經律異相 30.15

30.15

昔有一人。見浮圖寺。意欲作之。而錢帛不足。發願入海益得金寶。我當作寺國中第一。得金銀還復熟思惟。誰能同意共作寺者。國王常言。我欲作寺塔。今初未作。當珠寶瑛貢上於王。王得歡喜問。何處得此。賢者言。我願作寺不辦獨作。入海得寶當作寺。今安隱還是我一利。至得金寶是我二利。意不貪著興立寺舍是我三利。我猗三利功德今欲作寺。唯無人力功夫。故以聞王。王言。我亦有三利。欲作寺塔身得作王為人中上是我一利。豐饒財寶人兵是我二利。四方皆伏是我三利。當與卿共作寺。王呼五百夫人以珠與之。五百夫人皆自莊飾各欲得珠。唯大夫人獨不裝梳。王問何故。答亦有三利。故得作王夫人。一宮所敬是我一利。生男為太子是我二利。常樂經道欲作佛圖寺是我三利。王言善哉。以珠與之。大夫人以百千兩金助王立寺。王與國中賢者作寺廣千步。皆以金銀刻鏤。王言。唯我三人有此福。我國中人不蒙此耶。遣使街里宣令。誰能多有善意得福無量。有貧窮女唯一小屋乞匃衣食。聞之自責。宿不布施今致困窮。解身布裙向中擲與使者以裙助王。我形裸露無衣可出。王聞驚怪乃有是善心。即勅將來。使者曰。此女人無衣可著。王勅五百夫人。各取一領衣與之。速往迎取。王即見之拜為第二夫人。令教授宮中（出十卷譬喻經第四卷）。

Formerly, there was a man who saw a stūpa monastery and wished to build one, but had insufficient money and silk. He made a vow to enter the sea to obtain gold and jewels, [thinking]: 'I will build a monastery that will be the foremost in the country.' Having obtained gold and silver, he returned and reflected carefully: 'Who shares my intention to build a monastery together?' The king of the country had often said: 'I wish to build a stūpa monastery, but have not yet built one.' [The man thought] he should present the pearls and jewel-ornaments to the king. Delighted to receive them, the king asked: 'Where did you get these?' The worthy person said: 'I wished to build a monastery, but was unable to build it alone. I entered the sea to obtain jewels so as to build a monastery. Now, returning safely is my first benefit. Successfully obtaining gold and jewels is my second benefit. My mind having no greedy attachment and [wishing to] erect a monastery is my third benefit. Relying on the merit of these three benefits, I now wish to build a monastery; only I lack human labor and effort, and so I have informed the king.' The king said: 'I too have three benefits: wishing to build a stūpa monastery, myself having become king to be the highest among men is my first benefit; having an abundance of wealth, jewels, people, and soldiers is my second benefit; and the four quarters all submitting is my third benefit. I shall build the monastery together with you.' The king summoned five hundred consorts to give them pearls. The five hundred consorts all adorned themselves, each wishing to get the pearls. Only the chief consort did not adorn or comb her hair. The king asked why. She replied: 'I too have three benefits, which is why I attained being the king's consort. Being respected in the palace is my first benefit; having given birth to a boy who is crown prince is my second benefit; and constantly delighting in the scriptural Way and wishing to build a Buddhist stūpa monastery is my third benefit.' The king said: 'Excellent!' and gave her the pearls. The chief consort assisted the king in erecting the monastery with a hundred thousand ounces of gold. The king, together with the worthy person of the country, built a monastery a thousand paces wide, all carved and inlaid with gold and silver. The king said: 'Only the three of us have this blessing; shall the people in my country not receive this as well?' He dispatched an envoy to the streets and neighborhoods to proclaim an order: 'Whoever is capable of having much good intention will attain immeasurable blessings.' There was a poor woman with only a single small hut, who begged for clothes and food. Hearing this, she blamed herself: 'In past lives I did not practice giving, which has led to my present destitution.' She untied her cloth skirt and threw it outward to the envoy, wishing to assist the king with the skirt, [saying]: 'My body is naked, with no clothes to go out in.' Hearing this, the king was amazed that someone could have such a good mind, and immediately ordered her brought before him. The envoy said: 'This woman has no clothes to wear.' The king ordered the five hundred consorts each to take one robe and give it to her, and quickly go to welcome and fetch her. The king, upon seeing her, appointed her second consort and had her teach within the palace. (From the fourth fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Avadāna Sūtra)