經律異相 10.10

10.10

When the Buddha was wandering in Rājagṛha, there was a wanton woman named Utpalavarṇā (Superior Golden-Radiant Head), upright and extraordinarily fine, of the colour of purple-sheened gold. The king, crown prince, ministers, and elders all conceived lustful attachments to her; wherever she went, they would approach and follow her, with men and women, young and old, all chasing after her. Later, on another day, Utpalavarṇā went to the market to buy goods with the son of the elder Bhayaśruta, in order to present offerings and prepare delicious food to visit the pleasure garden together. At that time, Mañjuśrī emerged from his quiet chamber, giving rise to great compassion and pitying sentient beings: "What person can be exhorted and transformed to give rise to the Great Vehicle?" He saw Utpalavarṇā and the son of the elder Bhayaśruta riding together in one carriage on their way to the pleasure garden, and thought she should be transformed. Mañjuśrī immediately transformed his body into that of a youth, handsome and exceedingly exquisite, whose countenance surpassed that of the gods, bringing joy to all who saw him. The clothes he wore shone for forty yojanas. Observing the path where the wanton woman was travelling, he stood ahead of her. The carriage, horses, and garments of the elder's son and Utpalavarṇā, compared to those of Mañjuśrī, were like a heap of ink beside a radiant pearl. When Utpalavarṇā saw that Mañjuśrī's appearance was handsome and marvelous like that of a god, and that the radiance of his body was brilliantly blazing and difficult to match, she coveted his dazzling garments. She thought to herself: "Now I wish to abandon this elder's son, step down from the carriage, leave him behind, and amuse myself with this [youth] to obtain these clothes." As soon as she had this thought, Mañjuśrī established his awesome spiritual power to calm her thoughts. A heavenly king, transformed into a man, said to the woman: "Stop, stop! Why give rise to such wanton thoughts? And why? Such a person as this has no interest in sensual desires." The woman said: "Why?" The heavenly king replied: "This person is named the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. He is able to satisfy the wishes of all people. Seeing what sentient beings seek in their hearts, he does not go against their intentions." The woman thought to herself: "According to what I have just heard, he will certainly give me these wonderful clothes." She stepped down from the carriage and said: "Benevolent one, I pray you will bestow these clothes upon me as a gift." Mañjuśrī replied: "Elder sister, if you can give rise to the mind of unexcelled, true, and correct enlightenment, I will then bestow the clothes upon you." The woman said: "Indeed!" She immediately gave rise to the unexcelled mind of enlightenment and upheld the five precepts. (Extracted from the Sūtra of the Chapter on the Dharma-Gate of the Great Pure One.)