經律異相 37.9

37.9

Formerly, there was an upāsaka who resided as a guest in Śrāvastī. His wife's appearance was handsome and upright, known throughout the country. His friends wished to see her, but he would never show her. Someone reported this to the king. The king longed to see her, but knew of no way. A minister suggested: "Both husband and wife observe the five precepts, serving Daoists and serving food with their own hands. The king may pretend to be a Daoist holding a bowl and approach their gate; you will surely get to see her." He then followed the minister's words, changed his clothes and appearance as a makeshift device, and secretly went to their home. Seeing the Daoist, the wife prostrated with her head and face to the ground. After the king observed her, he returned and said to his ministers, "This woman is truly beautiful; she has entered into my heart. I do not know how I may obtain her." The ministers said, "Although he is a guest here, he ought to have had an audience with the king; that he did not come out of arrogance can be treated as an offense. More than a thousand li from the city of Śrāvastī, five-colored lotus flowers grow in the water of a great lake. We hear there are three perils: vipers, ghosts and spirits, and fierce beasts. Those whose crimes merit death are sent there to fetch flowers, and invariably perish there." The king then summoned and questioned him, saying, "What sort of person are you?" Bowing twice, he replied, "I am a subject of the Great King." The king said, "Why have you not come [for an audience]?" He replied, "It was merely out of foolishness that I failed to arrive. I know myself to be guilty." The king said, "I penalize you by sending you to the lake to fetch flowers; you must return in seven days. If you exceed the deadline, I shall punish you severely." Having received the order, he took his leave, returned, and told his wife everything. The wife said to her husband, "Your present guilt is on account of my beauty. You know the Buddha's clear teaching: in the three realms there is no refuge; only the precepts can be relied upon. When you set out on the road, bear the Three Honoured Ones in mind and recite the ten wholesome deeds with your mouth, not forgetting them for an instant. If you do not return, I shall go forth and find joy in the precepts, never taking a second husband." She supplied her husband with provisions, and taking his leave, he set out on the journey. When he reached midway, a man-eating ghost asked him, saying, "Who are you?" He replied, "I am a disciple of the Buddha." The ghost said, "Those who commit offenses are sent and delivered to us under the pretense of fetching flowers. Did you, worthy sir, truly commit an offense, or were you slandered by evil people?" He replied to the ghost, "Human life is difficult to attain; it rests solely with the great spirit." The ghost said, "You are a disciple of the Buddha and furthermore are guiltless; I will not harm you. But there are two other perils, and I fear you will not escape them; what shall be done?" The ghost spoke again, saying, "I will fetch the flowers on your behalf to save your person, that I may obtain immeasurable blessings throughout the long night [of saṃsāra]. Wait here urgently!" The ghost then departed. In a moment he returned and gave the fine five-colored flowers to the worthy man. The flowers were too heavy for the worthy man to lift. The ghost then took the flowers and supported the worthy man; within the span of bending and extending an arm, they arrived at the palace gate. Taking his leave, the ghost departed. The worthy man went to the gate to announce himself. The king marvelled at his quick return, and thoroughly questioned him from beginning to end. He related it truthfully. The king was greatly astonished and ashamed, saying, "Ghosts lack human righteousness, and harm living beings; yet now he saves a good person, whereas I have been without righteousness, unable to distinguish good from evil, inferior even to a ghost!" He immediately reproached himself for his fault, bowed his head, took refuge, and wished to become a disciple. He received and observed the five precepts, widely practiced the six perfections, and brought the state to great peace. The worthy man and his wife both increased their vigor and attained the stage of non-retrogression. (Extracted from the fifth volume of the Sūtra of Parables.)