[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) › [大唐西域記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087) › 8.12 # 大唐西域記 8.12 大唐西域記 8.12 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [8.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.8.12) 故宮北有大石室，外若崇山，內廣數丈，是無憂王為出家弟役使神鬼之所建也。初，無憂王有同母弟，名摩醯因陀羅（唐言大帝）。生自貴族，服僣王制，奢侈縱暴，眾庶懷怨。國輔老臣進諫王曰：「驕弟作威，亦已太甚。夫政平則國治，人和則主安，古之則訓，由來久矣。願存國典，收付執法。」無憂王泣謂弟曰：「吾承基緒，覆燾生靈，況爾同胞，豈忘惠愛！不先匡導，已陷刑法。上懼先靈，下迫眾議。」摩醯因陀羅稽首謝曰：「不自謹行，敢干國憲，願賜再生，更寬七日。」於是置諸幽室，嚴加守衛，珍羞上饌，進奉無虧。守者唱曰：「已過一日，餘有六日。」至第六日已，既深憂懼，更勵身心，便獲果證，昇虛空，示神迹，尋出塵俗，遠棲巖谷。無憂王躬往謂曰：「昔拘國制，欲致嚴刑。豈意清昇，取證聖果。既無滯累，可以還國。」弟曰：「昔羈愛網，心馳聲色，今出危城，志悅山谷。願棄人間，長從丘壑。」王曰：「欲靜心慮，豈必幽巖？吾從爾志，當為崇樹。」遂召命鬼神而告之曰：「吾於後日廣備珍羞，爾曹相率來集我會，各持大石，自為床座。」諸神受命，至期畢萃。眾會既已，王告神曰：「石座從橫，宜自積聚。因功不勞，壘為虛室。」諸神受命，不日而成。無憂王躬往迎請，止此山廬。 > To the north of the old palace is a large stone house. It looks outside like a great mountain, and within it is many tens of feet wide. This is the house which Aśoka-rāja commanded the genii to build for his brother who had become a recluse. Early in his life Aśoka had a half-brother (mother's brother) called Mahendra (Mo-hi-in-to-lo), who was born of a noble tribe. In dress he arrogated the style of the king; he was extravagant, wasteful, and cruel. The people were indignant, and the ministers and aged officers of the king came to him (the king), and remonstrated thus, "Your proud brother assumes a dignity as though he were some great one in comparison with others. If the government is impartial, then the country is contented; if men are agreed, then the ruler is in peace: these are the principles which have been handed down to us from our fathers. We desire that you will preserve the rules of our country, and deliver to justice those who would change them." Then Asôka-râja addressed his brother as he wept, and said, "I have inherited (as my rule of) government the duty of protecting and cherishing the people; how then have you, my brother, forgotten my affection and my kindness? It is impossible at the very beginning of my reign to neglect the laws. If I punish you, I fear the anger of my ancestors; on the other hand, if I excuse you, I fear the opinion of the people." > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World > Mahendra, bowing his head, replied, "I have not guarded my conduct, and have transgressed the laws of the country; I ask only an extension of my life for seven days." On this the king placed him in a dark dungeon, and placed over him a strict guard. He provided him with every kind of exquisite meat and every necessary article. At the end of the first day the guard cried out to him, "One day has gone; there are six days left." The sixth day having expired, as he had greatly sorrowed for his faults and had afflicted (disciplined) his body and his heart, he obtained the fruit of sanctity (became an Arhat); he mounted into the air and exhibited his miraculous powers (spiritual traces). Then separating himself from the pollution of the world, he went afar, and occupied the mountains and valleys (as a recluse). Asôka-râja, going in his own person, addressed him as follows, "At first, in order to put in force the laws of the country, I desired to have you punished, but little did I think you would have attained to this highest rank of holiness. Having, however, reached this condition of detachment from the world, you can now return to your country." > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World > The brother replied, " Formerly I was ensnared in the net of (worldly) affections, and my mind was occupied with love of sounds (music) and beauty ; but now I have escaped all this (the dangerous city), and my mind delights in (the seclusion of) mountains and valleys. I would fain give up the world for ever (men's society) and dwell here in solitude." The king said, " If you wish to subdue your heart in quiet, you have no need to live in the mountain fastnesses. To meet your wishes I shall construct you a dwelling." Accordingly he summoned the genii to his presence and said to them, " On the morrow I am about to give a magnificent feast. I invite you to come together to the assembly, but you must each bring for your own seat a great stone." The genii having received the summons, came at the appointed time to the assembly. The king then addressed them and said, " The stones which are now arranged in order on the ground you may pile up, and, without any labour to yourselves, construct of them for me an empty house." The genii having received the order, before the day was over finished the task. Asoka-raja then himself went to invite his brother to fix his abode in this mountain cell. To the north of the old palace, and to the south of " the hell," is a great stone with a hollow trough in it. Asoka-raja commissioned the genii as workmen to make this hollow (vase) to use for the food which he gave to the priests when he invited them to eat. > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World - [Previous: 8.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.8.11) - [Next: 8.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.8.13) - [Up: 8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.8) ## Translations (1) - [Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087~en-beal.8.14) — Samuel Beal 1884, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.8.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.8.12) · Pramāṇa