經律異相 24.12

24.12

In the past in Jambudvīpa, there were four rivers and two great kings. One was named Brahmadeva (in Liang language: Fantian), who held three rivers exclusively. His people were numerous and prosperous, but weak and timid. The other king was named Vajrasaṃghāta (in Liang language: Jingangju), who held only one river. His people were few, but all the people of his country were brave and robust. At that time Vajrasaṃghāta, staying in the main palace hall, reflected: 'My troops are valiant and fierce, yet the water we hold is scarce. That country is weak and timid, yet holds three rivers exclusively. I should now send an envoy to demand one river. If they grant it to me, we shall form a close alliance: when our countries possess fine goods, we shall offer them as mutual tribute and gifts; if there are hardships and difficulties, we shall come to each other's rescue. But if we do not obtain it, then I shall seize it by force.' He immediately dispatched an envoy to the country of Brahmā to convey the King's intentions fully. King Brahmā said, 'My country is abundant and prosperous, and my people are numerous. Moreover, this realm was owned by my father the King, who in turn conferred it upon me. When it comes to a contest of strength, I will not yield to him.' He replied, 'This country was indeed conferred by my father; my strength is in no way inferior. If he wishes to settle this by force, I do not fear him.' The envoy returned and reported fully to the King. The King immediately assembled his army to attack the country of Brahmā. In a single battle, Brahmā's army was shattered. Taking advantage of the momentum, they pursued them straight to the edge of the city. The people huddled in fear, not daring to come out again. The ministers gathered together and went to King Brahmā, saying to the Great King, 'The other country's soldiers are strong, while our country is weak. For begrudging a single river, we have now incurred this defeat. If this continues, before long we fear the country will be lost. We pray that you relent and grant them one river, so that we may form a close alliance and adequately preserve our safety.' The King sent an envoy to grant one river, and also promised his daughter to be the King's consort; when their countries had rare goods, they would offer them to each other as tribute and gifts, and in times of emergency and peril, they would come to each other's rescue. Thereupon Vajrasaṃghāta welcomed the daughter and installed her as his royal consort. Both sides reconciled in harmony, and he withdrew his army and returned to his country. After several days, the King's consort realized she was pregnant. After she conceived, there was constantly a spontaneous great parasol of the seven treasures positioned over her body, whether sitting, lying, walking, or standing, never leaving her. When the full ten months were reached, she gave birth to a boy. His body was of purple-gold colour, his hair was dark blue, and his radiant marks were brilliant, rarely equalled in the world. As soon as the child emerged from the womb, the parasol was over him. They summoned physiognomists to examine the child. The physiognomists said to the King, 'The prince's virtuous marks are rare in the world.' The King and his ministers were overjoyed beyond measure. They immediately gave him a name, naming him Chattrākāra (in Liang language: Gashi, "Parasol-Deed"). When he reached adulthood, his parents passed away. The petty kings, ministers, and people jointly enthroned Chattrākāra. After governing for several years, he went out on an excursion and saw the people toiling bitterly at plowing and planting. He asked his attendants, 'What are these people doing?' They answered, 'The state takes the people as its foundation, and the people take grain as their life. If it were not so, the people's lives could not be sustained; if the people's lives cannot be sustained, the state will perish.' The King then said, 'If my auspicious marks of merit entitle me to be king, let my people obtain grain spontaneously.' No sooner had he finished speaking than the people's granaries and storehouses were filled with all kinds of grain, everything they wished for being present. Later he went out on another excursion and saw people drawing water, pounding and grinding grain, and performing labour. Again he asked his ministers, 'Why are these people doing this?' The ministers said to the King, 'Receiving the King's gracious bounty, they have obtained spontaneous grain. But it must be prepared, and therefore the common people are busy making food.' The King said again, 'If my merit entitles me to be king, let all the people in my country have spontaneous food.' As soon as these words were uttered, throughout the entire realm they obtained spontaneous food. Later he went out on another