經律異相 26.10

26.10

過去劫時有大國王號薩和達（梁言一切施）施諸沙門及一切人不逆其意。異國婆羅門子少喪其父。獨與母姊弟居家甚貧苦。其母曰。今窮無自供。可往詣薩和達王乞匃。兒報母言。我今未有所知。先當學問然後乃行。母不許。兒先假貸索一兩金。可備一歲之糧。乃出家行學一歲來歸。母見逆問。汝詣薩和達王。兒復報母言。所學未通當復更學。母言。前金已盡。即復往至前所貸家。貸一兩金。金主語兒。汝前取金既未還我。若復欲索。卿母及姊皆將上券爾乃可得。若至時不畢以為奴婢。便作券取歸以付其母。復捨家學。復經一年。所知粗備欲歸。詣薩和達王。道中為債主所牽。及母姊弟將歸鎖繫。婆羅門子語債主言。卿今繫我終年無益。不如放我往詣薩和達王。乞匃得物相償。其主令去。時異國興兵。取薩和達王。王聞自念。人命短促會歸無常。我少好布施。慈忍無傷不欲復與彼國共相拒逆。所以者何。但不須為備。亦勿恐怖。但且嚴出迎逆作禮恭敬承事。受其勅令使踰於我。諸臣白王。他國入界云何不備。王默然不應。如是至三。王言。不須拒逆。如我前言。諸臣奉旨。王言大善。各自安家慎莫勞擾。其王夜半即脫印綬默亡而去。彼王入國即領王位。便募索薩和達。其賞甚重。王出國行五百餘里遙見一婆羅門子。二人相逢。王問。卿今欲何所至。答曰。欲詣薩和達。我少小失父。居家甚貧窮。以母及姊弟。持行質債。欲乞匃贖之。并得自濟。王言。我是薩和達。有他國王欲得我國。不欲傷害是以避之。婆羅門子躄地大泣。不能自勝。王便諫曉使起不須復啼。所求索者今當相與。婆羅門子言。王今失國。當持何等以相濟乞。王便報言。彼國王來見募甚重。卿今可截我頭持往與之。在所求索皆可得也。於是婆羅門子即說偈言。

In a kalpa of the past, there was a great king named Sarvadā (in the Liang language, “All-Giving”). He gave to all śramaṇas and all people, never refusing their wishes. In another kingdom, a brāhmaṇa youth lost his father when young, living with his mother, elder sister, and younger brother in great poverty. His mother said, “Now we are impoverished with no means of support. You may go to King Sarvadā and beg.” The son told his mother, “I do not yet possess any knowledge. I should first study, and only then proceed.” The mother would not permit it. The son first borrowed one ounce of gold, which could provide for a year's food, and then left home to study; after one year, he returned. Seeing him, the mother welcomed him and asked, “Did you go to King Sarvadā?” The son told his mother again, “My learning is not yet mastered; I must study further.” The mother said, “The previous gold is already exhausted.” He then went back to the creditor from whom he had borrowed before and borrowed another ounce of gold. The creditor said to the boy, “You have not yet repaid me the gold you took before. If you want more, only when you bring your mother and sister as pledges on the contract will you get it; if by the due date you have not settled it, they will become my male and female slaves.” He made the contract, took the gold, returned to hand it over to his mother, and once more left home to study. After another year had passed, his knowledge was roughly complete, and he wished to return and visit King Sarvadā. On the road, he was seized by the creditor, who brought him along with his mother, sister, and younger brother and put them in chains. The brāhmaṇa youth said to the creditor, “Holding me bound now will be of no benefit all year round. It would be better to release me so that I may go to King Sarvadā. When I beg and receive goods, I will repay you.” The creditor let him go. At that time, a foreign country raised an army to capture King Sarvadā. Hearing of this, the king thought to himself: “Human life is short and fragile, bound to end in impermanence. From youth I have loved giving; being compassionate and patient, I harm none, and I do not wish to resist that country. Why so? Simply do not make preparations, and do not be afraid. Just set out properly, welcome them, pay homage, and serve them respectfully; accept their commands, placing them above me.” The ministers said to the king, “The other country has entered our borders; why do we make no preparations?” The king remained silent and did not reply. This happened up to three times. The king said, “There is no need to resist; follow my previous words.” The ministers obeyed his decree. The king said, “Very well. Let each keep his household secure, and take care not to cause disturbance.” In the middle of the night, the king removed his seal and ribbon, silently fled, and departed. That king entered the country, assumed the throne, and immediately posted a reward seeking Sarvadā, with a very heavy bounty. Having left his kingdom and traveled more than five hundred li, the king saw a brāhmaṇa youth from afar, and the two met. The king asked, “Where do you wish to go now?” He replied, “I wish to go to Sarvadā. I lost my father in youth, and my family is extremely destitute. I used my mother, elder sister, and younger brother as security for a debt; I wish to beg of him to ransom them and support myself.” The king said, “I am Sarvadā. Another king desired my kingdom, and not wishing to harm anyone, I fled from him.” The brāhmaṇa youth threw himself upon the ground and wept bitterly, unable to contain himself. The king consoled and exhorted him to rise, telling him he need not weep any more: “What you seek, I will give you now.” The brāhmaṇa youth said, “The king has now lost his country. What do you have with which to aid my begging?” The king replied, “The king of that country has offered a very heavy reward for me. You may now cut off my head and take it to him; whatever you seek will be obtained.” Thereupon the brāhmaṇa youth spoke a verse: