經律異相 26.12

26.12

薩和達王。復語婆羅門子言。卿若不欲取我頭者。便可截我鼻耳送之。不復中王故也。婆羅門子言。亦所不忍。王曰。縛送亦可。婆羅門子曰。能知彼王無所危害。於是王與婆羅門子相將共還。臨至國二十餘里。王言。卿可縛我。婆羅門子乃縛王。一國人民男女大小莫不啼哭崩絕。劇喪父母前詣宮門。諸臣即入。白彼王曰。前募薩和達者已為婆羅門子所縛送。今在宮門。彼王即言。便促現之。一切臣民見薩和達王。無不僻地而啼泣者。彼劫人王亦復淚出。而問諸臣。汝輩何以皆啼。諸臣白言。我等見薩和達王。棄國與王。復持身施與婆羅門子。所作不悔是故啼耳。彼劫人王聞諸臣民各各說是。即便躄地而大啼泣不能自勝。即問婆羅門子。汝本那得是王。婆羅門子答王言。我實貧窮。以母姊弟行用質債。聞此薩和達王大好布施故。從遠來欲乞匃還贖母姊弟得自濟活。於道中逢之共相問勞。薩和達王而語我言。我今棄國以與他王。無以相乞。我時愁憂酷毒無賴。時薩和達王。便教我截取其頭送來與王。我時不敢。復令我截取鼻耳送之。我復不肯。遂相將還令縛送之。所問本末其實如此。於彼劫人王。聞婆羅門子所說。即復躄地涕淚。如言。告勅諸臣。促解王縛洗浴衣被著其印綬還立為王。即上坐領國如故。於是彼王即長跪叉手讚嘆。而說偈言。

King Sarvadā spoke again to the brāhmaṇa youth: “If you do not wish to take my head, you may cut off my nose and ears and deliver them, for I will no longer be fit to be king.” The brāhmaṇa youth said, “I cannot bear that either.” The king said, “To bind and deliver me will also do.” The brāhmaṇa youth said, “How do I know that that king will do you no harm?” Thereupon the king and the brāhmaṇa youth returned together. When they approached within twenty-odd li of the kingdom, the king said, “You may bind me.” The brāhmaṇa youth then bound the king. The men, women, young, and old of the entire kingdom all wept and collapsed in grief, worse than if they had lost their own parents, and went before the palace gate. The ministers entered and said to the king, “The one sought in the previous bounty, Sarvadā, has been bound and brought by a brāhmaṇa youth; he is now at the palace gate.” That king immediately said, “Bring him in at once.” When all the ministers and people saw King Sarvadā, there were none who did not prostrate themselves on the ground and weep. The king who had seized the throne also shed tears and asked the ministers, “Why are you all weeping?” The ministers said, “We see that King Sarvadā abandoned his kingdom to you, O King, and furthermore has offered his own body to the brāhmaṇa youth without regret for what he has done; that is why we weep.” Hearing each of the ministers and people speak thus, that king who had seized the throne fell to the ground and wept bitterly, unable to control himself. He then asked the brāhmaṇa youth, “Where did you originally capture this king?” The brāhmaṇa youth answered the king, saying: “I was truly destitute, and pawned my mother, sister, and brother as security for a debt. Hearing that King Sarvadā loved giving exceedingly, I came from afar wishing to beg of him to redeem my mother, sister, and brother so that we could sustain ourselves. Meeting him on the road, we inquired after each other's welfare. King Sarvadā told me: ‘I have now abandoned my kingdom to another king and have nothing with which to give you alms.’ At that time, I was distressed, grieved, and desperate. Then King Sarvadā instructed me to cut off his head and bring it to you, O King. At that time I did not dare. He then told me to cut off his nose and ears and bring them, but again I refused. Finally, we returned together and he had me bind and bring him. What you ask of the beginning and end is truly like this.” Upon hearing what the brāhmaṇa youth said, that king who had seized the throne threw himself upon the ground, shedding tears. As he spoke, he ordered the ministers: “Quickly untie the king's bonds, bathe him, clothe him, invest him with his seal and ribbon, and reinstate him as king!” King Sarvadā then took the high seat and governed the country as before. Thereupon that king knelt upright with palms joined, praising him and speaking a verse: