經律異相 30.8

30.8

The Buddha, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, was traveling in the Kingdom of Kauśāmbī and staying at the Beautiful Sound Monastery (Ghoṣitārāma). When his feet stepped upon the threshold, heaven and earth shook, pearls and musical instruments sounded spontaneously without being struck, venomous poisons lay dormant, and auspicious portents were harmonious and pure. Among the people of that domain, none failed to thirst for him with reverence. The king was named Udayana; he was violent, oppressive, open to flattering words, and indulged in female musicians. He established two queens, left and right, whose beauty was peerless. The left was named Zhaotang; she was haughty, slanderous, and jealous. The right was named Yirong (Śyāmāvatī); she constantly practiced benevolence and love. The king treasured her conduct and was partial to her in every matter. Yirong had an elderly maidservant named Dushéng (Uttiyā/Uttarā). She constantly distributed incense, economizing on expenses to gather funds to provide meals for the Buddha and the saṅgha. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for her, and she kept it wholeheartedly without forgetting. Having completed the donation, she returned to the palace carrying the remaining incense. By virtue of this merit, as a result of her past deeds, the fragrance was smelled from afar, and its weight was double that of the incense. Yirong questioned her, and she confessed that she had reduced the incense money to provide meals for the Buddha and the saṅgha, [adding that] the Dharma's depth and wondrous meaning were unlike anything heard in the world. Hearing of the Buddha, Yirong rejoiced in her heart. Thinking to herself that she had no opportunity to hear the true Dharma, she immediately said to Dusheng: “Expound it for me.” Dusheng said: “My person is base and my mouth impure; I dare not casually declare the Tathāgata’s venerable words. Pray permit me to go to the Buddha, receive his instructions, and then return.” Thereupon, she was sent out of the palace, and [the queen] instructed her again: “Receive the full ceremonial protocol.” Before Dusheng had returned, the queen and her maidservants were already waiting, lining the courtyard. The Buddha told Dusheng: “When you return and expound the Dharma, many will be delivered. The protocol for expounding the Dharma requires that you first prepare a high seat.” Dusheng fully declared the holy instruction. Yirong rejoiced, opened her chests, brought out robes, and piled them up into a high seat. Relying on the Buddha's spiritual authority, [Dusheng] expounded the Dharma appropriately. Queen Yirong and all the maidservants resolved their doubts and attained the Path, while Dusheng attained dhāraṇī. Zhaotang, filled with jealousy, repeatedly slandered and reproached them on more than one occasion, but the king refused to listen. Later, she spoke of it again, and the king's mind was led into delusion. Waiting for the day of their observance of the precept fast (poṣadha), she urged the king to play music and summon the queens. The king then issued a general summons, and all who were commanded assembled, except for Yirong, who, observing the precept fast, alone did not comply with the order. Repeatedly summoned three times, she held fast to her observance without wavering. The king's fury blazed; he had her bound and dragged before the hall, intending to shoot and kill her with arrows. Yirong focused her entire heart on taking refuge in the Buddha. The king shot two arrows himself, but both turned back toward him. Terrified, the king unbound her and asked: “What art do you possess to bring about such a thing?” She replied: “I serve only the Tathāgata and take refuge in the Three Venerable Ones. In the morning, I uphold the Buddha's fast and do not eat past midday. Furthermore, I practice the eight precepts, adorning myself and avoiding intimacy. It must be that the World-Honoured One pities me thus.” The king said: “Excellent! How could words describe it? I must go to the monastery to pay homage to the World-Honoured One.” Just then, an enemy state raised an army and invaded the borders. The king went out on campaign in person, and entrusted a brahmacārin named Jixing to temporarily administer the affairs of state. Zhaotang rejoiced, saying: “My father is administering affairs; killing her is now certain!” The daughter plotted with her father, and they burned and killed Yirong and all her maidservants, falsely claiming it was an accidental fire, thinking they could cover it up. Afterwards, the matter was exposed. The king was greatly enraged; he exiled Jixing far away, banishing him outside the borders, and imprisoned Zhaotang and her companions in underground caves. He crushed and expelled false paths and widely propagated the Buddha's teachings. (Extracted from the Zhong benqi jing.)