經律異相 26.4

26.4

昔有國王。名曰惒黑。處在邊境未覩聖化。奉事外道舉國邪信。殺生祭祠王母寢病。求諸醫神經歷年歲。未得除差。更召國內諸婆羅門二百人。而告之曰。吾大夫人病困經久不知何故。諸婆羅門言。星宿倒錯陰陽不調故使爾耳。王曰。作何方宜使得除愈。婆羅門言。當於城外平治淨處。郊祀四山日月星宿。當得百頭畜生種種異類及一小兒殺以祠天。王自躬將母跪拜請命然後乃差。王即奉命。驅人及象馬牛羊百虫之類。隨道悲鳴震動天地。從東門出當就祭壇殺以祠天。佛懷大慈愍王頑愚。即將徒眾往向其國。王遙見佛。如日初出如月盛滿光相炳然。人民見者莫不愛敬。祭餟之具皆願求脫。王為佛作禮叉手長跪問訊說。母病經久良醫神祇無不周遍。今始欲行解謝星宿四山五嶽。為母請命冀蒙得差。佛言。欲得穀食當行耕種。欲得大富當行布施。欲得長壽當行大慈。欲得智慧當行學問。行此四事隨其所種得其果實。祠祀婬亂以邪為正。殺生求生去生道遠。即說偈言。

Formerly there was a king named Hohei who dwelt in a border region and had not witnessed holy transformation. He served non-Buddhists, and the entire kingdom held heterodox faith, slaughtering living beings for sacrifice. The king's mother fell bedridden with illness; they sought doctors and spirits, but years passed without her being cured. He again summoned two hundred brāhmaṇas from throughout the kingdom and told them: “My great lady has been distressingly ill for a long time, and I do not know why.” The brāhmaṇas said, “The stars and constellations are disordered and the yin and yang are not in harmony, hence it has come to this.” The king said, “What means should be employed to effect a recovery?” The brāhmaṇas said, “Outside the city on a level and pure place, perform suburban sacrifices to the four mountains, sun, moon, stars, and constellations. You must obtain one hundred domestic beasts of various different kinds, as well as a young child, and slaughter them to sacrifice to heaven. The king must personally lead his mother to kneel, bow, and plead for life; only then will she recover.” The king then complied with the order. Driving people, elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, and hundreds of insects and other kinds, their mournful cries along the road shook heaven and earth. Exiting through the eastern gate, they were about to proceed to the sacrificial altar to be slaughtered for the sacrifice to heaven. The Buddha harbored great compassion, pitying the king's obstinate folly, and immediately led his assembly of disciples toward that kingdom. The king saw the Buddha from afar, like the sun first rising, like the full moon, his marks of light radiant; among the people who saw him, none did not revere him. Those destined for sacrificial food all wished and sought for release. The king paid homage to the Buddha, joined his palms, knelt upright, and inquiring respectfully, explained: “My mother has been ill for a long time; fine physicians, spirits, and deities have all been exhausted without exception. Only now was I about to perform sacrifices of apology to the stars, constellations, four mountains, and five peaks, pleading for life on my mother’s behalf in hope of receiving recovery.” The Buddha said: “If one desires grains and food, one should practice plowing and planting; if one desires great wealth, one should practice giving; if one desires long life, one should practice great compassion; if one desires wisdom, one should practice study. Practicing these four matters, according to what one plants one reaps its fruit. Sacrifices are licentious and confused, taking the heterodox as correct; killing life to seek life is far from the path of life.” He then spoke a gāthā: