經律異相 44.68

44.68

維耶梨國有迦羅越。奉佛供養呪願畢。請聞法義。佛笑口光繞身三匝還從頂入。阿難問故。佛言。彼國有五百人。入海採寶置船步還。經歷深山日暮止宿。預嚴早發。四百九十九人皆去。一人臥熟。失輩。仍遇天雨雪。失去徑路。窮厄山中啼哭呼天。有旃檀樹神。謂窮人言。可止留此。自相給衣食。到春可去。窮人便留至于三月。啟樹神言。受恩得全身命。未有微報。顧有二親今在本土。實思得見。願垂發遣。樹神言善。以金餅施之。去此不遠。當得國邑。可得遷還至汝鄉里。窮人臨去問樹神言。此樹香潔世所希有。今當委遠願知其名。神言。不須問也。窮人復言。依蔭此樹積歷三月。今當遠離情懷恨恨。若到本國當宣揚樹恩。神便言。樹名栴檀。根莖枝葉治人百病。其香遠聞人所貪求不須道也。窮人至國。中外親戚喜相慶慰。後國王病頭痛。禱祀天地山水諸神不能消差。名醫省視唯得栴檀香病可得愈。王即募求民間無有。便宣令國中。得旃檀香者。拜封為侯妻以小女。時窮人聞償祿重。便言。我知栴檀香處。王便令近臣將窮人而往伐取。徑到樹所。使者見樹洪直。枝條茂盛華果煌煌。人所希見心不忍伐。不伐者則違王命。病不消愈。伐之者中心隱隱。踟蹰徘徊不知云何。樹神於空中言。便伐之。但置其根耳。伐竟以人血塗之。肝腸覆其上。樹自當生。還復如故。使者聞神言如此。便令人伐之。窮人住在樹邊。樹彈地枝𢶏殺之。使者共議。屠割窮人取其肝血。如神所勅樹即更生。車載所伐樹以還國中。醫即進藥。王病得愈。舉國歡喜。王命國中人民。其有病者皆詣宮門。王出香藥給之。病皆得愈。王身康豫黎民無病。舉國欣慶遂致太平（出栴檀樹經也）。

In the country of Vaiśālī, there was a householder (gṛhapati). Having made offerings to the Buddha and received his benediction, he requested to hear the meaning of the Dharma. The Buddha smiled, and light from his mouth circled his body three times and entered back into the crown of his head. When Ānanda asked the reason, the Buddha said: "In that country there were five hundred men who went to sea to gather treasures. Leaving their boat behind, they were returning on foot. As they passed through deep mountains, dusk fell and they stopped to lodge. Having made preparations to depart early, four hundred and ninety-nine men all left, but one man was fast asleep and got left behind by his companions. Thereupon, snow began to fall, and he lost his path. Destitute and distressed in the mountains, he wept and cried out to Heaven. There was a sandalwood tree spirit who said to the destitute man: 'You may stay here; I will provide you with food and clothing myself. When spring arrives, you may go.' The destitute man then remained until the third month. He addressed the tree spirit, saying: 'Having received your kindness, my whole life was spared, yet I have not offered the slightest repayment. However, I have two parents now residing in my homeland, and I truly long to see them. I pray you will kindly send me off.' The tree spirit said: 'Very well,' and gave him a gold disc. 'Not far from here you will reach a town, and you will be able to make your way back to your village.' As he was about to leave, the destitute man asked the tree spirit: 'The fragrant purity of this tree is rare in the world. Now that I am to leave it far behind, I wish to know its name.' The spirit said: 'There is no need to ask.' The destitute man said again: 'Sheltered by this tree for the course of three months, now that I am to depart far away, my heart is filled with regret. If I reach my homeland, I shall proclaim the tree’s kindness.' The spirit then said: 'The tree is named Sandalwood. Its roots, trunk, branches, and leaves cure people of a hundred illnesses. Its fragrance is smelled from afar, and people covet it; there is no need to speak of it.' When the destitute man reached his country, his relatives inside and outside [the household] rejoiced to congratulate and comfort him. Later, the king of the country fell ill with a headache. Prayers and sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, mountains, rivers, and all the spirits could not relieve it. A famous physician examined him [and declared] that only if he obtained sandalwood incense could the illness be cured. The king immediately sought it among the people, but none had it. He then proclaimed throughout the country: 'Whoever obtains sandalwood incense shall be enfeoffed as a marquis and given my younger daughter as wife.' Hearing of this rich reward, the destitute man said: 'I know the place of sandalwood incense.' The king then ordered an intimate minister to take the destitute man and go fell it. Going straight to the tree's location, the envoy saw that the tree was vast and straight, its branches flourishing, and its flowers and fruits resplendent. It was something rarely seen by men, and in his heart he could not bear to fell it: yet if he did not fell it, he would disobey the king's order and the illness would not be healed; but if he felled it, his heart felt deep pain. Hesitating and pacing, he did not know what to do. The tree spirit spoke from midair, saying: 'Go ahead and fell it, only leave its roots behind! When the felling is done, smear it with human blood and cover it with liver and intestines, and the tree will grow again of itself and be restored as before.' Hearing the spirit speak thus, the envoy ordered his men to fell it. The destitute man was standing beside the tree, and the tree snapped downward and its branches struck and killed him. The envoys consulted together, butchered the destitute man, and took his liver and blood. Just as the spirit had instructed, the tree immediately grew again. They loaded the felled tree onto a cart and returned to the country. The physician then administered the medicine, and the king's illness was cured. The entire country rejoiced. The king commanded the people of the country: 'Whoever is sick, let them all come to the palace gates.' The king brought out the fragrant medicine and gave it to them, and all their illnesses were cured. The king's body was at peace and the common people were free of disease; the entire country celebrated and rejoiced, and great peace was thus brought about." (Taken from the Sandalwood Tree Sūtra.)