俱舍論疏 18.40

18.40

The Śāstra states: "If so, then a metaphorical text says... killing a father and slaying an arhat", citing an Avadāna-sūtra to raise an objection. While the Buddha was in the world, in a country of South India there was a king who entrusted the kingdom to the crown prince Śikhaṇḍin and went to Śrāvastī to take refuge in the Buddha, go forth, and attain arhatship. The crown prince was unprincipled, practicing exclusively what was unlawful and tyrannizing the common people. An old, veteran minister went to the father king and recounted the above events in full, requesting the king to return to his country to instruct and admonish the crown prince. The father king granted the request and returned to his home country. The crown prince's sycophantic minister feared being executed and flattered the prince, saying: 'The father king now wishes to return to usurp the crown prince's throne; please send an emissary to kill him on the road.' The crown prince accepted these flattering words and sent an emissary to kill him. The father king knew through the causes and conditions of karma that it was fitting for him to be killed by his son, and willingly accepted death. The Buddha, knowing this matter, sent a disciple to tell the crown prince Śikhaṇḍin: 'You have already committed two anantaryas, namely killing your father and slaying an arhat.' Śikhaṇḍin means 'topknot' in Chinese.