釋迦譜 3.24

3.24

King Aśoka's younger brother was named Shanrong (also named Weituoshouqi). He entered the mountains to go hunting and saw various brāhmaṇas naked and exposed, seeking the status of divine immortals: some eating tree leaves, some inhaling wind and ingesting breath, some lying in ashes and dirt, and some lying on thorns and brambles, performing sundry austerities to seek the blessings of Brahmā, wearying their shapes and tormenting their bodies without obtaining anything. The king's younger brother saw them and asked: "In practicing the Way here, what troubles or burdens do you have that nothing is accomplished?" The brāhmaṇas replied: "Because there are herds of deer frequently mating together; when I see them, my mind is stirred and I cannot restrain myself." Having heard this, the prince immediately gave rise to an evil thought: "These brāhmaṇas ingest wind; though their strength is feeble, they still have lustful desire and have not removed their afflictions. The śramaṇas, sons of the Śākya, eat delicious food and sit on fine couches; their clothing is attuned to the seasons, and fragrant flowers perfume them—how could they be free of desire?" When Aśoka heard that his younger brother held such a view, he was immediately filled with sorrow and grief: "I have only this one younger brother; suddenly he has given rise to wrong views, and I fear he will be lost forever. I must find a suitable means to remove his evil thoughts." He immediately returned to the palace and ordered all the singing girls each to adorn themselves and go to Shanrong's quarters to make merry together. He gave advance instructions to his great ministers: "I have an intention: if I order you to kill Shanrong, you must remonstrate with me and wait seven days before killing him according to the king's order." At that time, the singing girls went to make merry. Before a moment had passed, the king went in person and spoke to his younger brother: "Prince, why have you taken my singing girls, wives, and concubines to amuse yourself at will?" Arousing his awesome wrath, he hurled a wheel into the sky, summoned the great ministers, and announced to them: "Do you know? I am not decrepit and old, nor are there foreign invaders or strong enemies encroaching on our borders. I have also heard that the wise of old had this proverb: 'When a man has merit and fortune, the four seas submit to him; when his merit is exhausted and his virtue slight, those close at hand rebel.' As I examine myself, there has been no such change. Yet my younger brother Shanrong has seduced my singing girls, wives, and concubines, indulging his passions at will. Now that this matter is exposed, does he still think of me? Take him away to the marketplace and execute him!" The ministers remonstrated, saying: "We only pray that the Great King hear our humble words: now the king has only this one younger brother, and he has few offspring with no heir to succeed him. We pray that you grant seven days before carrying out the king's order." At that time, the king remained silent and granted the ministers' remonstrance. The king again showed broad benevolence and commanded the ministers: "I order that the prince be permitted to wear my robes and ornaments, with a celestial crown and dignified appearance no different from mine; let him enter my palace, make music with the performers and singing girls, and be amused together." He also commanded an official: "Starting today, don armor, hold a weapon, draw a sharp sword, go to Prince Shanrong, and say: 'Do you know? Your limit is seven days, after which it will indeed arrive. You must strive to indulge in the five desires and amuse yourself; if you do not gratify yourself now, you will have regrets after death, and remorse will be useless.'" After one day passed, the official again went and said: "There are six days remaining." In this manner in succession, up to the seventh day, the official went and addressed him: "Prince, you should know that six days have passed, and only tomorrow remains; you must go to your death. Strive to indulge your passions in the five desires and amuse yourself." When the seventh day arrived, the king sent an envoy to ask: "How was it? During the seven days, was the prince's will free, and was he happy?" The younger brother replied to the king: "Great King, you should know: having neither seen nor heard anything, what happiness was there?" The king asked his younger brother: "Wearing my robes and ornaments, entering my palace, being amused by the multitude of courtesans, and eating delicious food—why do you deceive me to my face, saying you neither saw nor heard anything and were not happy?" The younger brother addressed the king, saying: "A man condemned to die, though his life has not yet ended, how is he different from the dead? What passion could he have to cling to the five desires?" The king addressed his younger brother: "Alas, what folly you expressed! Now, with your single body having a hundred kinds of anxiety, facing the annihilation of this single body, you took no pleasure in desire. How much more so for the śramaṇas, sons of the Śākya, who are anxious over the three times! When this single body dies and disintegrates, they will take another body through hundreds of millions of lifetimes, suffering pain and measureless afflictions body after body. Even if they are reborn as humans, they serve as running servants to others, or are born into poor households, destitute of food and clothing. Thinking on such bitterness, they leave the household for the Way, seeking the essential truth of non-action that transcends the world. If they are not diligent and energetic, they will again undergo the suffering of kalpas." At that time, the prince's mind opened and his intent was unburdened. Stepping forward, he addressed the king: "Now hearing the king's instruction, I have gained awakening. Birth, old age, sickness, and death are truly to be reviled; grief, sorrow, pain, and vexation revolve without ceasing. I only pray that the Great King permit me to practice the Way and carefully cultivate it." The king addressed his younger brother: "You should know that now is the time." The younger brother thereupon took leave of the king, left the household to become a śramaṇa, upheld the prohibitive precepts, and was diligent day and night; he consequently attained the fruit of an arhat, his six supernormal knowledges clear, unobstructed, and without impediment. The Record of King Aśoka says: When King Aśoka heard that his younger brother had attained the Way, his heart was deeply delighted. He bowed his head in homage, requesting to provide offerings to him constantly. Having grown weary of worldly suffering and taking no joy in the human realm, [the brother] vowed to rely on the forest and wilderness to nourish his remaining life. King Aśoka then had ghosts and spirits construct mountains and streams within the city, the mountains several tens of zhang high, cutting off outside persons so they could not come and go. [The brother] then, complying with the king's request, gave away all his robes and belongings, and created a stone image sixteen feet high, which he worshipped in a mountain niche and stone chamber. This mountain and the image both exist to this day.