經律異相 23.41

23.41

"If your Majesty's mind cannot bear to part with women, you already have more than three thousand queens and court ladies, which is enough to entertain yourself. It is fitting that your Majesty dismiss me so that I will not be caused sorrow and distress. If I become a śramaṇa, I will persevere unto death without stopping. Your Majesty ought to encourage me, not cut me off." The king said: "If you do so, what use have I for the kingdom?" The queen said: "If the king can understand impermanence, that is the king's supreme wish. The territory, the royal throne, the hundred officials, the court ladies, the precious treasures, and the palace city—none of these belong to the king. The king has a physical body, skeleton, brain, and the five viscera, all of which must disintegrate. What is there to love and cherish?" The king said: "Today I grant permission only to you alone; I fear that my queens and court ladies will pursue and follow you away." The queen said: "Each has their own past karma and the power of merit, which no human can prevent. Even if weapons and staves are brought against them, what is fated to happen must happen; they can never be stopped. I only hope that my person may be granted leave. The king should comfort and show kindness to them with affection, and they will naturally draw close and attach themselves to the king." The king said: "All these women admire and delight in your virtue. How can I, a single man, extend good intentions everywhere among them? I relied solely on you to be the chief queen. If you now abandon me, only when these women are slain with swords will they fear me." The queen said: "Not so. Women take a man as their master. If the king pays attention and draws close to them, they will naturally be at ease." The king said: "It is up to you." The queen then summoned the three thousand queens and court ladies, and admonished them, saying: "You ladies should be close to the Great King, revere his noble majesty, and never be disrespectful. I now bid farewell to you all. Each of you must strive hard, diligently maintain your resolve morning and evening, personally follow the sūtras and teachings, and redouble your vigour. May I soon attain the Buddha's Path, and I shall return to deliver you." The queens and court ladies then cried aloud, and their voices were heard in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Śakra immediately descended and bestowed kāṣāyas upon them; naturally donning them on their bodies, their hair fell to the ground, and having been conferred the five hundred precepts, they became bhikṣuṇīs. The queens and court ladies were all overjoyed. Śakra also conferred upon them kāṣāyas and eating vessels to be śramaṇas. When the king learned of this, he was content and calm without anger. Laughing heartily, he said: "How lofty is the merit of these virtuous ones! Is it not delightful?" Thereupon having attained the trace of the Path, the king returned to the inner palace, but his mind was utterly bewildered. He came out, summoned the crown prince, and entrusted the kingdom to him. The king then made a vow, saying: "I now wish to become a śramaṇa; who understands me?" Śakra then shaved the king's head; the kāṣāya was donned upon his body, the alms bowl naturally appeared, and he followed the Buddha away. The kings of the twelve lesser kingdoms all abandoned their kingdoms, entrusted them to their crown princes, followed the king to become śramaṇas, and simultaneously attained the stage of arhat together. "He who was called Agadaru was my own body; she who was the chief queen was Gopikā" (Extracted from the Sūtra on the Poor Maiden Becoming the Queen of a King).