經律異相 34.12

34.12

The place of enlightenment (bodhimaṇḍa) in the country of Vārāṇasī was entirely of golden color from beneath the earth upward, layered like overlapping fish scales and turtle carapaces. In the past, the ancient Buddhas had all sat upon it. The king was named Zhixunni; he was an upāsaka who was clear about the scriptural path, and he erected a vihāra for the Buddha, adorned with extreme magnificence. The king had seven daughters, all of whom were upright and beautiful, fully observing the five precepts, maintaining their integrity, and not marrying. The first daughter was named Shudiao, the second was named Yimiao, the third was named Chutan, the fourth was named Qingshou, the fifth was named Xixin, the sixth was named Jingyou, and the seventh was named Sengbi. On the eighth, fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-third, twenty-ninth, and thirtieth days of the month, they meticulously received the eight precepts and observed the fast of the true Dharma, cultivating their faith, observing the precepts, practicing generosity, and practicing renown and wisdom. When the seven daughters had completed their fast, they asked to go out of the city among the graves to sightsee. The king told the seven daughters, "The graves are repulsive; there are only dead people, with bones scattered about, and foxes, wild dogs, and horned owls devouring their flesh. Weepers fill the space between them. What is there worth seeing? In my palace there are gardens and bathing ponds, wherein are five-colored lotus flowers, and water birds such as pond herons and mandarin ducks flock and gather; on the ground are rows of glowing-eyed grasses, strange trees offering cool shade, and sweet fruits to indulge your palates. You may go there to sport and play." The seven daughters replied, "Great King, of what benefit to us are sweet fruits and myriad delicacies? We see that the lives of worldly people last but a short while; life daily rushes toward death, and the physical form is an illusion, unable to endure for long. Having avoided husbands and young children, we are not seduced by sweetness and delicacies. We merely wish to contemplate the dharma of impermanence, hoping only to eliminate greedy thoughts. May the king graciously grant permission." The king then permitted it. The seven daughters together went out of the city, arriving at the foul-smelling graves. Hearing the sounds of weeping, their hair stood on end with dread. Thereupon they went straight forward together to view the dead people. They saw severed heads and severed arms, hands and feet in different places; some were stiff corpses covered with grass or wrapped in mats; some were placed on execution frames on the ground, bound with fresh ropes, among whom were condemned prisoners who had not yet died, while their families wailed and wept, begging for their release; and there were also those carrying corpses out from the city. The seven daughters looked far to the left and right and saw that the dead were extremely numerous; various birds and beasts vied to devour their flesh, or dragged corpses out from the earth, swollen and generating maggots, so foul-smelling that they were hard to approach. Thereupon the seven daughters circled them once and said to one another, "Our bodies will before long also be like this." Each spoke a verse.