眾經撰雜譬喻 1.6

1.6

A bodhisattva practices dāna without begrudging body or life. For example, in the past King Śibi gave his body to save a dove. Śakra Devānāmindra went on purpose to test him, to see whether he had the resolve of a bodhisattva or not. Śakra said to Viśvakarman: "You assume the form of a dove, and I shall assume the form of a hawk pursuing you. You then pretend to be frightened and fly under the king's armpit." In a moment, Viśvakarman transformed his own body into a dove, and Śakra transformed his body into a hawk, flying swiftly in pursuit of the dove. The dove flew straight under the king's armpit, trembling with terror all over. At that time, the hawk perched on a tree and said to the king: "Return my dove to me! This is my food; it is not yours." The king said: "When I first resolved my mind, I wished to save all sentient beings and cross them over suffering." The hawk said: "The king crosses over all sentient beings, and I am counted among all sentient beings. Why do you alone not pity me, but instead snatch away my food?" The king replied: "What food do you need?" The hawk said: "I have vowed only to eat freshly killed flesh and blood." The bodhisattva said: "I have vowed that whenever any sentient being comes to take refuge in me, I will single-mindedly save and protect them so that they do not meet with disaster. What food do you need? I will provide it to you." The hawk said: "What I eat is freshly killed flesh and blood." The king then thought: "This too is difficult to obtain. Unless I take life, there is no way to obtain it. How could I kill one to give to another?" Having made up his mind, he called for someone to come, took a knife, and cut off his own thigh flesh to give to the hawk. The hawk said to the king: "If you are only going to give me flesh, it must be properly balanced by weighing so that the flesh and the dove are of equal weight; do not cheat me!" The king said: "Bring a scale! Balance the flesh against the dove." As the dove's body grew heavier, the king's flesh grew lighter. The king had the flesh of both thighs cut off completely, but it was still too light and insufficient; next he cut both buttocks, both breasts, chest, and back, until the flesh of his entire body was exhausted, yet the dove's body was still heavier. At that time, the king tried to raise his entire body onto the scale, and only then was it equal to the dove. The hawk said to the king: "Great King! This matter is difficult to accomplish. What is the use of doing this? Return the dove to me." The king said: "The dove came to take refuge in me; I will never give it to you. In the past and present, I have lost my life not a few times, but never once was it for the Dharma or held back out of attachment. Now I seek buddhahood!" He then pulled himself onto the scale, his mind resolute and without regret. All the devas, nāgas, spirits, and all the people together praised him, saying: "For the sake of a single small dove he undergoes such agonizing pain—this is an exceedingly rare thing!" The earth shook violently, and Viśvakarman praised him: "The mahāsattva is true and not false; this is truly a field of merit for all sentient beings!" Śakra and Viśvakarman returned to their celestial forms, and immediately caused the king's body to be restored as before. Seeking the Way in this manner, one may attain buddhahood.