經律異相 10.22

10.22

昔者菩薩為大國王。歸命三尊具奉十善。兵刃不施無有牢獄。風雨時節穀豐民富。華為小書舉國絕口。六度真化靡人不誦。時有梵志執操清閑靜居山林不豫流俗。夜渴行飲。誤得國人所種蓮華池水。飲畢意寤。詣宮自告云其犯盜。唯願大王以法治罪。王曰。斯自然之水不實之物何罪之有。對曰。吾不告而飲。豈非盜乎。願王處之也。王曰國事多故且坐苑中。太子令之深處苑內。王事總猥忘之六日。忽而寤曰。梵志安在乎。疾呼之來。梵志守戒飢渴六日。厥體瘦疵起而蹌地。王覩流淚曰。吾過重矣。皇后笑之。王遣人澡浴具設餚饍自身供養叩頭悔過。自斯生死輪轉無際至臨得佛不食六年。佛告諸比丘。時王者是我身。夫人者俱夷是。太子者羅云是。王忘道士令餓六日受罪六年餓饉裁息。六日之後王身供養。故今六年殃畢道成。俱夷笑之。今懷羅云六年重病大子以梵志深著苑內。故六年處于幽冥（出雀王經）。

Formerly, the bodhisattva was a great king. He took refuge in the Three Venerated Ones and fully observed the ten wholesome deeds. Weapons were never deployed, and there were no prisons. Wind and rain came in their proper seasons, grain was plentiful, and the people were prosperous. Frivolous and trivial writings were completely renounced throughout the kingdom, and there was no one who did not recite the true transformation of the six perfections. At that time, there was a brahmacārin who maintained quiet and tranquil conduct, living peacefully in the mountain forests without mingling with worldly folk. Thirsty at night, he walked about looking for a drink and by mistake took water from a lotus pond cultivated by the people of the kingdom. After drinking, he came to his senses, went to the palace, and reported himself as having committed theft: 'I only pray that the Great King punish my offense according to the law.' The king said: 'This is natural water, not an object of real value; what offense is there?' He replied: 'I drank without asking; is that not theft? I pray the king decide on it.' The king said: 'State affairs are pressing; please wait in the garden.' The crown prince had him placed deep within the garden. Overwhelmed by state affairs, the king forgot about him for six days. Suddenly waking to it, he said: 'Where is the brahmacārin? Call him quickly!' Keeping his precepts, the brahmacārin had been hungry and thirsty for six days; his body emaciated and weakened, he fell to the ground when trying to stand. Seeing this, the king wept and said: 'My fault is grievous!' The queen laughed at it. The king sent someone to bathe him, provided a feast, personally served him, and bowed his head in repentance. From then on, samsāra turned boundlessly until the time when, approaching the attainment of buddhahood, he fasted for six years. The Buddha told the monks: 'The king of that time was myself; the queen was Gopā; and the crown prince was Rāhula. Because the king forgot the practitioner of the Way and made him starve for six days, he suffered retribution by starving for six years before it ceased. Because the king served him personally after six days, the retribution ended and the Way was achieved after six years. Gopā laughed at it; hence she was pregnant with Rāhula for six years in severe illness. Because the crown prince placed the brahmacārin deep within the garden, he remained for six years in the dark womb.'" (Extracted from the Que wang jing [Sūtra of the Sparrow King]).