雜譬喻經 1.22

1.22

於是其父母召諸婆羅門，令循行國中，其有女子身體金色具足女相端正殊好，爾乃取之。於是諸婆羅門設權策鑄作金女神，顏貌端正光色微妙，舁天像行，從國至國高聲大唱：「諸有女人得見金女神禮拜供養者，後出嫁時當得好聟，體黃金色顏貌殊妙智慧無比。」聚落國邑諸有女人，聞此唱者莫不虛心，皆出奉迎禮拜供養。唯有一女軀體金色端正殊好，獨處閑室不肯出迎。諸女諫曰：「其有見金女神者皆得如願，汝何以獨不出迎？」答曰：「吾志閑淨，不好餘願也。」諸女復曰：「雖無所願，暫共一觀當復何損？」爾時諸女遂共此女出到金女神前。此女既到光色明淨，映奪金女神光金不復現。於是諸婆羅門見已，還報長者具足廣說。於是長者即遣媒人，到其女家宣長者意，其女父母先亦聞迦葉名，敬承往意遂相然可。彼女聞之甚大愁憒，父母所逼事不獲已，遂便適長者家。既到與迦葉相見，二人相對志各凝潔，雖為夫婦了無恩情。其婦遂與迦葉結誓：「我與君等，各處異房，要不相觸。」爾時夫婦各處一房，其父伺迦葉出時，密遣人壞去一房，唯令與婦共同一室，雖共同室而復異床。其父尋復遣人持一床去，於是夫婦雖共同床，其婦更與夫誓：「我若眠時君當經行，君眠時我當經行。」時其婦臥，一臂垂地，有大毒蛇欲來嚙之，迦葉見已有慈愍心，持衣裹手舉著床上。尋時驚覺，便大瞋怒語迦葉言：「我先有要，如何相犯？」迦葉報言：「汝臂落地，毒蛇欲嚙，是故相救，非故觸也。」毒蛇故在邊住，指而示之，其婦乃悟。於是夫婦自相與議：「我等何不出家修道？」時夫婦二人遂辭父母，俱共出家山澤行道。

Thereupon his parents summoned brahmans and ordered them to tour the country: only if there were a woman whose body was golden and endowed with matchless, exquisite beauty would they take her. The brahmans then devised a clever plan: they cast a golden goddess of beautiful countenance and wondrously subtle radiance, and carried the divine statue around, shouting aloud from country to country: "Any woman who sees the golden goddess, bows, and makes offerings shall obtain a fine husband when she marries, with a body of golden color, extraordinary countenance, and peerless wisdom!" Hearing this proclamation, not one woman in the villages, towns, and cities failed to set her heart upon it; all came out to welcome, bow, and make offerings. Only one woman, whose body was golden and exceedingly beautiful, remained alone in a quiet room, refusing to come out to welcome it. The other women advised her, "Anyone who sees the golden goddess has her wish granted; why do you alone not come out to welcome her?" She replied, "My aspiration is for quietude and purity; I have no fondness for other wishes." The women said further, "Even if you have no wish, what harm is there in taking a look together?" The women then took this woman along to the front of the golden goddess. When she arrived, her radiance was so bright and pure that it outshone the golden goddess, and the statue's gold no longer appeared [bright]. Seeing this, the brahmans returned and reported the matter in full to the śreṣṭhin. The śreṣṭhin then sent a matchmaker to the woman's home to declare his intentions. The woman's parents had previously heard of Kāśyapa's name, so they respectfully accepted the proposal and consented. Hearing this, the woman was filled with deep grief and confusion, but being pressured by her parents, she had no choice and was wed into the śreṣṭhin's household. When she arrived and met Kāśyapa, the two faced each other, each with aspirations of pristine purity; though husband and wife, they had no worldly affection at all. The wife then made a covenant with Kāśyapa: "You and I shall each live in separate rooms and pledge never to touch one another." The husband and wife then dwelt in separate rooms. Watching for when Kāśyapa was away, his father secretly sent people to tear down one room, forcing them to share a single chamber. Though they shared a single chamber, they still had separate beds. The father soon sent people to take away one bed. Husband and wife were now forced to share a single bed, so the wife made another pledge with her husband: "When I sleep, you shall do walking meditation; when you sleep, I shall do walking meditation." Once, while the wife was asleep, one of her arms hung down to the ground. A venomous serpent was about to bite it. Seeing this, Kāśyapa gave rise to a mind of compassion: wrapping his hand with clothing, he lifted [her arm] back onto the bed. She awoke with a start and, filled with anger, said to Kāśyapa, "We had an agreement; how could you violate it?" Kāśyapa answered, "Your arm had fallen to the ground and a venomous serpent was about to bite it. I saved you for that reason; I did not touch you deliberately." The venomous serpent was still lingering beside them; he pointed to show it to her, and the wife realized [the truth]. Thereupon husband and wife conferred together: "Why should we not leave home to cultivate the Way?" Husband and wife then took leave of their parents and together left home to practice the Way in the mountains and marshes.