經律異相 26.4

26.4

Formerly there was a king named Hohei who dwelt in a border region and had not witnessed holy transformation. He served non-Buddhists, and the entire kingdom held heterodox faith, slaughtering living beings for sacrifice. The king's mother fell bedridden with illness; they sought doctors and spirits, but years passed without her being cured. He again summoned two hundred brāhmaṇas from throughout the kingdom and told them: “My great lady has been distressingly ill for a long time, and I do not know why.” The brāhmaṇas said, “The stars and constellations are disordered and the yin and yang are not in harmony, hence it has come to this.” The king said, “What means should be employed to effect a recovery?” The brāhmaṇas said, “Outside the city on a level and pure place, perform suburban sacrifices to the four mountains, sun, moon, stars, and constellations. You must obtain one hundred domestic beasts of various different kinds, as well as a young child, and slaughter them to sacrifice to heaven. The king must personally lead his mother to kneel, bow, and plead for life; only then will she recover.” The king then complied with the order. Driving people, elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, and hundreds of insects and other kinds, their mournful cries along the road shook heaven and earth. Exiting through the eastern gate, they were about to proceed to the sacrificial altar to be slaughtered for the sacrifice to heaven. The Buddha harbored great compassion, pitying the king's obstinate folly, and immediately led his assembly of disciples toward that kingdom. The king saw the Buddha from afar, like the sun first rising, like the full moon, his marks of light radiant; among the people who saw him, none did not revere him. Those destined for sacrificial food all wished and sought for release. The king paid homage to the Buddha, joined his palms, knelt upright, and inquiring respectfully, explained: “My mother has been ill for a long time; fine physicians, spirits, and deities have all been exhausted without exception. Only now was I about to perform sacrifices of apology to the stars, constellations, four mountains, and five peaks, pleading for life on my mother’s behalf in hope of receiving recovery.” The Buddha said: “If one desires grains and food, one should practice plowing and planting; if one desires great wealth, one should practice giving; if one desires long life, one should practice great compassion; if one desires wisdom, one should practice study. Practicing these four matters, according to what one plants one reaps its fruit. Sacrifices are licentious and confused, taking the heterodox as correct; killing life to seek life is far from the path of life.” He then spoke a gāthā: