經律異相 23.12

23.12

佛在羅閱祇耆闍崛山。有一婬女。名曰蓮華。善心自生便棄世事。作比丘尼。即詣山中行到佛所。未至中道有流泉水。女因飲水澡手自觀。見其面像姿妍無比。即便念言。云何自棄作沙門耶。且當少時快我私情。尋即還家。佛知蓮華應當得度。化作婦人端正絕世。勝蓮華女。尋路而來。蓮華見之。心甚愛敬。即問化人。從何所來。夫主中外皆在何許。云何獨行而無將從。化人答言。從城中來欲還歸家。雖不相識可俱還到向泉水上。蓮華言善。二人俱還到泉水上。陳意委曲。化人睡臥。枕蓮華膝。須臾之頃忽然命絕。膖脹臭爛腹膭蟲出。齒落髮墮肌體解散。蓮華見之心大驚怖。云何好人忽便無常。此人尚爾我豈得久。怖當詣佛精進學道。即至佛所。五體投地作禮自說。佛告蓮華。女人有四事。不可恃怙。一者少壯會當歸老。二者強健會當歸死。三者六親歡娛會當別離。四者財寶積聚要當分散。蓮華聞法欣然解釋。得阿羅漢（出蓮華女經）。

The Buddha was on Gṛdhrakūṭa Mountain in Rājagṛha. There was a courtesan named Padmā. A wholesome thought arose in her naturally, and she abandoned worldly affairs to become a nun. She went into the mountains toward the place of the Buddha. Before she arrived, midway there was a flowing spring. The woman drank the water, washed her hands, and looked at her reflection, seeing that her facial appearance was incomparably lovely. She then thought, "Why should I abandon myself to become a śramaṇa? For a short while I should enjoy my private desires!" and immediately started to return home. The Buddha knew that Padmā was ripe to be saved, and manifested an illusory woman of peerless elegance, surpassing Padmā, who came along the road. When Padmā saw her, her heart felt great affection and respect. She asked the conjured person, "Where do you come from? Where are your husband, kin, and attendants? Why are you walking alone with no retinue?" The conjured person replied, "I come from the city and wish to return home. Though we do not know each other, we can go back together to the spring above." Padmā said, "Very well." The two went back together to the spring and poured out their thoughts in detail. The conjured person lay down to sleep with her head on Padmā's lap. In an instant, she suddenly passed away. Her body swelled, rotted, and stank; her abdomen ruptured and worms crawled out; her teeth fell out, her hair fell away, and her flesh and limbs fell apart. When Padmā saw this, her heart was terrified: 'How could a beautiful person suddenly be impermanent like this? Even such a person is like this; how could I last long?' Terrified, she resolved to go to the Buddha and vigorously study the Way. She went straight to the Buddha's place, threw her five limbs to the ground, paid homage, and spoke of herself. The Buddha told Padmā, "A woman has four things that cannot be relied upon: first, youth and vigor must inevitably turn to old age; second, strength and health must inevitably turn to death; third, the pleasant companionship of the six kinds of kin must inevitably lead to separation; fourth, accumulated wealth and jewels must inevitably be scattered." Hearing the Dharma, Padmā joyfully understood, and attained arhatship (from the Sūtra of the Maiden Padmā).