經律異相 37.4

37.4

In the country of Aśmaka-Avanti, there was a village king named Sābó (Sārthavāha). In it was a very wealthy householder, rich in goods and jewels, but he had no children. He prayed to various deities but could not obtain [a child]. When the time for a child arrived, his wife realised she was pregnant. This woman had sharp faculties and possessed four uncommon cognitions: first, she knew when a man was affectionate; second, she knew when a man was unaffectionate; third, she knew the time of conception; fourth, she knew where it was obtained from. She told the householder of this, and the householder was joyful. When the months were full, she gave birth to a boy who had gold rings on his ears. This child was handsome, and all who saw him rejoiced. They gathered brāhmaṇas to examine his physiognomy, who said: “This child truly possesses meritorious power. Give him two names: because in a past life he left home [as a monk], he shall be named ‘Śramaṇa-Ear-Ring’; and because [these earrings] were not made by the world and could be worth a hundred million (koṭi), let his name be ‘Śramaṇa-Koṭikarṇa’ (Śramaṇa of a Hundred Million Ears).” He had five kinds of mothers to nurse him: the first was the mother who tended his body; the second was the mother who removed his dirt; the third was the nursing mother; the fourth was the auspicious mother; the fifth was the amusing mother. By this boy's power of merit, he swiftly grew up. He was then taught writing, counting, calculation, and seals, and he was expert in knowing the prices and qualities—expensive or cheap—of all goods. This village of the king was where merchants assembled. At that time, people from the four directions came to the village and asked: “Who here has good virtue, with whom one may entrust word, and who can show us advantage and disadvantage?” The people pointed out Śramaṇa Koṭikarṇa. The merchants then went to him and received him as their leader. When the merchants saw his great majesty, they thought thus: “If he acts as our caravan leader (sārthavāha) and leads many people to sea, we will surely return safely.” The people said: “Śramaṇa Koṭikarṇa, why do you not go out to the great sea?” He answered: “What would I do going out to the great sea? There are many terrors in it; when hundreds of thousands of people go, only one succeeds in returning.” The merchants spurred him on, saying: “What kind of person relies on others to make a living?” Śramaṇa Koṭikarṇa believed and accepted this, wishing to go. He went to his parents to take his leave, wishing to go to sea. Then his parents spoke of many terrifying matters, wishing to make him change his mind and regret it, so as to restrain and keep him. At that time, he did not follow his parents' words. His parents spoke to dignitaries: “Assist us in keeping Koṭikarṇa.” Then the high officials, elders, and householders all assisted in keeping him back, but in the end he did not comply. Knowing his mind was firm, his parents then permitted him to go. Thereupon he rode an elephant, rang a bell, and proclaimed throughout the village: “Śramaṇa Koṭikarṇa wishes to go out to the great sea; I will be the caravan leader—who wishes to go with me?” Because of this man's merit, five hundred merchants all joyfully followed him. They fitted out the ship and lowered it into the water, cutting one mooring rope each day. On the seventh day, they obtained the *iratha* wind (which the Liang speech calls a “favourable wind”) and cut the seventh rope. The ship sped faster than an arrow, directly reaching the jewel island. He said to the merchants: “Take jewels and fill the ship, but do not make it too heavy.” Obtaining the *iratha* wind, the ship then travelled faster than an arrow, returning to Jambudvīpa towards the village of King Sābó. There were two roads. Śramaṇa Koṭikarṇa asked the merchants: “By which road do you wish to go?” Everyone said: “Going by the land route is good.” At night they lodged in a deserted swamp. He said to the merchants: “I have heard that bandits come to rob merchants. If they kill the caravan leader first, the merchants will accomplish nothing. If they do not kill the caravan leader, then by the power of his money and goods, or by the power of his own body, or by the power of others, he will certainly be able to manage the bandits. I shall lodge elsewhere; when you depart, you must call me.” The people agreed. Koṭikarṇa drove his donkey and went to lodge in another place. The merchants set out in the middle of the night; each woke the other, but in the end none called Koṭikarṇa. In the late night, there was great wind and rain from the sky. Koṭikarṇa awoke and called out, but no one responded. He immediately gave chase, but the road was full of sand and earth, washed over by the wind and rain. Relying on the donkey to sniff the tracks, he advanced. Koṭikarṇa was utterly starved; walking forward, he saw a city. Thinking of obtaining food, he stood at the city gate.