[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [眾經撰雜譬喻](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208) › 1.12 # 眾經撰雜譬喻 1.12 眾經撰雜譬喻 1.12 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208.1.12) 貧窮之人割輟身口，持用布施其福無量。譬如往昔國王設會，諸佛及僧種種供養。時有一貧窮老母都無所有，常仰乞索以自活命。聞王請佛設會，心生歡喜意欲勸助，自惟無物，正有少豆欲勸助，而門人不聽前。於是佛見其善心，即以神力令此大豆遍墮眾食器之中。王見此豆即瞋厨兵：「何以使食中有此豆耶？」佛語王言：「非厨兵過也！乃是外貧窮老母所施。聞王設會無以勸助，持此少豆勸助於王，是以食中有此豆耳！」佛語大王：「此老母所施雖微，得福良多於大王。」王言：「何得多種種餚饍供養而得福少，此老母以少許物布施返得福多？」佛語王言：「王雖種種供養，盡出百姓於王無損；此老母貧窮正有少許豆，盡持勸助，是故得多。王得福少。」佛為王種種說法，王及老母皆得道跡。是以修福種德惟在至心，達解法相何憂不果？ > When a poor person cuts back on food and drink to practice dāna, their merit is boundless. For example, in the past a king held an assembly, making various offerings to the Buddhas and the saṃgha. At that time, there was a poor old mother who possessed nothing at all, constantly relying on begging to sustain her life. Hearing that the king had invited the Buddha to hold an assembly, she rejoiced in her heart and wished to contribute. Reflecting that she had no goods, and having only a few beans, she wished to contribute them, but the gatekeepers would not allow her to proceed. Thereupon the Buddha saw her wholesome mind, and by spiritual power caused these large beans to fall everywhere into the food bowls of the saṃgha. Seeing these beans, the king was angry at the kitchen soldiers: "Why have you allowed these beans to be in the food?" The Buddha said to the king: "It is not the fault of the kitchen soldiers! It is the dāna of a poor old mother outside. Hearing that the king had held an assembly and having nothing to contribute, she took these few beans to assist the king, which is why these beans are in the food." The Buddha told the great king: "Although this old mother's gift was slight, the merit she obtained is far greater than the great king's." The king said: "How is it that I provided many various delicacies as offerings yet gained little merit, while this old mother practiced dāna with a tiny amount of things and on the contrary gained much merit?" The Buddha told the king: "Although the king made various offerings, they all came from the common people and caused no loss to the king; this old mother was poor and had only a few beans, but gave them all to contribute, and for this reason gained much, while the king gained little merit." The Buddha explained the Dharma in various ways for the king, and both the king and the old mother attained the path. Therefore, cultivating merit and planting virtue relies solely on an earnest mind; if one thoroughly understands the true nature of phenomena, how could one worry that it will not bear fruit? > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208.1.11) - [Next: 1.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208.1.13) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208~en-mt.1.12) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208.1.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.208.1.12) · Pramāṇa