維摩義記 3.75

3.75

自下第二明救苦行。有其六偈：初之四偈救濟人苦，後之兩偈救惡道苦。前四偈中初之三偈，於三劫時能救物苦。內劫有三，所謂飢饉、疾病、刀兵，事如經說。人壽漸短至十歲時，飢饉劫起，七年七月七日之頃，五穀不熟，人民死盡，希在一二。度是已後，人相慈愛。以慈善故，人壽轉長至八萬四千歲，樂極憍恣，人壽退減，還至十歲復飢饉起，凡𨒬七反。過七飢已疫病劫起，於其七月七日之中，惡氣流行遇者皆死，度是還長。復𨒬七飢，還一疫病。如是𨒬過七七飢劫、一七疫病，復𨒬七飢，然後有一刀兵劫起。人心極惡，手攬草木皆成刀劍，共相殘害，七日都盡，希在一二而得免脫。三劫如是。菩薩能於此三劫時救濟物苦，初救疫病、次救飢饉、後救刀兵，文皆可知。第四一偈餘時救苦。餘時亦五，救飢、病、刀兵苦。「若有大戰立等力」者，二國相征，齊立兵刀，不相臣屬。菩薩爾時現大威勢，降伏二家皆使和安。前救人苦，下救地獄，後救畜生。亦救餓鬼，文略不說。此之六偈明救苦行。

From here below, the second part clarifies practices of rescuing from suffering. There are six verses: the first four verses rescue human suffering, and the latter two verses rescue suffering in the evil destinies. Within the first four verses, the first three verses can rescue the suffering of beings at the time of the three eons. The internal eons are three, namely famine, pestilence, and warfare, as explained in the sūtras. When human lifespan gradually decreases to ten years, the eon of famine arises: for seven years, seven months, and seven days, the five grains do not ripen, the populace dies out entirely, and scarcely one or two remain. After passing through this, people regard one another with loving-kindness. Because of loving-kindness, the human lifespan grows longer, reaching 84,000 years; when pleasure reaches its peak they become arrogant and unrestrained, the human lifespan declines and decreases, returning to ten years, and famine arises again, cycling in total through seven recurrences. After the seven famines have passed, an eon of pestilence arises: during seven months and seven days, noxious vapors circulate and all who encounter them die; passing through this, [lifespan] lengthens again. There are again seven famines, and again one pestilence. Cycling through seven times seven eons of famine and one cycle of seven pestilences in this way, there are again seven famines, and then an eon of warfare arises. The human mind becomes extremely wicked: whatever grass or trees they grasp in hand all become swords and knives, and they mutually slaughter one another; after seven days they are entirely wiped out, with scarcely one or two escaping. The three eons are like this. The bodhisattva is able to rescue beings from suffering at the time of these three eons: first rescuing from pestilence, next rescuing from famine, and later rescuing from warfare, which are all evident from the text. The fourth single verse is rescuing from suffering at other times. Other times also have five [types], rescuing from the suffering of famine, sickness, and warfare. “If there is a great battle, establishing equal strength” means two nations warring against each other, arraying weapons equally, neither submitting to the other. The bodhisattva at that time manifests great power and prestige, subduing both sides and making them harmonious and tranquil. The previous rescued human suffering; below he rescues [beings in] hell, and later rescues animals. He also rescues hungry ghosts, but the text is abbreviated and does not mention it. These six verses clarify the practice of rescuing from suffering.