經律異相 24.14

24.14

At that time, in order to seek the Buddhadharma, the wheel-turning sage king asked everywhere throughout Jambudvīpa: "Who understands the Buddhadharma? The great wheel-turning king wishes to master it through practice." Everyone then said: "In a small border country, there is a brāhmaṇa who understands and knows the Buddhadharma." [The king] immediately invited him into the palace, [saying]: "Explain it for me." The brāhmaṇa said: "The king is exceedingly foolish. I studied the Buddhadharma, enduring hardships and toil for a long time, before I could succeed. How is it that today you simply wish to hear it?" The king said to the master: "What do you require?" The brāhmaṇa said: "Provide me with an offering." The king said: "What kind of thing is the offering that is required?" The brāhmaṇa said: "If you can gouge a thousand wounds upon your own body, fill them with oil, and place lamp-wicks in them as an offering, I will explain the Buddhadharma for you." Before the king could reply, [the brāhmaṇa] immediately stepped down from the high seat. At that moment, the great king stepped forward, embraced him, and said: "Wait a little longer; allow me to reflect, and I shall surely present the offering." Thereupon, the great king entered the palace and informed his consorts: "Now I must part with you. I wish to gouge my body to make a thousand lamps to offer to the great master." The consorts said: "Of all things under heaven that are valued, none surpasses one's own body. Why would you harm it?" The king said: "I wish to seek the Buddhadharma for the sake of all sentient beings, to light the lamp of wisdom in the great dark chamber, illuminating the darkness of your birth-and-death and ignorance, severing the bond of all encumbrances, and allowing you to attain nirvāṇa. Why would you all now go against my wish?" The consorts were silent and made no reply, their hearts grieving and choked with sorrow. The king bid farewell to everyone inside and outside [the court], returned to the hall, and went to the great master. He took off his bodily ornaments, sat upright, and addressed the assembly, saying: "Who can gouge a thousand wounds in my body for me?" They all answered together: "We would rather gouge out our own two eyes; we could never raise our hands to gouge the king's body." There was a caṇḍāla of a wicked and vile nature who, following the sound of the voices, approached and spoke to the princes: "Do not be sorrowful; I have an expedient means by which I can prevent the great king's endeavor from succeeding, so that he may return to ruling the state just as before." The princes were joyful upon hearing this. The caṇḍāla then said: "If you wish to have your body gouged, I can do it." The king said: "You are now my companion on the unexcelled path." The caṇḍāla then took a cow-tongue knife to the king's body and swiftly gouged a full thousand wounds. Thinking that the king's resolve had faltered, he threw down the knife and fled. [The wounds were] filled with oil, and fine cotton was used as wicks. Then the brāhmaṇa said to the king: "Vigor such as this is doing what is difficult to do. You have practiced this austerity for the sake of hearing the Buddhadharma." He then spoke half a gāthā: