經律異相 33.81

33.81

昔佛在波羅奈國鹿野場上。為眾說法。時大國王太子將從小國王世子五百餘人。往到佛所。為佛作禮却坐一面。而聽說法。諸太子等即白佛言。佛道清妙玄遠難及。自古以來。頗有國王太子大臣長者子。捨國吏民恩愛榮樂行作沙門者不。佛言。世間國土榮樂恩愛。如幻化夢響。卒來卒去不可常保。又曰。國王太子以三事故不能得道。何謂三事。一者憍恣不念學問佛經妙義以濟神本。二者取貪不念布施下貧困危。群臣將士所有財寶。不與民共以修財本。三者不能遠離婬欲愛樂之事。捨棄牢獄憂煩之惱。行作沙門滅眾苦難以修身本。是以菩薩所生為王。除此三事自致得佛。又有三事。一者少壯學問領理國土。率化民庶使行十善。二者中以財施貧窮孤寡群臣壯士與民同歡。三者每計無常命不久留。宜當出家行作沙門。斷苦因緣勿更生死。三事不施凡死所得。世尊曰。昔我前世作轉輪聖王。名曰南王皇帝七寶導從。自念。人命短促無常難保。但當作福以求道真。念常布施。世間人民所有財物。與民共之已種福德。唯當出家行作沙門。斷絕貪欲乃得滅苦。梳頭髮白拔著案上。王涕泣曰。第一使者忽然復至。宜當出家行作沙門求自然道。擎髮掌中。自說偈言。

In the past, the Buddha was at the Deer Park in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, preaching the Dharma for the assembly. At that time, the crown prince of a great kingdom led over five hundred crown princes of small kingdoms and went to the Buddha's place. They paid homage to the Buddha, sat to one side, and listened to the teaching of the Dharma. The princes said to the Buddha, "The Buddha's Path is subtle, profound, and difficult to attain. From ancient times to the present, have there been any kings, crown princes, ministers, or sons of elders who abandoned their kingdoms, officials, people, affections, and glorious pleasures to practice as śramaṇas?" The Buddha said, "The glorious pleasures and affections of the kingdoms of the world are like illusions, transformations, dreams, and echoes; arriving suddenly and departing suddenly, they cannot be permanently preserved." He also said, "Kings and crown princes fail to attain the Way on account of three things. What are the three things? First, they are arrogant and self-indulgent, failing to consider studying the subtle meanings of the Buddhist sūtras to rescue the spiritual basis. Second, they are greedy and acquisitive, failing to consider giving to the lowly, poor, destitute, and endangered, and do not share the wealth of ministers and soldiers with the people so as to cultivate the foundation of wealth. Third, they are unable to distance themselves from sexual desire and pleasurable affairs, and cannot cast away the sorrows and vexations of the prison of desire to practice as śramaṇas and eradicate manifold sufferings and difficulties so as to cultivate the foundation of the body. Therefore, when a bodhisattva is born as a king, he eliminates these three things and brings himself to attain buddhahood. There are also another three things: First, when young and vigorous, he studies, governs the kingdom, and guides the people to practice the ten wholesome deeds. Second, in middle age, he gives wealth to the poor, orphaned, widowed, ministers, and warriors, sharing joy with the people. Third, he always reflects on impermanence and that life does not remain long, and realizes that one ought to renounce the household life to become a śramaṇa, cutting off the causes and conditions of suffering and not undergoing birth and death again. If these three things are not practiced, what ordinary death yields will be gained." The Bhagavat said, "In a past life of mine, I was a wheel-turning sage king named Emperor King of the South, escorted by the seven treasures. I reflected to myself: 'Human life is short and swift, impermanent and difficult to preserve. I should only cultivate merit to seek the truth of the Way.' Mindful of constant generosity, I shared all the wealth of the worldly people with them, having already planted merit. It is only fitting to leave the household life to become a śramaṇa; only by cutting off greed and desire can suffering be extinguished. Combing my hair, I found white hairs, plucked them, and placed them on the table. Weeping, the king said: 'The first messenger has suddenly arrived again. It is proper to leave the household life to become a śramaṇa and seek the natural Way.' Holding the hairs in the palm of his hand, he spoke a verse:"