally wither in autumn and winter.’ When the consorts and the crown prince heard these words, it was as if someone were choking, unable to swallow and unable to vomit: ‘Great King! Now, for what reason do you speak such words?’ The king said: ‘A brāhmaṇa has come from afar wishing to beg for my head. I have already promised it to him.’ When the consorts and the crown prince heard these words, they threw their bodies to the ground, wailed aloud, tore out their hair, tore their clothing to shreds, and spoke thus: ‘Great King! Nothing under heaven is more precious than one’s own body; why today do you give up what is difficult to give up and offer it to another?’ Then five hundred ministers said to the brāhmaṇa: ‘What use do you have for this foul, rotting head of pus and blood?’ The brāhmaṇa said: ‘I am begging for my own purpose; why do you question me?’ The ministers said: ‘You have entered our country; we ought to question you, and you ought to answer us.’ The brāhmaṇa, just as he was about to answer truthfully, felt terror in his heart, fearing that the ministers would cut off his life. Then the five hundred ministers said to the brāhmaṇa: ‘Do not be afraid. We now grant you fearlessness for the sake of the great king. Poor brāhmaṇa, what urgent need have you for this head of pus and blood? Each of us five hundred shall make a head of the seven treasures, exchange them with you, and also give you what you need, so that for seven lifetimes you will lack for nothing.’ The brāhmaṇa said: ‘I have no use for them.’ When the ministers did not obtain what they wished, anguish arose in their hearts, and weeping bitterly aloud, they addressed the great king: ‘Great King! How can you bear to cast away this land, the people, the consorts, and the crown prince, and forever abandon and turn your back on us for the sake of a single brāhmaṇa?’ The king said: ‘It is now for your sake and for the sake of all sentient beings that I give my body in charity.’ When the prime minister heard that the king was resolved and determined to give his body to the brāhmaṇa, he thought to himself: ‘How could I bear to see the great king cast away his body and life?’ Having thought this, he went into a quiet room and took his own life with a knife.