經律異相 29.8

29.8

King Prasenajit was sleeping at night and dreamt of ten things. First, he dreamt that three jars were placed together; the jars on the two sides were full, their vapor flowing out and passing back and forth to each other, not entering into the empty jar in the middle. Second, he dreamt of a horse feeding from its mouth and also feeding from its rump. Third, he dreamt of a small tree producing flowers. Fourth, he dreamt of a small tree bearing fruit. Fifth, he dreamt of a man twisting a rope, behind whom was a sheep that constantly ate the rope. Sixth, he dreamt of a fox eating from golden vessels atop a golden couch. Seventh, he dreamt of a large cow turning back to suck milk from a young calf. Eighth, he dreamt of four oxen coming from four directions, bellowing and charging at each other wishing to fight, but just as they were about to clash, the oxen vanished without a trace. Ninth, he dreamt of a large pond whose water was turbid in the center and clear at the four edges. Tenth, he dreamt of a large stream whose flowing water was bright red. Upon waking, the king was terrified that he would lose his kingdom and his life. He immediately summoned dukes, ministers, and all men of the Way who understood dream interpretation to ask them about it. There was a brāhmaṇa [who said], "None of these are auspicious matters. You must take your deeply loved principal queen, the crown prince, as well as your close attendants and male and female slaves, and slaughter them all to sacrifice to the heavenly king. All of your bedclothes and precious ornaments and fine goods worn upon your body must also be burned to sacrifice to heaven. If you can act thus, the king's person will come to no harm." Hearing this, the king was unhappy. The queen asked the king, "For what reason are you grieving and distressed?" The king said, "Last night I dreamt of ten things, and I fear losing my kingdom and my life. A brāhmaṇa interpreted the dreams, saying none of them are auspicious matters." The queen said, "Great King, do not grieve. The Buddha is now nearby at the vihāra, not far from the capital. Why do you not go and ask the meaning of the dreams? As the Buddha interprets them, the king should follow." The king thereupon went to the Buddha's abode, bowed his head to the Buddha's feet, and reported to the Buddha in detail, [saying,] "I fear losing my kingdom, my person, and my wife and children. I wish to hear your instruction and guidance." The Buddha said, "Do not fear. As for the king's dreams, in future ages people will not fear the prohibitions of the law; greedy and lustful, jealous and envious, they will not know satisfaction; lacking righteousness and devoid of compassion, they will have no shame. As for the first dream: the powerful and noble will associate only with one another, showing no regard for the poor and lowly. As for the second dream of seeing a horse feeding from both ends: future kings and ministers will receive their provisions and emoluments, yet extort from the myriad common folk without knowing satisfaction. As for the third dream of a small tree producing flowers: in future ages, before people reach thirty years of age, their heads will turn white with hair; greedy, lustful, and full of desires, they will become decrepit while still young. As for the fourth dream of a small tree bearing fruit: in future ages, before girls reach fifteen years of age, they will marry and return home carrying children, without feeling any shame. As for the fifth dream of a man twisting a rope behind whom is a sheep that eats it: in future ages, when a husband travels abroad, his wife will have illicit relations with another and consume his property. As for the sixth dream of a fox eating from golden vessels atop a golden couch: in future ages, the base and lowly will conversely become noble and honored, possessing wealth and property, respected and feared by the multitude; while the descendants of dukes and nobles will conversely become poor and lowly, occupying lower seats, eating and drinking after others. As for the seventh dream of a large cow turning back to suck milk from a young calf: in future ages, people will have no proprietary norms or righteousness; mothers will act as matchmakers for their daughters, seducing other men to engage in relations with their daughters, delivering their daughters to seek wealth to enrich themselves, without feeling any shame. As for the eighth dream of four oxen coming from four directions, bellowing and charging to fight, but just as they were about to clash, the oxen vanished without a trace: future kings, officials, and people will all lack sincere hearts; they will deceive one another, foolish and enraged; they will not respect heaven and earth, and on this account, the rains will not fall in season. When officials and people pray and supplicate for rain, clouds will rise from all four directions in the heavens, accompanied by the sounds of thunder and lightning; the officials and people will all say, 'It is about to rain,' but in an instant the clouds will disperse, the rain will depart, and ultimately none will fall. Why is this? Because kings, officials, and people lack loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and compassion. As for the ninth dream of a large pond whose water was turbid in the center and clear at the four edges: in future ages, the central kingdom will be disordered and its governance unjust; the people will be unfilial to their parents and disrespectful to the elders; whereas the border countries will be peaceful and clear, the people harmonious, filial, and obedient to both parents. As for the tenth dream of a large stream whose flowing water was bright red: in future ages, various states will contend in rage, raising armies and massing forces to attack each other; they will deploy charioteers, infantry, and cavalry, fighting and killing each other in incalculable numbers; the dead will lie on the roads, their blood flowing bright red." The king knelt and said, "Having received the Buddha's instruction and guidance, my heart is rejoiced." He made obeisance to the Buddha and returned to his palace. He honored and exalted the principal queen, stripped the ministers of their emoluments, and no longer trusted the heretical brāhmaṇas (from the Sūtra of the Ten Dreams of King Prasenajit).