經律異相 11.53

11.53

In the past, the Bodhisattva was poor and destitute. Together with merchants, he went to another country. The Bodhisattva saw that fish in the sea, large and small, were devouring one another. Sacrificing his own body on behalf of the small ones so that they might gain a moment of life, he threw himself into the sea. The large fish were sated, and the small ones survived. His conscious spirit transformed into the king of whale-fish, whose body was several leagues long. A country beside the sea suffered a drought, and the people starved, devouring one another. The fish then washed its body ashore in that country. Those who ate of it preserved their lives. They carted away its flesh for several months, yet the fish was still alive. A heavenly deity descended and said, 'You practice benevolence and compassion, but can such suffering be endured? Why not withdraw your lifespan and part from this agony?' The fish said, 'If my spirit departs and my body rots, the people will starve afterwards and again devour one another. I cannot bear to see it.' The deity said, 'You will surely attain Buddhahood and deliver suffering sentient beings.' Someone took its head, and the fish then died. Its spirit became a prince, endowed with the supreme sage's illumination. His great compassion through the four obligations was equal to Heaven and Earth. Pitying the people's destitution, his voice choked whenever he spoke of it. Yet the country was still in drought. With a settled mind in fasting and solemnity, he declined food and refused offerings, bowing his head in repentance and saying: 'The people's lack of goodness has its blame upon my own person. I wish to lose my life so that rain and moisture may be bestowed upon the people.' Month after month he mourned and grieved, like a most filial son suffering the loss of a sage father. His absolute sincerity was renowned far and wide. The Buddha, together with five hundred followers, came to his borders. Hearing of this, the king was delighted in heart. Going out to welcome them, he bowed his head, kowtowing and weeping: 'My mind is defiled and my conduct turbid, not in accord with the teachings of the Three Venerable Ones and the four obligations. I have brought hardship and cruelty upon the people; drought has persisted for successive years, and the common folk starve. My grief and anguish wound my feelings. I pray that the people's disaster be removed and the guilt be visited upon me!' The Buddhas replied: 'As a ruler of men, your compassionate sorrow and benevolent kindness equal the virtue of Śakra. The Buddhas all know this. Let the king receive blessings; by all means, do not grieve.' He ordered the people to sow grain, and every household cultivated it. The rice grew lush. The king said, 'Wait until it ripens.' The grain covered the realm, each holding husked rice with a volume of several bushels inside. Its grain was fragrant, and the whole realm rejoiced, praising and chanting the king's virtue. Across the entire land they maintained the precepts and took refuge in the Three Jewels. The king and his ministers and subjects were reborn in heaven at the end of their lives. The poor man at that time was my own person. (Extracted from the first fascicle of the Collection of Crossing the Limitless.)