經律異相 14.23

14.23

"In a past lifetime as well, Śāriputra could not bear to see me die, and so died before me." Ānanda said to the Buddha, "I do not know how this matter of his dying before you in the past came about." The Buddha told Ānanda: "In the distant past, incalculable kalpas ago, in this Jambudvīpa there was a king named Candrāvaloka (in the Liang language, 'Moonlight'). The king had twenty thousand queens and court ladies, the foremost of whom was named Kusumadattā (in the Liang language, 'Flower Giver'). He had ten thousand ministers, the foremost of whom was named Mahācandra (in the Liang language, 'Great Moon'). The king had five hundred princes; the eldest prince was named Śīlabhadra (in the Liang language, 'Virtuous Precepts'). The city where the king resided was named Bhadrāyuṣ (in the Liang language, 'Virtuous Longevity'). The city was four hundred yojanas in length and breadth, with a total of one hundred and twenty gates all around. He instituted great charitable gifts, giving whatever the masses required to their full satisfaction. He also sent an order down to the eighty-four thousand lesser kingdoms, having them all open their storehouses and make donations. All the ministers acted in accordance with the command: they immediately erected golden banners, beat golden drums, and widely proclaimed the order, conveying the king's compassionate edict so that all near and far, within and without, were made aware of it. At that time, śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, the poor, the orphaned, the elderly, and those who were in need throughout the kingdom, supporting one another, strong and weak, gathered like clouds and rain, and he gave to them as they wished. The people of Jambudvīpa were graced by the king's kindness. There was a small kingdom whose king was named Bhīmasena. Hearing of King Moonlight's lofty and great renown, he harboured jealousy in his heart and could not rest easy on his mat. He then thought to himself, 'Unless Moonlight is eliminated, my own fame will not arise. I must devise an expedient method, inviting practitioners of the Way and recruiting men.' A brāhmaṇa said, 'What worry does the king have? Please tell us.' The king said, 'The fame and virtue of that King Moonlight are known far and wide, and all submit to his influence. I alone am base and obscure, lacking such renown. I wish to eliminate him; what expedient method can be used?' The brāhmaṇas said, 'Moonlight's loving-kindness and benevolence nourish the impoverished and destitute like a father and mother to the people. With what heart could we follow such an evil plot? We would rather kill ourselves than do this.' Thereupon they dispersed, disregarding his offerings. At that time, Bhīmasena's grief and distress grew even greater. He then issued a wide recruitment notice, proclaiming everywhere: 'Whoever can obtain King Moonlight's head for me shall be given half the kingdom to rule and my daughter in marriage.' At that time, on a mountainside, there was a brāhmaṇa named Raudrākṣa who came in response to the king's recruitment. The king was overjoyed, and spoke to him again, saying, 'If you can accomplish this, I will not break my faithful oath. If you can go, on what day will you set out?' The brāhmaṇa said, 'Prepare the provisions and necessities for my journey; after seven days I will set out.' The brāhmaṇa then recited mantras to protect himself, and when the seven days were completed, he came to take leave of the king. The king provided what was needed, and he set out on the road. At that time, in King Moonlight's kingdom, there were portents and strange occurrences in advance: the eighty-four thousand lesser kings all dreamt that the great king's golden banner suddenly snapped and the golden drum suddenly cracked; the minister Mahācandra dreamt that a ghost seized the king's golden crown. Each was filled with grief and worry, unable to find peace. At that time, the gate-guardian spirit of the city knew that the brāhmaṇa wished to beg for the king's head, and obstructed him, not allowing him to enter. The brāhmaṇa circled the city several times but could not advance. A Śuddhāvāsa god, knowing that King Moonlight would fulfill his perfection of generosity by donating his head, spoke to the king in a dream, saying, 'You have vowed to give, not opposing the minds of the multitude; yet a beggar is at the gate with no way to come forward. For one who wishes to be a donor, this should not be the case.' The king awoke in astonishment and immediately instructed Mahācandra, 'Go to the gate and order that no one be turned away.' The minister Mahācandra went to the city gate, whereupon the gate-guardian spirit revealed his form and said to Mahācandra, 'There is a brāhmaṇa who has come from another kingdom, harboring an evil mind, wishing to beg for the king's head. For this reason I did not permit him.' The minister answered, 'This is a great calamity! Yet the king has given an order, and by principle it cannot be disobeyed. What is to be done? We should make heads of the seven treasures, five hundred of each, to trade with him.' He immediately gave orders to make them. At that time, the brāhmaṇa went straight before the palace hall and called out in a loud voice, 'In a distant land I heard of the king's merit, that you practice universal giving and do not oppose people's wishes. Therefore I have traveled from afar, wishing to obtain something.' Hearing this, the king was delighted, came out to greet him, paid homage, and inquired after him, saying, 'Are you not utterly exhausted from traveling on the road? Whatever you desire [shall be granted].' The brāhmaṇa said, 'Although external objects are given away, they are not what I need. I have come from afar solely to beg for the king's head. If you will not disappoint or refuse me, please bestow it upon me.' Hearing these words, the king leaped with boundless joy. The brāhmaṇa said, 'If you will give me your head, when will you give it?' The king said, 'Seven days from now I shall give you my head.'