經律異相 10.8

10.8

昔者釋迦菩薩為大國王。號薩婆達。普施眾生恣其所索愍濟厄難。天神鬼龍僉然而曰。天帝位尊初無常人。識其行高慈慧福隆。死則為之。懼王奪其天位往而試之以照真偽。帝釋現之命邊王曰。今彼人王慈潤滂沛福德巍巍。恐其志求奪吾帝位。即化為鷹。邊王作鴿。鴿趣王足下恐怖而云。大王哀哉吾命窮矣。王曰。莫恐吾今活汝。鷹尋後至云。吾鴿向來。鴿是吾食願王相還。王曰。鴿來活命終始無違。爾苟欲得肉令重百倍。鷹曰。唯願得鴿不用餘肉。王曰。以何物令爾置鴿歡喜去耶。鷹曰。若王慈惠必愍眾生者割王肌肉而以易鴿吾當欣受。王乃大喜。自割髀肉對鴿稱之令與鴿等。鴿逾自重割身肉盡。故未能敵瘡痛無量。王以慈忍又命近臣曰。爾殺我稱髓令與鴿等。吾奉佛重誡濟眾危厄。雖有眾惱猶如微風焉能動太山乎。鷹照王懷各復本身。稽首于地曰。大王欲何志尚惱苦若茲。曰吾不志天帝釋及飛行皇帝。吾觀眾生沒于盲冥不覩三尊。恣行凶禍投身無擇之獄。為之惻愴。誓願求佛。拔濟眾生令得泥洹。天帝驚曰。愚謂大王欲奪吾位。是以相擾將何可悔。王曰。使吾身瘡瘳復如舊志常布施。帝釋使天醫神藥傅之。瘡痍即愈色力踰前。帝釋稽首繞王三匝歡喜而去（出度無極集第一卷）。

In the past, the Bodhisattva Śākya was a great king named Sarvadā. He gave extensively to all living beings, indulging whatever they sought, and compassionately relieved distress and peril. The heavenly deities, spirits, and dragons all said in agreement: “The exalted position of heavenly Śakra is never occupied by a permanent person; when one's conduct is recognized as lofty, and their benevolence, wisdom, and merit are eminent, upon death they become Śakra.” Fearing that the king would seize his heavenly throne, Śakra went to test him to verify whether he was genuine or false. Śakra manifested himself and commanded a border king, saying: “Now that human king's moistening benevolence is overflowing, and his blessed virtue is majestic; I fear his aspiring mind will seize my divine throne.” Thereupon Śakra transformed into a hawk, and the border king became a dove. The dove hastened beneath the king's feet, terrified, and said: “Great King, have pity! My life is at an end!” The king said: “Do not fear, I will now preserve your life.” The hawk arrived closely following behind and said: “My dove just came here. The dove is my food; I request the king return it to me.” The king said: “The dove came to save its life; from beginning to end I will not go back on my word. If you just want meat, I will give you a hundred times its weight.” The hawk said: “I wish only to have the dove; I have no use for other meat.” The king said: “With what thing can I make you release the dove and depart in joy?” The hawk said: “If the king's benevolent kindness truly pities living beings, cut the king's own flesh to exchange for the dove, and I shall gladly accept it.” The king was then exceedingly joyful. He cut flesh from his own thigh and weighed it against the dove to make it equal to the dove. The dove became even heavier, so that the flesh of his body was cut until exhausted, yet it still could not equal [the dove], causing immeasurable pain from the wounds. With benevolent endurance, the king further commanded his close ministers, saying: “Kill me and weigh my marrow to make it equal to the dove! I uphold the Buddha's weighty precepts to rescue living beings from danger and distress. Although there are myriad afflictions, they are like a gentle breeze; how could they shake Mount Tai?” The hawk saw into the king's mind, and each resumed their original bodies. Bowing their heads to the ground, they said: “What does the Great King aspire to, that you undergo such torment and suffering?” [The king] said: “I do not aspire to become heavenly Śakra, nor a flying emperor. I observe living beings submerged in blindness and darkness, not seeing the Three Venerable Ones, indulging in evil and calamities, and throwing themselves into the hell of no choice. Grieving for them, I vow to seek Buddhahood, to pull out and rescue living beings and bring them to nirvāṇa.” The heavenly Śakra said in astonishment: “In my foolishness I thought the Great King wished to seize my throne; because of this I disturbed you. How can this be remedied?” The king said: “May the wounds on my body heal and be restored as before, and may my resolve to always practice giving remain!” Śakra had a divine physician apply miraculous medicine; the wounds healed immediately, and his complexion and strength surpassed what they were before. Śakra bowed his head, circumambulated the king three times, and departed in joy. (Extracted from the first fascicle of the Compendium on Crossing Over the Limitless).