經律異相 25.12

25.12

In the past, there was a kingdom named Vārāṇasī. The king was named Mahāprabhāsa. His mind was compassionate toward all, and he never went against people's wishes. There was a petty king who constantly harbored malice and hostility. On fast days of the month, the great king would load precious jewels, clothing, food, and drink onto five hundred great elephants and place them in the great marketplace and outside the four city gates to bestow on all. When the enemy king heard that the king gave charity and indulged everyone's wishes, he felt jealousy in his heart. He immediately assembled his ministers, [asking,] 'Who can beg for King Mahāprabhāsa's head? The reward will be a thousand catties of gold.' There was a brāhmaṇa who said, 'I can.' The king at once provided him with provisions. When the brāhmaṇa reached the border, the earth shook in six ways, birds and beasts scattered in the four directions, the sun and moon lost their brilliance, the stars fell out of order, red, black, and white rainbows constantly appeared day and night, and shooting stars plummeted. Within that kingdom, all springs and bathing pools dried up. The brāhmaṇa reached the city gate. At that time, the gate-guarding deity said to the gatekeeper, 'This man is extremely evil; he comes from afar wishing to beg for the great king's head. Do not let him enter.' The brāhmaṇa was held up for seven days, unable to advance. He said to the gatekeeper, 'I have come from afar wishing to see the great king.' The gatekeeper then went in and reported to the king. Hearing this, the king came out to welcome him, just as a son sees his father, stepping forward to bow and asking where he came from: 'Braving this journey along the road, have you not grown weary?' The brāhmaṇa said, 'In another realm I heard of the king's giving, that you never go against people's wishes. Your renown is heard far and wide, reaching up to the blue heavens and down to the Yellow Springs. Therefore, I have come from afar wishing to obtain something.' The king said, 'I give all away; whatever you seek, do not hesitate.' The brāhmaṇa said, 'Is that truly so? I have no need for other things. Today I wish to hold a great sacrifice, and I beg for the king's head.' The king reflected to himself: 'From beginningless time, I have never acted for the sake of the Dharma, enduring saṃsāra in vain and wearying my spirit. Now that I have this body, I wish to seek bodhi and vow to reach all sentient beings. If I do not give it now, it will violate my original resolve; by what cause could I achieve supreme bodhi?' The king said, 'Very well. Wait until I arrange to entrust the kingdom's throne to my queen and the crown prince. After seven days, I shall give it to you.' At that time, the great king went into the palace and informed his queens, saying, 'There is a brāhmaṇa who wishes to beg for my head, and I have already promised it.' When the queens and the crown prince heard these words, they threw themselves onto the ground, wailed loudly, tore out their hair, and rent their clothes, saying: 'Great King, under heaven there is nothing more valued than one's own body. How can you now take it to bestow on someone else?' Then the five hundred ministers said to the brāhmaṇa, 'What will you do with this foul, rotting head of pus and blood?' The brāhmaṇa said, 'I am begging for it myself; why do you question me?' The ministers said, 'You have entered our kingdom; we should question you, and you should answer us.' The brāhmaṇa wished to answer truthfully, but harbored fear in his heart, dreading that they would end his life. The ministers said, 'We now grant you fearlessness on account of the great king. Poor brāhmaṇa, what will you do with this head? Each of us five hundred will make a head of the seven treasures, exchange it with you, and also provide all your needs.' The brāhmaṇa said, 'I have no need for them.' His wish not granted, the ministers wept sorrowfully, went up to report to the great king, [saying,] 'How can you bear to abandon the kingdom, your queen, and the crown prince, forever abandoning and forsaking us for the sake of a single brāhmaṇa?' The king said, 'Now, for the sake of all, I renounce this body.' At that time, the chief minister, hearing that the king's words were resolved, reflected to himself: 'How could I now bear to watch the great king give up this body and life?' He went into a quiet room and killed himself with a knife. At that time, the great king went into the back garden and called the brāhmaṇa to come: 'You begged for my head from me. Out of pity for you, I will not go against your wishes. May I in future lives obtain a head of wisdom to bestow upon you all.' Having spoken these words, he arose, joined his palms, bowed to the buddhas of the ten directions, and said, 'May the buddhas and revered bodhisattvas of the ten directions, with their divine power, protect and assist me so that this deed will certainly be accomplished!' He told the brāhmaṇa, 'Take it as you wish.' The brāhmaṇa said, 'The king has the strength of a mighty man; when the pain comes, you might change your mind or turn around to harm me. If the king is truly able to do this, why not tie your hair to a tree branch yourself?' Hearing these words, the king gave rise to compassion: 'This brāhmaṇa is old and frail; if he is unable to sever my head, he will lose a great benefit.' He followed his words and tied his hair to the tree, telling the brāhmaṇa, 'When you sever my head, place it in my hands; I shall present it to you with my own hands.' The brāhmaṇa took up the knife and advanced. At that time, the tree deity struck the brāhmaṇa with a hand, causing him to faint and collapse to the ground. Then King Mahāprabhāsa said to the tree deity, 'Instead of helping me, you raise obstacles!' Hearing this, the tree deity felt grief and distress, and cried out, 'How bitter!' In the empty sky, blood rained down without clouds, heaven and earth shook violently, and the sun lost its brilliant light. The brāhmaṇa soon severed the king's head and took it back to his own country. Then the five hundred princes and all the ministers gathered the remaining bones of the great king and erected a stūpa to make offerings to them. The Buddha said to Ānanda, 'The chief minister at that time who, hearing that King Mahāprabhāsa would give away his head, could not bear it and soon ended his own life, was Śāriputra today. King Mahāprabhāsa at that time was Śākyamuni.' (Drawn from the fourth fascicle of the Sūtra of Great Expedient Means for Repaying Kindness.)