經律異相 43.41

43.41

定光佛時。有五百賈人入海求寶。有異心者念言。我今悉害賈人獨取珍寶。時閻浮提有大導師。名曰大哀。時寐夢中海神語之。賈眾之中有一賊。欲殺五百伴獨取寶物。假令事逮墮墜地獄中。今仁導師當行權變。令賈人不死賊不獲罪。導師思惟七日。無餘方便。唯當殺此凶人耳。語眾賈者必皆興怒當共殺之。俱墮惡趣。設我獨殺。我當受罪。吾寧自忍百千劫苦。不令賈人普被危害。復令一賊墮地獄中。先為說法。令心欣然踊躍臥寐。佛言。大哀導師猶眾賈人興于大哀以權方便害此一賊。命終之後生第十二光音天上。時大哀者則吾身也。以斯方便超千劫生死。同船五百賈客。斯賢劫中五百佛興者是（出慧上菩薩經一卷）。

In the time of Dīpaṃkara Buddha, five hundred merchants entered the sea to seek jewels. One among them harbored treacherous thoughts and considered, “I will now kill all the merchants and take the precious jewels for myself alone.” At that time, in Jambudvīpa there was a great caravan leader named Great Compassion. While he was asleep in a dream, the sea deity told him: “Among the merchants there is a bandit who wishes to kill his five hundred companions and take the treasures for himself alone. If this deed comes to pass, he will fall into hell. Now, benevolent guide, you should employ a skillful means so that the merchants do not die and the bandit incurs no guilt.” The guide contemplated for seven days, and found no other expedient means: “I must simply kill this evil man. If I tell the merchants, they will surely all become enraged and kill him together, and thus all fall into evil destinies. If I kill him alone, I shall bear the punishment myself. I would rather endure the suffering of hundreds of thousands of kalpas myself than let all the merchants be harmed, or let this one bandit fall into hell.” He first preached the Dharma to him, causing his heart to be joyful and ecstatic, and then he fell asleep. The Buddha said: “The guide Great Compassion, moved by great compassion toward the merchants, killed this one bandit through skillful means. After his life ended, he was reborn in the twelfth heaven, the Ābhāsvara heaven. Great Compassion at that time was myself. By this expedient means, I bypassed a thousand kalpas of birth and death. The five hundred merchants on the same ship were none other than the five hundred Buddhas who arise in this Bhadrakalpa.” (From the Huishang pusa jing, 1 scroll.)