經律異相 36.7

36.7

In front of the hall of Jyotiṣka's house, there was a twelve-story tower. He led the king to the top; looking east, one forgot the west; looking south, one forgot the north—all was peaceful and quiet. The king thought, "After a brief moment, it will be somewhat tolerable." Going to the back garden, with flowing springs and bathing pools, they ate various melons and fruits, pleasantly sweet and delicious, so delightful that they stayed for a month. The ministers addressed the king, "It is time to return to the kingdom." Jyotiṣka then distributed gifts of gold, silver, rare gems, silks, and gauzes. The two hundred thousand people, horses, and carriages returned to the state at the same time. The king then assembled his ministers, resenting the reason: "Jyotiṣka is my subject, yet his women and residence far surpass mine. I wish to attack him; can he be taken or not?" The ministers all said, "He should indeed be taken." The king then set out with four hundred thousand men, beating drums and sounding gongs, and surrounded Jyotiṣka's residence, destroying a hundred layers of walls. At Jyotiṣka's gate, there was a strongman holding a golden staff, which he pointed toward the four hundred thousand men; all at once they fell to the ground asleep and unable to rise. Jyotiṣka, riding in a flying cloud chariot in the sky, asked, "When you people came, why did you fall asleep on the ground and not rise?" The people answered as above. Jyotiṣka asked, "Do you wish to rise?" They all said, "We wish to." Jyotiṣka opened his great divine eyes and cast a single glance, and the four hundred thousand men arose all at once and returned to their own state. The king then dispatched an envoy to summon Jyotiṣka and went together with him to the Buddha's presence, asking: "Bhagavat, Jyotiṣka is my subject. What merit did he have in a former life that his women and residence far surpass mine?" The Buddha replied, "The merit of Jyotiṣka's giving was seen and delighted in by the heavens. In the past, a caravan leader of five hundred merchants led the merchants carrying heavy treasures through an empty mountain, where they encountered a sick man of the Way. They provided him with a thatched hut, spread thick mats and mattresses, gave him water, broth, cooking pots, and grain, and gave him lamps and candles. At that time, he made a vow wishing for heavenly offerings; now he has obtained such karmic retribution." The Buddha said, "The donor of that time was none other than the present Jyotiṣka and his wife. The sick man of the Way at that time was none other than myself. The five hundred merchants all attained the path of arhatship" (from the Jyotiṣka Sūtra).