三寶感應要略錄 3.5

3.5

世傳。昔有貧女。遇齊會起集。自南而來。凌晨屆寺。携抱二子。一犬隨之。身無餘資。剪髮以施。未遑眾食。白主僧曰。欲先食遽就他行。僧亦許可。命僮與饌三倍貽之。意今貧女二子俱足。女曰。犬亦當與。僧勉強復與。女曰。我腹有子。更須分食。僧乃憤然語曰。汝求僧食無厭。若是在腹未生。若為須食。叱之令去。貧女被呵。即時離地。倏然化身。即文殊像。犬為師子。兒即善才及于闐王。五色雲氣。靄然遍空。因留偈曰。苦瓠連根苦。甜瓜徹蔕甜。是我超三界。却被阿師嫌。菩薩說偈已。遂隱不見。在會緇素。無不驚嘆。主僧恨不識真聖。欲以刀割目。眾人苦勉方止。爾時貴賤等。視貧富無二。遂以貧女所施之髮。於菩薩乘雲起處。建塔供養矣。

Tradition says: in the past, there was a poor woman who, meeting with the convening of a vegetarian gathering, came from the south. She arrived at the monastery at dawn carrying two children in her arms, with a dog following her. Having no other resources on her person, she cut her hair to offer as alms. Before the assembly's meal was served, she said to the head monk, "I wish to eat first and hurry on my way." The monk consented and ordered an attendant to provide food, giving her a triple portion, intending that the poor woman and her two children would all have enough. The woman said, "You must also give some to the dog." The monk reluctantly gave more. The woman said, "I have a child in my womb, and must have another portion of food." The monk then angrily said to her, "You are insatiable in seeking the monastic food! If it is in your womb and not yet born, why must it have food?" He scolded her and told her to leave. Having been reprimanded, the poor woman immediately left the ground, suddenly transforming her body: it was the image of Mañjuśrī, the dog became a lion, and the children were Sudhana and the King of Khotan. Five-coloured clouds and vapors thickly filled the sky. Thereupon he left a verse, saying: "Bitter gourds are bitter down to their roots; / Sweet melons are sweet through to their stems. / Here am I, who have transcended the three realms, / Yet despised by this monk!" Having spoken the verse, the bodhisattva then disappeared from sight. Monastics and laypeople in the assembly were all astonished and sighed in admiration. The head monk regretted failing to recognize the true holy one, and wished to gouge out his eyes with a knife, stopping only when the assembly strenuously dissuaded him. At that time, noble and base alike viewed poverty and wealth without distinction, and with the hair offered by the poor woman, they erected a stūpa to make offerings at the place where the bodhisattva mounted the clouds and ascended.