經律異相 44.8

44.8

昔人名賢直。曾三預八關聞讀經言。天眼不瞬誦念不忘。然此賢直。善偷他物眼前不覺。國王失珠。召臣量議。臣答王言。聞有賢直極能作偷。王勅錄來考問望得其言不偷。王既有道何由抂人。又召諸臣共議。有臣言曰。當作方便令其首伏。當重枷鎖載市唱令殺之。與酒令醉然後脫鎖舉置堂上妓女作樂。王勅伎女。賢直醉問。汝可答言。此是天堂我是天女。應為侍側。君前身時偷國王珠故得生此。王便依之。賢直聞已默念而去。我聞經言。天眼不瞬此女悉瞬。且我偷珠應入地獄。將非國王張我令首。即便發言。我得生天由不偷珠。妓女報王。道賢直言。王便大笑。小子定不偷我珠也。即放令去。重賜金寶。此實偷珠。誦念一偈免罪得賜（出雜譬喻經也）。

In the past, there was a man named Xianzhi who had thrice undertaken the eight precepts and had heard the scriptures recited, which said: 'The deva-eye does not blink, and their mindful recitation is never forgotten.' Yet this Xianzhi was skilled at stealing other people's goods right before their eyes without being noticed. The king of the realm lost a pearl and summoned his ministers to deliberate. A minister answered the king: 'I have heard there is Xianzhi, who is exceedingly capable of theft.' The king ordered him arrested and interrogated, expecting to obtain his confession, but he insisted he had not stolen it. Since the king was virtuous, how could he wrongfully convict someone? He again summoned his ministers to deliberate together. A minister said: 'We should devise an expedient means to make him confess. We should place heavy cangues and fetters upon him, carry him to the marketplace, proclaim his execution, give him wine to make him drunk, and then remove the fetters, carry him up into a hall, and have singing girls make music.' The king instructed the singing girls: 'When Xianzhi wakes and inquires, you may reply: "This is heaven, and I am a heavenly maiden assigned to attend you. Because in your previous life you stole the king's pearl, you were born here."' The king followed this plan. Upon hearing this, Xianzhi silently reflected: 'I heard the scriptures say that the deva-eye does not blink, yet these women all blink. Furthermore, if I stole the pearl, I should enter hell; is this not the king laying a trap for me to make me confess?' He immediately spoke out: 'My attainment of birth in heaven was due to my not stealing the pearl.' The singing girls reported to the king what Xianzhi said. The king laughed loudly: 'The lad definitely did not steal my pearl!' He immediately released him and richly bestowed gold and treasures upon him. In reality, he had indeed stolen the pearl, but by recollecting a single verse, he was pardoned and received a reward (from the *Za piyu jing*).