大方便佛報恩經 5.38

5.38

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.'"