excursion and saw people weaving and preparing clothing. He asked, 'Why are these people working?' The ministers said, 'They are preparing garments.' The King said, 'If my merit entitles me to be king, let all the trees in my country produce spontaneous clothing.' No sooner had he spoken these words than all the trees in the country produced wondrous garments, extremely fine and soft, blue, yellow, red, and white, according to whatever people preferred. Later he went out on another excursion and saw the people eagerly crafting musical instruments. The King again asked his ministers, 'Why is this?' The ministers said, 'They are crafting instruments for music.' The King said, 'If I have merit entitling me to be king, let the trees in my country grow musical instruments, all appearing according to what is desired.' After a short time, all the kings, ministers, and people came to pay homage and offer congratulations. It coincided with the King's mealtime, so he detained them to share food and drink. At that time, having received the King's food and drink complete with the hundred flavours, the ministers all said to the King, 'The food and drink in our homes is bland and meagre; now having received the King's food, its delicious flavour is extraordinary.' The King told them, 'You ministers and people: if you wish constantly to have food like mine, those who eat at my mealtime shall all obtain such food.' He immediately ordered the officers on duty: 'When my mealtime arrives, always beat the great drum, so that all the people may hear and know of it. Those who eat at my mealtime shall obtain the superior, wondrous offerings of the hundred flavours.' From that time on, whenever he ate, the drum was beaten. All the people, upon hearing the sound and thinking of food, found superior delicacies of the hundred flavours spontaneously appearing before them. The people were carefree and joyful. At that time King Brahmā sent an envoy to the country of King Chattrākāra, saying to Chattrākāra, 'When your father was alive, I granted that river's water to your father. Now that your father has passed away, it should be returned to me.' Then King Chattrākāra replied to the envoy: 'My present territory and the river's water were not obtained by my strength forcibly taken from you. Yet, as king, I do not burden my people with goods. Wait a while, until I meet with your king later.' The envoy returned and reported to the King. The King agreed to his intention and set a date for a meeting. The two kings both advanced, surrounded by their armies, and each pitched a great camp on one bank of the river. The two kings boarded boats and met in the middle of the river. When King Brahmā first saw Chattrākāra, whose body shone brilliantly like a mountain of purple gold, whose hair gleamed like dark blue lapis lazuli, and whose eyes were wide and long, rarely seen among men, a respectful mind arose within him, thinking he was the god Brahmā. Arriving and exchanging greetings, they sat facing each other, discussing their two countries and the matter of demanding the water. Chattrākāra replied, 'Whatever my country's people desire appears spontaneously, and they have no burdens of taxes or royal corvée.' Before he had finished speaking, mealtime arrived. King Chattrākāra's army beat the drum for the meal. Brahmā thought they intended to kill him, and in fright arose to apologize for his offense, spreading sheepskins in the four directions and prostrating his belly flat on the ground. Chattrākāra arose himself, pulled him up, and made him sit down again. He said to him, 'Great King, why are you so terrified? When my army eats, they always beat the drum. The reason is that those who eat at my mealtime all obtain superior offerings of the hundred flavours.' Brahmā arose again and said to Chattrākāra, 'I pray only that the Great King will extend your oversight and cover over me and my countrymen; we all wish to surrender and submit, so that all the common people may receive your gracious bounty.' Thereupon Chattrākāra took charge of Jambudvīpa, and all the people attained peace and happiness. After ascending the throne, he dwelt in the main palace hall, with the hundred officials and imperial bodyguards standing in attendance. At sunrise, the golden wheel treasure came from the east. In this way the seven treasures arrived in succession, and he governed the four continents. All sentient beings received the King's grace and virtue, enjoying whatever they desired as they pleased. The King taught them all to cultivate the ten wholesome deeds, and after their lives ended, they were all reborn in heaven. The Buddha told Ānanda, 'King Chattrākāra was myself in a past life. King Vajrasaṃghāta was my present father the King. His mother was Māyā.'" (From the *Sūtra of the Wise and the Foolish*, fascicle 8.)