經律異相 25.20

25.20

In the past, there was a king named Mahābalin. He had great roots of goodness and held grand almsgiving assemblies, granting whatever was desired: if one needed food he gave food, up to elephants, horses, oxen, sheep, fields, and lands—all of these he gave away. At that time Maudgalyāyana said, "You are a great donor." Then Śakra Devānām Indra transformed himself into a brāhmaṇa, went to the king's place, and said: "The king makes such great gifts, but I now require a part of the king's body." The king reflected to himself: "This brāhmaṇa does not need wealth; he comes now solely wishing to disrupt my great giving. If I do not give him a part of my body, I will myself ruin the enterprise of this great gathering of giving." Having reflected thus, he said to the brāhmaṇa: "I give you a part of my body; cut it off and take it away. However, because there are now many beggars assembled from the four directions, I must cause them all to be satisfied." The brāhmaṇa said: "I alone am not yet satisfied, so why speak of the others?" The king immediately took a knife and cut off his own arm, giving it to the brāhmaṇa without regret. Through his single-minded generosity in relinquishing all things, his arm was restored as before. Because Śakra had created an obstruction, his heavenly merit was exhausted and he fell into the Avīci hell. King Mahābalin was myself. Śakra was Devadatta. (Extracted from the lower fascicle of the Bodhisattvapiṭaka Sūtra)