法華傳記 9.48

9.48

In Xiangzhou there was an upāsaka whose family was very wealthy and noble. He took two women as wives. The first wife was compassionate, kind, and yielding; she especially upheld the Devadatta Chapter of the Lotus Sūtra without neglect day or night. The second wife harbored intense jealousy and constantly watched for the first wife's faults. While the first wife was out, she went into the first wife's quarters, became enraged, and stepped on the scripture with her right foot. She then returned to her bedroom, suffered a headache for three days, and only then died. Above her heart, a little warmth remained. Her family despised her jealousy and did not encoffin her for burial. After one day and one night, she revived. Weeping sorrowfully and repenting her faults, she said to the first wife: 'Because of my foolish jealousy toward you, I mistakenly stepped on the sūtra you uphold. I was rebuked by King Yama, and two messenger officials drove me before the king, where my evil deeds were admonished. On the sole of my foot, there were golden characters. Seeing this, the king rejoiced and said: "These are characters from the Devadatta Chapter of the Lotus Sūtra. Because you stepped on the text of the scripture with your right foot, the characters transferred to your foot to save you. You have contrarily received benefit; therefore the verification is proven!" By this cause and condition I was pardoned and revived. Just as one falls to the ground and must rely on the ground to rise, I now repent before you, not dwelling on past evil.' She subsequently left home to become a nun, and it is unknown where she ended her days.