大唐西域記 11.5

11.5

佛法所記，則曰：昔此寶洲大鐵城中，五百羅剎女之所居也。城樓之上竪二高幢，表吉凶之相，有吉事吉幢動，有凶事凶幢動。恒伺商人至寶洲者，便變為美女，持香華，奏音樂，出迎慰問，誘入鐵城，樂讌會已，而置鐵牢中，漸取食之。時贍部洲有大商主僧伽者，其子字僧伽羅。父既年老，代知家務，與五百商人入海採寶，風波飄蕩，遇至寶洲。時羅剎女望吉幢動，便齎香華，鼓奏音樂，相携迎候，誘入鐵城。商主於是對羅剎女王歡娛樂會，自餘商侶，各相配合，彌歷歲時，皆生一子。諸羅剎女情疎故人，欲幽之鐵牢，更伺商侶。時僧伽羅夜感惡夢，知非吉祥，竊求歸路，遇至鐵牢，乃聞悲號之聲，遂昇高樹，問曰：「誰相拘縶，而此怨傷？」曰：「爾不知耶？城中諸女，並是羅剎，昔誘我曹入城娛樂。君既將至，幽牢我曹，漸充所食，今已太半，君等不久亦遭此禍。」僧伽羅曰：「當圖何計，可免危難？」對曰：「我聞海濱有一天馬，至誠祈請，必相濟渡。」僧伽羅聞已，竊告商侶，共望海濱，專精求救。是時天馬來告人曰：「爾輩各執我毛鬣，不回顧者，我濟汝曹，越海免難，至贍部洲，吉達鄉國。」諸商人奉指告，專一無二，執其髦鬣，天馬乃騰驤雲路，越濟海岸。諸羅剎女忽覺夫逃，遞相告語，異其所去，各携稚子凌虛往來。知諸商人將出海濱，遂相召命，飛行遠訪。嘗未踰時，遇諸商侶，悲憙俱至，涕淚交流，各掩泣而言曰：「我惟感遇，幸會良人，室家有慶，恩愛已久，而今遠棄，妻子孤遺，悠悠此心，誰其能忍？幸願留顧，相與還城。」商人之心未肯回慮，諸羅剎女策說無功，遂縱妖媚，備行矯惑。商侶愛戀，情難堪忍，心疑去留，身皆退墮。羅剎諸女更相拜賀，與彼商人携持而去。僧伽羅者，智慧深固，心無滯累，得越大海，免斯危難。時羅剎女王空還鐵城，諸女謂曰：「汝無智略，為夫所棄，既寡藝能，宜勿居此。」時羅剎女王持所生子，飛至僧伽羅前，縱極媚惑，誘請令還。僧伽羅口誦神呪，手揮利劍，叱而告曰：「汝是羅剎，我乃是人，人鬼異路，非其匹合。若苦相逼，當斷汝命。」羅剎女知誘惑之不遂也，凌虛而去，至僧伽羅家，詐其父僧伽曰：「我是某國王女，僧伽羅娶我為妻，生一子矣，齎持寶貨，來還鄉國。泛海遭風，舟楫漂沒，唯我子母及僧伽羅，僅而獲濟。山川道阻，凍餧艱辛，一言忤意，遂見棄遺，詈言不遜，罵為羅剎。歸則家國遼遠，止則孤遺羈旅。進退無依，敢陳情事。」僧伽曰：「誠如所言，宜時即入室。」居未久，僧伽羅至。父謂之曰：「何重財寶，而輕妻子？」僧伽羅曰：「此羅剎女也。」則以先事具白父母，而親宗戚屬咸事驅逐。時羅剎女遂以訴王，王欲罪僧伽羅。僧伽羅曰：「羅剎之女，情多妖惑。」王以為不誠也，而情悅其淑美，謂僧伽羅曰：「必棄此女，今留後宮。」僧伽羅曰：「恐為災禍。斯既羅剎，食唯血肉。」王不聽僧伽羅之言，遂納為妻。其後夜分，飛還寶渚，召餘五百羅剎鬼女共至王宮，以毒呪術殘害宮中，凡諸人畜，食肉飲血，持其餘屍，還歸寶渚。旦日群臣朝集，王門閉而不開，候聽久之，不聞人語。於是排其戶，闢其門，相從趨進，遂至宮庭，閴其無人，唯有骸骨。群官僚佐相顧失圖，悲號慟哭，莫測禍源。僧伽羅具告始末，臣庶信然，禍自招矣。於是國輔、老臣、群官、宿將，歷問明德，推據崇高，咸仰僧伽羅之福智也，乃相議曰：「夫君人者，豈苟且哉？先資福智，次體明哲，非福智無以享寶位，非明哲何以理機務？僧伽羅者，斯其人矣。夢察禍機，感應天馬，忠以諫主，智足謀身。曆運在茲，惟新成詠。」眾庶樂推，尊立為王。僧伽羅辭不獲免，允執其中，恭揖群官，遂即王位。於是沿革前弊，表式賢良。乃下令曰：「吾先商侶在羅剎國，死生莫測，善惡不分。今將救難，宜整兵甲，拯危恤患，國之福也；收珍藏寶，國之利也。」於是治兵，浮海而往。時鐵城上凶幢遂動，諸羅剎女覩而惶怖，便縱妖媚，出迎誘誑。王素知其詐，令諸兵士口誦神呪，身奮武威。諸羅剎女蹎墜退敗，或逃隱孤島，或沈溺洪流。於是毀鐵城，破鐵牢，救得商人，多獲珠寶。招募黎庶，遷居寶洲，建都築邑，遂有國焉。因以王名而為國號。僧伽羅者，則釋迦如來本生之事也。

The records of the Buddhist religion say : In the middle of a great iron city of this Ratnadvipa (P'ao-chu) was the dwelling of the Rakshasi women (Lo-t'sa). On the towers of this city they erected two high flagstaffs with lucky or unlucky signals, which they exhibited according to circumstances (to allure mariners), when merchants came to the island (Ratnadvipa). Then they changed themselves into beautiful women, holding flowers and scents, and with the sound of music they went forth to meet them, and caressingly invited them to enter the iron city; then having shared with them all sorts of pleasure, they shut them up in an iron prison, and devoured them at their leisure. At this time there was a great merchant of Jambudvipa called Sang-kia (Simha) whose son was called Sang-kia-la (Simhala). His father having grown old, he was deputed to take charge of the house (family); he embarked, therefore, with 500 merchants to seek for precious stones; driven by the winds and waves, they came to Ratnadvipa.

Then the Rakshasis, displaying the lucky signal, began to wave it, and went forth with scents and flowers and the sound of music to meet them, and invite them to enter the iron city. The prince of the merchants accordingly, matched with the queen of the Rakshasis, gave himself up to pleasure and indulgence. The other merchants also selected each one a companion, and so, in the course of time, a son was born to each. After this, the Rakshasis, feeling tired of their old partners' love, (were preparing to) shut them up in the iron prison, and to seek new companions among other merchants. At this time, Sang-kia-la, moved in the night by an evil dream, and impressed with a sense of its bad augury, sought some mode of escape, and coming to the iron stronghold, he heard the sounds of piteous cries within. Forthwith he climbed a great tree, and questioned them, saying, "Who are you thus bound, and why these miserable cries?" They replied, "Do you not know then that the women who occupy this place are all Rakshasis? In former days, they allured us to enter the city with festive sounds of music, but when you arrived, they shut us up in this prison, and are gradually devouring our flesh. Now we are half eaten up; your turn too will soon come." Then Sang-kia-la (Simhala) said, "By what device then may we escape this danger?" They replied, and said, "We hear that on the sea-board there is a divine horse, and whoever prays with supreme faith he will safely carry him across."

Simhala having heard this, secretly told the merchants his companions to assemble altogether on the sea-shore and there to offer up fervent prayers for deliverance. Then the divine horse came and addressed the men and said, "Each one of you grasp my hairy coat and look not behind; then will I deliver you and transport you across the sea out of danger's way. I will conduct you back to Jambudvipa, to your happy homes (country)." Then the merchants, obeying his directions, did each one implicitly as commanded. They seized the hairy coat (of the divine horse). Then he mounted aloft, traversed through the clouds, and passed the sea to the other side. Then the Rakshasis, perceiving all at once their husbands had escaped, spake one to another in surprise, and asked where they had gone. Then, taking each her child, they traversed to and fro the air. Perceiving, then, that the merchants had just left the shore, they issued a general order to unite in their flight to follow them. Not an hour had passed but they encountered them, and then, with mingled joy and tears, they came, and for a time restraining their grief they said, "We thought ourselves happy when first we met you, and made it our care to provide you homes, and for long have loved and cherished you, but now you are departing and deserting your wives and children, leaving them desolate. Who can bear the terrible grief that afflicts us! We pray you stay your departure and turn again with us to the city."

But the minds of the merchants were as yet unwilling to consent. The Rakshasis, seeing their words had no effect, had recourse to seductive blandishments, and by their conduct excited the feelings of the merchants; in consequence of which, being unable to suppress their tender emotions, their steadfastness forsook them, and, hesitating to go on, they paused, and at length returned in company with the Rakshasis. The women, saluting and congratulating each other, closely holding to the men, went back. Now the wisdom of Simhala was deep, and his firm purpose remained unchanged, and so he succeeded in traversing the ocean, and thus escaped the danger. Then the queen of the Rakshasis returned alone to the iron city; on which the other women addressing her said, "You are without wisdom or astuteness, and so you are abandoned by your husband; since you have so little cleverness or capacity you cannot dwell here." On this the Rakshasi queen, taking her child, hastened her flight after Simhala. She indulged before him in excessive blandishments and entreated him tenderly to return. But Simhala repeated with his mouth some spiritual charms, and with his hand brandishing a sword, he said, "You are a Rakshasi and I am a man, men and demons belong to different classes, there can be no union between such; if you trouble me further with your entreaties I will take your life."

The Rakshasi woman, knowing the uselessness of further parley, darted through the air and disappeared. Coming to Simhala's house, she addressed his father Simha, and said, "I am a king's daughter belonging to such and such a country. Simhala took me as his wife, and I have borne him a son. Having collected gems and goods, we were returning to my lord's country when the ship, driven by the winds and the sea, was lost, and only I, my child, and Simhala were saved. After crossing rivers and mountains with great difficulty, hungry and worn out, I said a word displeasing to my husband, and I found myself deserted, and as he left me he let fall bitter words and raged on me as if he were a Rakshasa. If I attempt to return, my native country is a very long distance off; if I stop, then I am left alone in a strange place : staying or returning I am without support. I have, therefore, dared to tell you the true state of things."

Simha said, "If your words be true, you have done right." Then she entered the king's house to dwell there. Not long after Simhala came, and his father addressing him said, "How is it you esteemed riches and gems so much and made so little of your wife and child?" Simhala said, "This is a Rakshasi." Then he related the whole previous history to his father and mother; then his relatives, angry on account of the whole affair, turned on her to drive her away; on which the Rakshasi went to the king and entreated him. The king wished to punish Simhala, but Simhala said, "The delusive influence of Rakshasis is very great." Moreover, the king, regarding his son's words as untrue, and being moved in his mind (feelings) by her fascination, addressed Simhala and said, "Since you have decided to reject this woman, I will now protect her in my after-palace." Simhala said, "I fear she will cause you some misfortune, for the Rakshasas eat only flesh and blood." But the king would not listen to Simhala's words, and accordingly took her as his wife. In the middle of the night following this, flying away, she returned to Ratnadvipa, and calling together 500 Rakshasa demon women, they all came to the king's palace, and there, by means of destructive charms and sorceries, they killed all living things within the building and devoured their flesh and drank their blood, whilst they carried off the rest of the corpses and with them returned to the "island of gems."

The next day, early, all the ministers were assembled at the king's gates, which they found fast closed, and not able to be opened. After waiting a long time, and not hearing any sounds of voices within, they burst open the doors and gates, and pressed forward together (into the house). Coming to the palace hall, they found no living thing therein but only gnawed bones. The officers looking at one another in astonishment, then bent down their heads in their confusion, and uttered lamentable cries. Being unable to fathom the cause of the calamity that had happened, Simhala related to them from beginning to end the whole story. The ministers and people then saw from whence the evil came.

On this, the ministers of the country, the aged men and different officers, inquired in order as to the best person to appoint to the high dignity (of the throne). All looked in the direction of Simhala, (so conspicuous for) religious merit and wisdom. Then speaking together, they said, "With respect to a ruler, the selection is no trivial matter; he needs to be devout and wise, and at the same time of quick natural parts. If he be not good and wise, he would not be able to give lustre to the succession; if he have no natural parts (skill or tact), how could he direct the affairs of state? Now this Simhala appears to be such a man: he discovered in a dream the origin of the calamity; by the effect of his virtue he encountered the divine horse, and he has loyally warned the king of his danger. By his prudence he has preserved himself; the succession should be his."

The result of the deliberation being known, the people joyfully raised him to the honourable position of king. Simhala was desirous of declining the honour, but was not able to do so. Then keeping to the middle course, he respectfully saluted the different officers of state, and forthwith accepted the kingly estate. On this, he corrected the former abuses, and promoted to honour the good and virtuous; then he made the following decree, "My old merchant friends are in the country of the Rakshasis, but whether alive or dead I cannot tell. But in either case I will set out to rescue them from their danger; we must equip an army. To avert calamities and to help the unfortunate, this is the merit of a kingdom; to preserve treasures of precious stones and jewels, is the advantage of a state." On this he arrayed his troops and embarked. Then on the top of the iron city the evil flag was agitated.

Then the Rakshasis seeing it, were filled with fear, and putting in practice their seducing arts, went forth to lead and cajole them. But the king, thoroughly understanding their false artifices, commanded the soldiers to recite some charmed words and to exhibit their martial bearing. Then the Rakshasis were driven back, and fled precipitately to rocky islets of the sea; others were swallowed up and drowned in the waves. On this they destroyed the iron city and broke down the iron prison; they delivered the captive merchants, obtained large stores of jewels and precious stones, and then summoning the people to change their abodes, he (Simhala) founded his capital in the "island of gems," built towns, and so found himself at the head of a kingdom. Because of the king's name the country was called Simhala. This name is also connected with the Jatakas, relating to Sakya Tathagata.