經律異相 39.6

39.6

昔六師在世。貪著利養自稱獨尊。聞佛出世神德過人。集共結誓。我等宜可齊心同議。語不相違乃得勝之。即遣一人往觀如來。為如人不。視無厭足。還白六師。瞿曇顏貌世之希有威神光明踰於日月。如我所見無可譬喻。六人復念。其人出於王種。理應端正。何足復怪。今且更遣一人往觀。為無為為躁疾。還告六師。瞿曇在眾如獸中王。無所畏難。六人復念。愚人希更事。貪彼光明。此是常儀。何足復怪。出自王宮六萬采女晝夜相娛未更師學。更遣往聽。頗有經理為如凡夫。即遣明達一人觀佛所說。還白六人。彼所道說達古知今。前知無極却覩無窮。判義析理事不煩重。六師復作是念。世多有人辯辭捷疾悅可人心。然理不在不可尋究。復遣往觀。眾人聞說為寂然聽受為憒亂耶。還白六師。瞿曇所顯味如甘露。眾人渴仰聽無厭足。六人復念。人集從初久必退散。更遣高勝一人往瞻。為義理深邃為淺薄耶。還白六師。瞿曇所顯如海無漄。我等所見如牛蹄水。今我一人。且欲就彼求為弟子。前後使人各共相將詣如來所。復有無數眾生相競而到。佛說偈曰。

In the past, when the six teachers were in the world, they craved gain and offerings, each claiming to be uniquely supreme. Hearing that the Buddha had appeared in the world with supernormal power and virtue surpassing ordinary people, they gathered and swore an oath: "We should be of one mind and agree together; only if our words do not contradict each other can we prevail over him." They then sent one person to go and observe the Tathāgata, to see whether he was like an ordinary man. [The emissary], looking upon him insatiably, returned and told the six teachers, "Gautama's countenance is rare in this world, and his majestic spiritual light surpasses the sun and moon. From what I have seen, nothing can compare to it." The six men thought again, "That man was born of royal lineage, so by right he should be handsome; why marvel at that? Let us now send another person to go and observe whether he is composed or agitated." He returned and told the six teachers, "Gautama amidst the assembly is like a king among beasts, without fear or dread." The six men thought again, "Foolish people seldom experience matters, so they covet his light; this is merely common manners, why marvel at it? Emerging from the royal palace, where sixty thousand court ladies entertained him day and night, he has never undergone training under a teacher. Let us send someone else to go and listen to see whether he possesses principles and scripture or is like an ordinary man." They then sent an intelligent person to observe what the Buddha preached. He returned and told the six men, "His teachings comprehend the ancient and understand the present; looking forward, he knows without limit, and looking backward, he perceives without end. His judgments of principles and analysis of matters are concise and free of redundancy." The six teachers thought again, "There are many people in the world who possess swift eloquence that delights human hearts, yet the truth is absent and cannot be investigated. Let us send someone else to go and observe whether the people, upon hearing him speak, listen quietly and receive it or are bewildered and disorderly." He returned and told the six teachers, "What Gautama expounds is tasty as sweet dew; the crowd thirsts for it with longing and listens insatiably." The six men thought again, "When people gather, after a long time from the beginning they are bound to disperse. Let us send another person of high excellence to go and inspect whether his principles are profound or shallow." He returned and told the six teachers, "What Gautama reveals is boundless like the sea; what we have seen is like water in a cow's footprint. Now, I alone wish to go to him and seek to become his disciple." The emissaries sent earlier and later all led one another to the Tathāgata's presence. Incalculable sentient beings also vied with one another to arrive. The Buddha spoke a verse: