經律異相 43.4

43.4

昔有賈客。名曰波利。與五百人入海求寶。時海神出掬水。問波利言。海水為多掬水為多。波利答言。掬水為多。所以者何。海水雖多無益時用。不能救彼飢渴之人。掬水雖少值彼渴者持用與之以濟其命。世世受福不可訾計。海神歡喜讚言善哉。即脫身上八種香瓔挍以七寶。以與波利。海神送之。安善往還到舍衛國。持此香瓔上波斯匿王。具陳所由願蒙納受。王得香瓔以為琦異。即呼諸夫人羅列前住。若最好者以香瓔與之。六萬夫人盡嚴來出。王問。末利夫人何以不出。侍人答言。今十五日持佛法齋素服不嚴。是以不出。王便瞋恚遣人呼曰。如今持齋不應王命。如是三反。末利夫人素服而出。在眾人中明如日月。倍好於常。王意竦然加敬問曰。有何道德炳然有異。夫人白王。自念少福。稟斯女形情態垢穢。日夜山積人命促短。懼墜三塗。是以月月奉佛法齋。割愛從道世世蒙福。王聞歡喜。便以香瓔與之。末利夫人答言。我今持齋不應著此。可與餘人。王曰。我本發意欲與勝者。卿今最勝。又奉法齋道志殊高。是以相與。若卿不受吾將安置。夫人答言。大王勿憂。願王屈意共到佛所。以此香瓔珞奉上世尊。并採聖訓。累劫之福矣。王即許焉。即勅嚴駕往至佛所。稽首于地却就王位。白佛言。海神香瓔波利所上。六萬夫人莫不貪得。末利夫人與而不取。持佛法齋心無貪欲。謹以上佛。願垂受納。世尊弟子執心難。直信如此。豈有福乎。唯願世尊為受香瓔。佛說偈言。

In the past, there was a merchant named Poli, who went to sea with five hundred men in search of jewels. At that time, a sea deity emerged holding a handful of water, and asked Poli, 'Is the water of the ocean more, or is this handful of water more?' Poli replied, 'The handful of water is more. Why is that? Although the sea water is abundant, it has no utility when needed and cannot save those who are hungry and thirsty. Although a handful of water is little, if one encounters a thirsty person and gives it to him to sustain his life, the blessings received through generation after generation cannot be reckoned.' The sea deity was delighted, praised him, saying, 'Excellent!' and immediately took off eight kinds of fragrant necklaces adorned with the seven jewels from his own body and gave them to Poli. The sea deity escorted him, and he returned safely to the kingdom of Śrāvastī. He brought this fragrant necklace and presented it to King Prasenajit, relating the full account of its provenance and hoping the king would accept it. The king found the fragrant necklace marvelously rare, and thereupon summoned his queens to line up before him, intending to give the fragrant necklace to whichever was the most beautiful. All sixty thousand queens fully adorned themselves and came forth. The king asked, 'Why has Queen Mallikā not come out?' An attendant answered, 'Today is the fifteenth day; she is observing the Buddhist uposatha and wearing plain clothes without adornment, and therefore has not come out.' The king grew angry and sent someone to summon her, saying, 'Even if she is observing the uposatha today, she should not disobey the king’s command!' This happened three times. Queen Mallikā came forth in plain clothes. Among the crowd, she shone like the sun and moon, twice as beautiful as usual. The king's mind was awestruck with increased reverence, and he asked, 'What virtue and power do you have that makes you so brightly distinguished?' The queen said to the king, 'I reflected that I have little merit: I received this female body, whose disposition is defiled, and defilements accumulate like mountains day and night. Human life is short, and I fear falling into the three evil paths. Therefore, month after month, I uphold the Buddhist uposatha, severing attachments to follow the Way, so that I may receive blessings life after life.' The king was delighted upon hearing this and offered the fragrant necklace to her. Queen Mallikā replied, 'I am observing the uposatha today and should not wear this; you may give it to someone else.' The king said, 'My original intention was to give it to the finest. You are now the finest, and moreover, your upholding of the Dharma uposatha and your resolve for the Way are exceptionally noble. Therefore, I give it to you. If you do not accept it, where shall I place it?' The queen replied, 'Great King, do not worry. I pray that Your Majesty deign to accompany me to the Buddha's presence, to offer this fragrant necklace to the Bhagavat and to receive his holy teachings. This will indeed bring blessings for countless kalpas.' The king agreed at once. He ordered the carriage prepared and went to the Buddha's presence. Bowing his head to the ground, he stepped back and took his seat. He said to the Buddha, 'This fragrant necklace of the sea deity was presented by Poli. Among the sixty thousand queens, none failed to covet it; Queen Mallikā, however, would not take it when offered. Because she observes the Buddhist uposatha, her mind has no greed or desire. I respectfully present it to the Buddha, hoping you will deign to accept it. World-Honoured One, it is hard to restrain the mind; for her to be upright and faithful like this—could there be merit in it? We only pray that the World-Honoured One will accept the fragrant necklace on our behalf.' The Buddha spoke this verse: