經律異相 25.24

25.24

昔有須陀須摩王。是王精進持戒。常依實語。晨朝乘車將諸婇女入園遊戲。出城門時有一婆羅門來乞。王言諾。敬如來告。須我出還入園澡浴嬉戲。時有兩翅王名曰鹿足。空中飛來於婇女中捉王將去。諸女啼哭號慟一國驚城內外搔擾悲惶。鹿足負王騰空至所住山。置九十九諸王中。須陀須摩王涕零如雨。鹿足語言。大剎利王。汝何以啼猶如小兒。人生有死合會有離。須陀須摩王答言。我不畏死自恨失信。我從生以來初不妄語。今日晨朝出門時。有婆羅門來從我乞。我時許言還當布施。不慮無常孤負彼心。自招欺罪是故啼耳。鹿足王曰。汝畏妄語。聽汝還去。七日布施婆羅門訖便即來還。若過七日不還我有翅力取汝不難。須陀須摩王。得還本國恣意布施。立太子為王。大會人民懺謝之言。我智不周物治不如法當見忠恕。如我今日身非己有正爾還去。舉國人民及諸親戚叩頭留之。願王留意慈蔭此國勿以鹿足鬼王為慮也。當設鐵舍奇兵。鹿足雖神不畏之也。王言。不得爾也。而說偈言。

In the past, there was a king named Śrutasoma. This king diligently observed the precepts and constantly relied on truthful speech. In the morning, riding in his chariot, he led the palace women into a park for recreation. As he went out the city gate, a brāhmaṇa came begging. The king said: "Very well. I respectfully acknowledge your request. Wait until I return from playing and bathing in the park." At that time, there was a winged king named Kalmāṣapāda. He flew through the air, seized the king from among the palace women, and carried him off. The women wept and wailed aloud, the whole kingdom was alarmed, and there was turmoil and sorrowful panic inside and outside the city. Kalmāṣapāda carried the king through the air to the mountain where he lived, and placed him among ninety-nine kings. King Śrutasoma wept tears like rain. Kalmāṣapāda said to him: "Great kṣatriya king, why do you weep like a small child? In human life there is death; where there is union, there is separation." King Śrutasoma answered: "I do not fear death, but I regret breaking my word. Since my birth, I have never spoken falsely. This morning, when I went out the gate, a brāhmaṇa came and begged from me. At that time I promised him that I would give to him upon my return. Not considering impermanence, I failed his hopes and brought upon myself the fault of deception. That is why I weep." King Kalmāṣapāda said: "Since you fear false speech, I will allow you to return. When you have completed your giving to the brāhmaṇa for seven days, come straight back. If you do not return after seven days, with the power of my wings it will not be difficult for me to seize you." King Śrutasoma was able to return to his original kingdom, gave alms freely, and established the crown prince as king. Gathering the people, he apologized to them, saying: "My wisdom has not encompassed all things, and my governance was not according to the Dharma; please grant me your loyalty and forgiveness. As of today, my body does not belong to me, and I must return right now." The people of the entire kingdom and all his relatives kowtowed to detain him: "We pray the king will remain and kindly protect this country, and not worry about the demon-king Kalmāṣapāda. We will construct iron dwellings and employ extraordinary troops; though Kalmāṣapāda has supernatural powers, we need not fear him." The king said: "It cannot be so," and spoke a verse: