經律異相 42.13

42.13

昔有國。名歡樂無憂。王號廣慈哀。國有居士。名摩訶檀。妻名旃陀。生一子。姿容端正世間少雙。墮地便語。發誓願言。我當布施天下救濟人民其有孤獨貧窮者。我當給護令得安隱。父母因名為大意。見其異姿不與人同。恐是天龍鬼神。欲行卜問。大意知之。便報言。我自是人非天龍鬼神也。但念天下人民窮厄者。欲護視之耳。說此意。便不復語。至年十七乃報父母言。我欲布施苦人令得安隱。父母念言。子初生時已有是願。便告子言。吾財無數恣意施與不相禁制。大意報言。父母財物雖多猶不足我用。唯當入海採寶以給施天下人民耳。數言如是。父母乃聽。大意入海道經他國。國中有婆羅門。財富無量。見大意光顏端正。甚悅樂之告言。我相敬重。今有小女欲以相上。願留止此。大意報言。我辭家入海欲採七寶。未敢相許。且須來還。於是遂進採寶。即遣人持寶還其本國。轉復到海際求索異物。忽見一大樹。高廣八十由延。大意便上樹遙見一銀城。宮闕殿舍皆是白銀。天女侍側伎樂自然。有一毒蛇繞城三匝。見大意便舉頭大意自念言。人為毒所害者皆由無善意耳。便坐自思惟。須臾蛇即低頭睡臥。大意欲入城。守門者便入白王言。外有賢者欲見於王。王身自出迎之。歡喜而言。唯願仁者留住此。一時三月得展供養。答言我行採寶不宜久留。王報言。我不視國事。唯願留住。大意便止。王即供設衣服飲食伎樂。床臥之具。乃竟九十日。大意辭王欲去。王便取珍琦七寶欲以送之。大意言。我不多用是七寶。聞王有一明月珠。意欲求之。王言。我不惜是珠。但恐道路艱嶮難以自隨。大意言。夫福之將人不畏艱嶮。王言。此珠有二十里寶自隨願。我為弟子得給供養。踰於今日也。大意便受珠而去。於是大意轉前行見一金城。宮闕殿舍皆黃金。七寶之樹自然音樂。天女侍從轉倍於前。亦有毒蛇繞城六匝。蛇見大意舉頭視之。復坐定意。蛇復低臥。大意欲入城。守門者即入白王。王即出與相見請前。語言留。一時三月展於供養。大意便止。王待遇如前。經六十日辭去。白王。聞王有一明月珠。願以見惠。王答如前。四十里中珍寶追之。便以貢上。仁者後得道時。願為弟子。神足無比。得展供養過於今日。受珠而去。大意轉復前行。又見一水精城。宮闕殿舍事事如前。亦有一毒蛇。繞城九匝低頭睡臥。王出迎之。願留三月。大意即住。王復盡意供養。施設飲食衣服伎樂。乃歷四十日辭去。白王。聞王有一明月珠。願以見惠。王便報言。此珠有六十里寶。自然追之。便以上。仁者若後得道。願為弟子。智慧無比。當復供養過於今日。便受珠而去。前行復見一瑠璃城。亦見一毒蛇。繞城十二匝低頭睡臥。王迎請乞留三月。大意即留。王身自供養飲食衣服伎樂以娛之。乃歷二十日辭去。白王。我聞王有一明月珠。可以見惠。王言。此珠有八十里珍寶追之。便以上。於仁者後得道時。願我為弟子。淨意供養過於今日。令長得智慧。大意受珠而去。念言。吾本來求寶。今已如志當從是還。便尋故道欲還本國。經歷大海中。諸神王因共議言。我海中雖多眾珍名寶。無有如此輩珠。便勅使海神要奪其珠。神便化作人與大意相見。問言。聞卿得奇異之物。寧可借視之乎。大意舒手示其四珠。海神便搖其手使珠墮水。大意自念。王與我言道。此珠難保我幸已得之。今為此子所奪非趣也。即謂海神言。我自勤苦經涉嶮岨得此珠來。汝反奪我。今不相還。我當抒盡海水耳海神知之問言。卿志奇高。海深三百三十六萬由延。其廣無涯。奈何竭之。如日終不墮地。如大風不可攬束。日尚可使墮地。風尚可攬束。大海水不可抒令竭也。大意笑答之言。我自念。前後受身生死壞敗。積骨過於須彌山。其血流五河。四海未足以喻。吾尚欲斷是生死之根本。但此小海何足不抒。我昔供養諸佛誓願言。令我志行勇於道決所向無難。當移須彌山竭大海水終不退。意便一心以器抒海水。精誠之感。四天王來助大意。抒水三分已二。於是海中諸神王。皆大振怖共議言。今不還其珠者非小故也。水盡泥出壞我宮室。海神便出眾寶以與大意。大意不取。告言。不用是輩。但欲得我珠耳。從還我珠終不相置也。海神知其意盛便出珠還之。大意得珠過娶婆羅門女。還其本國恣意大布施。自是以後境界無復飢寒窮乏者。四方士民皆去其舊上。繈負歸仁。如是布施歷載恩逮。蜎飛蚑行蠕動靡不受潤。其後壽終上為帝釋。或下為飛行皇帝。積累功德自致成佛。三界特尊皆由宿行。非自然也。佛告諸比丘。大意者我身是。時居士摩訶檀者今現悅頭檀是。時母旃陀者今現夫人摩耶是。時歡樂無憂國王者即摩訶迦葉是。時婆羅門女者裘夷是。時女父者彌勒是。時銀城中王者阿難是。時金城中王者目揵連是。時水精城中王者舍利弗是。時瑠璃城中王者須陀是也。時第四天王助大意抒海水者即優陀是也。時奪其珠者即調達是也。時四城門守者即須颰磐特蘇曷披拘留是。時繞四城毒蛇者即是共剎酸陀利四臣是也。阿難白佛。以何功德致四明月珠眾寶隨之。佛言。乃昔維衛佛時。大意甞以四寶為佛起塔。供養三尊持齋七日。是時有五百人。同時共起寺。或懸繒然燈者。或燒香散華者。或供養比丘僧者。或誦經講道者。今皆來會（出大意經）。

Formerly there was a kingdom named Delight and Freedom from Sorrow. Its king was named Boundless Compassion and Pity. In the kingdom was a householder named Mahādāna, and his wife was named Candrā. They gave birth to a son whose features and appearance were upright, having few equals in the world. As soon as he fell to the ground, he spoke, making a vow: "I shall give generously to all under heaven to rescue and relieve the people; whoever is solitary or impoverished, I shall provide for and protect so that they may attain security." His parents therefore named him Mahāmati. Seeing his extraordinary appearance, unlike that of ordinary humans, they feared he might be a deva, nāga, ghost, or spirit, and wished to divine about him. Knowing this, Mahāmati told them: "I am indeed a human, not a deva, nāga, ghost, or spirit. I only think of the people under heaven who are in poverty and distress, and wish to look after them." Having expressed this thought, he did not speak again. When he reached seventeen years of age, he then told his parents: "I wish to give generously to those who suffer, so that they may attain security." His parents thought: "When our son was newly born, he already made this vow." So they told him: "Our wealth is limitless; give as you please without restraint." Mahāmati replied: "Though my parents' goods and wealth are many, they are still insufficient for my needs. I must go to sea to gather jewels to provide for and give to the people under heaven." He spoke thus repeatedly, so his parents eventually permitted it. Entering the sea, Mahāmati passed through other countries. In one kingdom was a brāhmaṇa of immeasurable wealth. Seeing Mahāmati's radiant and upright countenance, he was greatly pleased and told him: "I respect you deeply. Now I have a young daughter whom I wish to offer to you in marriage; please remain and dwell here." Mahāmati replied: "I have taken leave of my family to enter the sea in order to gather the seven precious jewels. I dare not consent yet; wait until I return." Thereupon he went on to gather jewels, and dispatched people carrying the treasures back to his home country. He then traveled on to the ocean's edge seeking rare things. Suddenly he saw a great tree, eighty yojanas in height and breadth. Mahāmati climbed the tree and from afar saw a silver city. Its palaces, towers, halls, and pavilions were all of white silver; heavenly maidens attended at its sides, and celestial music sounded naturally. There was a venomous serpent coiled three times around the city. Seeing Mahāmati, it raised its head. Mahāmati thought to himself: "Those harmed by poison suffer solely because they lack benevolent intentions." He sat down and meditated; before long, the serpent lowered its head and fell asleep. Mahāmati wished to enter the city. The gatekeeper entered to inform the king: "Outside is a worthy man who wishes to see the king." The king came out in person to welcome him, and said with joy: "I only wish that the benevolent one would remain here for one season—three months—so that I may offer provisions." He replied: "I journey to gather jewels, and ought not remain long." The king said: "I shall not attend to state affairs; I only wish you to remain." Mahāmati then stayed. The king at once provided him with robes, food, drink, music, beds, and couches, until ninety days were completed. Mahāmati took leave of the king wishing to depart. The king then took rare gems and the seven precious jewels wishing to present them to him. Mahāmati said: "I have no great use for these seven jewels. I have heard the king possesses a bright-moon pearl; I desire to ask for it." The king said: "I do not begrudge this pearl, but fear the path is arduous and dangerous, making it difficult to carry along." Mahāmati said: "He who is led by merit does not fear hardship or danger." The king said: "This pearl is naturally accompanied by treasures extending for twenty li. I wish that I may become your disciple and be able to make offerings that surpass those of today." Mahāmati received the pearl and departed. Thereupon Mahāmati moved forward and saw a golden city. Its palaces, towers, halls, and pavilions were all of yellow gold; trees of the seven precious substances produced spontaneous music, and heavenly maidens in attendance were twice as many as before. There was also a venomous serpent coiled six times around the city. Seeing Mahāmati, the serpent raised its head and looked at him. He again sat and concentrated his mind, and the serpent again lowered its head and lay down. Mahāmati wished to enter the city, and the gatekeeper went in to inform the king. The king came out to meet him, invited him forward, and said: "Remain for one season, three months, to receive my offerings." Mahāmati stayed, and the king treated him as before. After sixty days, he took his leave, saying to the king: "I have heard that the king possesses a bright-moon pearl; I pray you bestow it upon me." The king replied as before: "Rare treasures extending forty li will follow it." He then offered it, saying: "When the benevolent one later attains the Way, I wish to become your disciple, peerless in spiritual powers, and be able to make offerings surpassing those of today." Having received the pearl, he departed. Mahāmati again advanced forward, and again saw a crystal city. Its palaces, towers, halls, and pavilions were in all respects like the previous ones. There was also a venomous serpent coiled nine times around the city, which lowered its head and fell asleep. The king came out to welcome him and wished him to remain for three months. Mahāmati stayed, and the king again provided for him with all his heart, setting out food, drink, clothing, and music. After forty days, he took his leave and said to the king: "I have heard that the king possesses a bright-moon pearl; I pray you bestow it upon me." The king told him: "This pearl is naturally followed by treasures extending sixty li." He then offered it, saying: "When the benevolent one later attains the Way, I wish to become your disciple, peerless in wisdom, and again make offerings surpassing those of today." He received the pearl and departed. Going forward, he again saw a lapis lazuli city, and also saw a venomous serpent coiled twelve times around the city, which lowered its head and fell asleep. The king welcomed him and begged him to stay for three months. Mahāmati stayed, and the king personally provided him with food, drink, clothing, and music to delight him. After twenty days, he took his leave and said to the king: "I have heard that the king possesses a bright-moon pearl; you could bestow it upon me." The king said: "This pearl is followed by rare treasures extending eighty li." He then offered it, saying: "When the benevolent one later attains the Way, may I become your disciple, making offerings with a pure mind that surpass those of today, and be granted lasting wisdom." Mahāmati received the pearl and departed. He thought: "I originally came to seek jewels, and now have fulfilled my wish; I should return from here." So he followed his old path wishing to return to his native kingdom. As he traveled through the ocean, the various spirit-kings conferred together, saying: "Though our ocean holds many rare and famous treasures, we have no pearls like these." They ordered the ocean deity to intercept and seize the pearls. The deity transformed into a human and met Mahāmati, asking: "I have heard that you obtained marvelous things; could you lend them to me to see?" Mahāmati opened his hand to show him the four pearls. The ocean deity shook his hand, causing the pearls to fall into the water. Mahāmati thought to himself: "The kings spoke to me of how difficult it is to preserve these pearls, and fortunately I had obtained them; now to have them snatched by this fellow is intolerable." He said to the ocean deity: "I toiled through hardships traversing rugged dangers to obtain these pearls, yet you snatch them from me. If you do not return them to me now, I will bail this seawater dry!" Aware of this, the ocean deity asked: "Your resolution is extraordinarily lofty. The sea is 3,360,000 yojanas deep, and its breadth is boundless. How could you exhaust it? Just as the sun will never fall to the earth, and the great wind cannot be gathered and bound; the sun might sooner be made to fall to the earth, and the wind be bound, than the water of the ocean could ever be bailed dry." Mahāmati smiled and replied to him: "I reflect that in my past births and deaths, my accumulated bones have exceeded Mount Sumeru, and my shed blood has flowed in the five rivers; the four oceans are not enough to serve as an analogy. When I even wish to sever the root of this birth and death, how could this small sea not be bailed dry? In the past when I made offerings to the Buddhas, I vowed: 'May my determination and conduct be courageous in deciding for the Way, meeting no difficulty wherever I go; though moving Mount Sumeru and exhausting the waters of the ocean, I shall never turn back.'" He then single-mindedly began bailing the seawater with a vessel. Moved by his sincere devotion, the Four Heavenly Kings came to aid Mahāmati; two thirds of the water had already been bailed out. At this, the spirit-kings in the sea were greatly terrified, and conferred together: "If we do not return his pearls now, it will be no small matter: the water will be exhausted and the mud exposed, destroying our palaces." The ocean deity then brought out various treasures to give to Mahāmati. Mahāmati would not take them, saying: "I have no use for these; I only wish to obtain my pearls. Unless you return my pearls, I shall never leave off." The ocean deity, knowing his resolve was unyielding, brought out the pearls and returned them to him. Having recovered the pearls, Mahāmati stopped by to marry the brāhmaṇa's daughter, and returned to his home country, where he distributed great alms as he pleased. From that time on, within the borders there were no longer any who were cold, hungry, or impoverished. The gentry and commoners from the four directions all abandoned their old superiors, carrying their children on their backs to return to his benevolence. Giving in this manner through the years, his favour reached everywhere, so that nothing that flew, crawled, or wriggled failed to be enriched by his bounty. Afterwards, when his lifespan ended, he ascended to become Śakra, or descended as a flying emperor; accumulating merits, he brought himself to Buddhahood. Being especially revered in the three realms all stems from past practices, and does not occur by itself. The Buddha told the monks: "Mahāmati was myself. The householder Mahādāna of that time is now Śuddhodana. The mother Candrā of that time is now Lady Māyā. The king of the kingdom Delight and Freedom from Sorrow was Mahākāśyapa. The brāhmaṇa girl of that time was Gopā. The girl's father was Maitreya. The king in the silver city was Ānanda. The king in the golden city was Maudgalyāyana. The king in the crystal city was Śāriputra. The king in the lapis lazuli city was Subhūti. The Fourth Heavenly King who assisted Mahāmati in bailing the sea was Udāyin. He who snatched the pearls was Devadatta. The four city gatekeepers were Subhadra, Panthaka, Sujāta, and Bakula. The venomous serpents coiled around the four cities were the four ministers of Caṇḍāla and Sundarī." Ānanda said to the Buddha: "By what merit were the four bright-moon pearls obtained, with manifold treasures following them?" The Buddha said: "Long ago in the time of Vipaśyin Buddha, Mahāmati once built a stūpa for the Buddha out of the four precious substances, made offerings to the Three Honoured Ones, and kept the fast for seven days. At that time there were five hundred people who jointly built the monastery together: some hung banners and lit lamps, some burned incense and scattered flowers, some made offerings to the bhikṣu saṅgha, and some recited sūtras and expounded the Way. Now they have all assembled here." (Extracted from the Dayi jing)