經律異相 40.18

40.18

In the country of Śrāvastī there was a brahmacārin who farmed on a large scale among the Jetavana trees. He went to inspect it with great joy, thinking his wish was fulfilled. That very night, heaven sent down a great hailstorm; the crops all died, and his daughter also passed away. Broken with grief, tormented by worry, he wept without stopping. At that time the monks entered the city on their almsround; seeing his two misfortunes, they returned and reported everything to the Buddha. The brahmacārin Śuka himself came before the Buddha and made obeisance with his head to the ground. Knowing his thoughts, the Buddha said to the brahmacārin, “In the world there are five things that cannot be avoided or escaped: first, depletion; second, loss and abandonment; third, illness and emaciation; fourth, old age and decay; fifth, death. Only through the truth of the Path can one be freed—by giving and upholding the precepts.” The brahmacārin’s mind softened, and he thereupon perceived the Four Truths. From that time forth, he took refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha, becoming a pure-faith upāsaka. The monks addressed the Buddha, “The World-Honoured One resolved the brahmacārin’s thoughts, so that he went away joyful and smiling.” The Buddha said, “Not only in this life has he had his grief resolved. In the past, in the land of Jambudvīpa, there were five rulers. One ruler was named Jietan (Tyrannical Greed). He ruled his country unrighteously. The ministers and the people mobilized troops, drew their bare blades, and came before the king. Together they said to the king, ‘Do you know yourself to be greedily harming the multitude? Quickly leave the country; if not, we will harm you.’ The king trembled greatly; he fled the country with his chariots and horsemen, and sustained himself by weaving straw mats to sell. The ministers and people then installed the king's younger brother as king, who ruled without oppressing the people. The former king submitted a letter explaining his plight, begging the king for a single village so that he could sustain himself. The king at once granted it to him. Having obtained one village, he governed it righteously; then he begged for two villages, up to half the kingdom. The king granted them all to him. In this way, after a long time, Jietan had the thought: he raised an army with half the kingdom, attacked his younger brother, immediately won, and retook the former kingdom. He then raised an army with the whole country and attacked the second; multiplying his forces step by step, he attacked the fifth country, winning victories in every direction. At that time the four seas all submitted to him, and he changed his title to King Great Victor (Mahāvijaya). Śakra tested him to see whether he knew contentment or not: he transformed himself into a young brahmacārin of the Kolita clan, with disheveled hair, a golden staff, and holding a golden vase, standing at the palace gate to request an audience with the king. The king came forward and sat, and after they had inquired after each other, [the youth] withdrew and said to the king, ‘I have come from the seashore. I saw a great country with a flourishing population and many rare treasures. You may go and attack it. I wonder if you are already satisfied, or if you still wish to obtain this?’ The king said, ‘I wish to obtain it.’ The heavenly king said to him, ‘You may further equip ships and raise troops to await me; after seven days I will lead Your Majesty there.’ Having spoken, he transformed and vanished. When the day came, the king raised troops and equipped ships, but the brahmacārin did not come. He became depressed and sorrowful. At that time the people of the whole country turned and sat facing the king: when the king wept, they also wept; when the king worried, they also worried. The king then gave voice to his thoughts, saying: