大唐西域記 4.7

4.7

摩揭陀國婆羅阿迭多王（唐曰幼日），崇敬佛法，愛育黎元，以大族王淫刑虐政，自守疆埸，不恭職貢。時大族王治兵將討。幼日王知其聲問，告諸臣曰：「今聞寇至，不忍鬪其兵也。幸諸僚庶赦而不罪，賜此微軀潛行草澤。」言畢出宮，依緣山野。國中感恩慕從者數萬餘人，棲竄海島。大族王以兵付弟，浮海往伐。幼日王守其阨險，輕騎誘戰，金鼓一震，奇兵四起，生擒大族，反接引現。大族王自愧失道，以衣蒙面。幼日王踞師子床，群官周衛，乃命侍臣告大族曰：「汝露其面，吾欲有辭。」大族對曰：「臣主易位，怨敵相視，既非交好，何用面談？」再三告示，終不從命。於是宣令數其罪曰：「三寶福田，四生攸賴。苟任豺狼，傾毀勝業。福不祐汝，見擒於我。罪無可赦，宜從刑辟。」時幼日王母博聞強識，善達占相。聞殺大族也，疾告幼日王曰：「我甞聞大族奇姿多智，欲一見之。」幼日王命引大族至母宮中。幼日母曰：「嗚呼，大族幸勿恥也！世間無常，榮辱更事，吾猶汝母，汝若吾子，宜去蒙衣，一言面對。」大族曰：「昔為敵國之君，今為俘囚之虜，隳廢王業，亡滅宗祀，上愧先靈，下慚黎庶，誠恥面目。俯仰天地，不勝自喪，故此蒙衣。」王母曰：「興廢隨時，存亡有運。以心齊物，則得喪俱忘；以物齊心，則毀譽更起。宜信業報，與時推移，去蒙對語，或存軀命。」大族謝曰：「苟以不才，嗣膺王業，刑政失道，國祚亡滅，雖在縲紲之中，尚貪旦夕之命。敢承大造，面謝厚恩。」於是去蒙衣，出其面。王母曰：「子其自愛，當終爾壽。」已而告幼日王曰：「先典有訓，宥過好生。今大族王積惡雖久，餘福未盡，若殺此人，十二年中，菜色相視。然有中興之氣，終非大國之王，當據北方，有小國土。」幼日王承慈母之命，愍失國之君，娉以稚女，待以殊禮，總其遺兵，更加衛從，未出海島。

Baladitya-raja, king of Magadha, profoundly honoured the law of Buddha and tenderly nourished his people. When he heard of the cruel persecution and atrocities of Mahirakula (Ta-tso), he strictly guarded the frontiers of his kingdom and refused to pay tribute. Then Mahirakula raised an army to punish his rebellion. Baladitya-raja, knowing his renown, said to his ministers, "I hear that these thieves are coming, and I cannot fight with them (their troops); by the permission of my ministers I will conceal my poor person among the bushes of the morass." Having said this, he departed from his palace and wandered through the mountains and deserts. Being very much beloved in his kingdom, his followers amounted to many myriads, who fled with him and hid themselves in the islands of the sea. Mahirakula-raja, committing the army to his younger brother, himself embarked on the sea to go attack Baladitya. The king guarding the narrow passes, whilst the light cavalry were out to provoke the enemy to fight, sounded the golden drum, and his soldiers suddenly rose on every side and took Mahirakula alive as captive, and brought him into the presence (of Baladitya). The king Mahirakula being overcome with shame at his defeat, covered his face with his robe. Baladitya sitting on his throne with his ministers round him, ordered one of them to tell the king to uncover himself as he wished to speak with him.

Mahirakula answered, "The subject and the master have changed places; that enemies should look on one another is useless; and what advantage is there in seeing my face during conversation?" Having given the order three times with no success, the king then ordered his crimes to be published, and said, "The field of religious merit connected with the three precious objects of reverence is a public blessing; but this you have overturned and destroyed like a wild beast. Your religious merit is over, and unprotected by fortune you are my prisoner. Your crimes admit of no extenuation and you must die." At this time the mother of Baladitya was of wide celebrity on account of her vigorous intellect and her skill in casting horoscopes. Hearing that they were going to kill Mahirakula, she addressed Baladitya-raja and said, "I have heard that Mahirakula is of remarkable beauty and vast wisdom. I should like to see him once." Baladitya-raja ordered them to bring in Mahirakula to the presence of his mother in her palace. "Mahirakula, be not ashamed! Worldly things are impermanent; success and discomfiture follow one another according to circumstances. I regard myself as your mother and you as my son; remove the covering from your face and speak to me."

Mahirakula said, "A little while ago I was prince of a victorious country, now I am a prisoner condemned to death. I have lost my kingly estate and I am unable to offer my religious services; I am ashamed in the presence of my ancestors and of my people. In very truth I am ashamed before all, whether before heaven or earth. I find no deliverance. Therefore I hide my face with my mantle." The mother of the king said, "Prosperity or the opposite depends on the occasion; gain and loss come in turn. If you give way to events (things), you are lost; but if you rise above circumstances, though you fall, you may rise again. Believe me, the result of deeds depends on the occasion. Lift the covering from your face and speak with me. I may perhaps save your life."

Mahirakula, thanking her, said, "I have inherited a kingdom without having the necessary talent for government, and so I have abused the royal power in inflicting punishment; for this reason I have lost my kingdom. But though I am in chains, yet I desire life if only for a day. Let me then thank you with uncovered face for your offer of safety." Whereupon he removed his mantle and showed his face. The king's mother said, "My son is well-favoured; he will die after his years are accomplished." Then she said to Baladitya, "In agreement with former regulations, it is right to forgive crime and to love to give life. Although Mahirakula has long accumulated sinful actions, yet his remnant of merit is not altogether exhausted. If you kill this man, for twelve years you will see him with his pale face before you. I gather from his air that he will be the king of a small country; let him rule over some small kingdom in the north." Then Bālāditya-rāja, obeying his dear mother's command, had pity on the prince bereft of his kingdom; gave him in marriage to a young maiden and treated him with extreme courtesy. Then he assembled the troops he had left and added a guard to escort him from the island.