雜譬喻經 1.78

1.78

In the past, there was a king who deeply understood sin and merit and believed in retribution. He was constantly fond of dāna and did not go against people's wishes; his fame spread far in the four directions and none had not heard of him. At that time, a neighboring territory raised an army to attack his kingdom. The king reflected to himself: 'If I go out to fight, there will surely be harm and injury. I would rather lose my own life than bring wrongful harm upon the common people.' That army had already arrived and entered through the eastern gate of the city; the king then went out through the western gate, fleeing all alone to the forests and wilderness. At that time, a brāhmaṇa came from a distant land, and his route took him through the forest, where he encountered this king. Thereupon, the two exchanged greetings. The king asked the brāhmaṇa: 'Where have you come from, and where do you wish to go?' The brāhmaṇa said: 'I heard that the king of such-and-such a kingdom has an intention fond of dāna and does not go against people's wishes. Therefore I have come from afar wishing to seek something.' The king then answered: 'The one of whom you speak is my very self.' When the brāhmaṇa heard this, he was astonished and immediately asked the king: 'How is it that Your Majesty is like this now?' The king then told the brāhmaṇa the entire situation. Hearing this, the brāhmaṇa threw himself to the ground, fainted, and seemed dead for a long time. The king immediately supported him, sprinkled him with water, and only then did he revive. The king asked him: 'Why are you like this?' The brāhmaṇa said: 'From the past, I have been poor and destitute, lacking wealth. Therefore I came from afar wishing to beg for wealth and jewels. How could it be that today I encounter Your Majesty like this? Therefore I was so distressed that I could not bear it.' The king then comforted the brāhmaṇa: 'Do not sorrow or worry; I shall cause you to obtain great wealth and jewels. Although that other king has taken my kingdom, he has not captured my person. He has proclaimed an edict to distant regions, offering a very heavy bounty. You may bind my body and deliver me to the king's gate; that king will be delighted and will surely reward you richly.' Thereupon, the brāhmaṇa did as he said: he bound the king's two hands with a grass rope and delivered him to the king's gate. When the gatekeepers saw this, they swiftly entered and reported to their king. The king was astonished and pleased upon hearing it, and immediately ordered them to bring him forward. The gate guards then led the captured king and the brāhmaṇa before the king's seat. The king asked the brāhmaṇa: 'What art do you have that you were able to bring this man?' The brāhmaṇa answered: 'I have no other art. When this man was originally king, his intention was fond of dāna; therefore I came from afar wishing to beg for something. Encountering him among the forest trees, he asked me: "Where do you wish to go?" Then I answered: "I wish to go to the place of the king of such-and-such a country." He answered me: "The king of that country is my very self." Hearing these words, I immediately fainted and died, completely unconscious. He supported me, sprinkled me with water, and again asked me: "Why did you come here?" I answered: "Because I did not practice dāna in past lives, I was born poor in this life. Therefore I came from afar wishing to beg for wealth and jewels; because my original wish was not fulfilled, I was naturally distressed." He consoled me, saying: "Do not give rise to troubled thoughts; I shall supply what you need with my own person." He then told me: "You may take a rope, bind my two arms, and deliver me to the king's gate; that king will naturally bestow a reward upon you."' When the king heard the brāhmaṇa's words, tears immediately flowed. Leaving his mat, he stepped down from his seat and said to the original king: 'You are a true king of men; I am a bandit.' Thereupon he withdrew the troops he led and returned to his original state. The former king was restored to his throne and his decrees were carried out as before. This illustrates that when the bodhisattva was originally an ordinary person, the supreme virtue he practiced was like this. If anyone writes down and upholds the scriptural scrolls with a sincere mind such as this, gods and evil people will ultimately find no advantage over them.