經律異相 40.39

40.39

There was a brahmacārin possessing boundless wealth who had only one son, newly twenty years of age, for whom he had recently taken a wife. Less than seven days had passed. In the third month of early spring, the husband and wife went together to the back garden to amuse themselves. There was a crabapple tree, tall and large, with beautiful flowers. The wife desired them, but there was no one to pick them for her. Understanding his wife's wish, the husband immediately climbed the tree. Just as he picked one flower and wished to get a second, the branch broke under him, and he fell to the ground and died. Young and old rushed in panic toward the boy's place, crying to heaven and wailing, swooning and reviving. Innumerable clansmen all mourned together; hearing of it brought heartbreak, and seeing it brought grief. The parents resented heaven, thinking it had failed to protect him. When the encoffining was completed, they returned home, weeping uncontrollably. Thereupon the Bhagavat, pitying their folly, went to inquire after them. Seeing the Buddha, young and old tearfully related their bitter suffering. The Buddha told the elder: 'Cease, and listen to the Dharma. All conditioned things are impermanent and cannot be preserved for long. Where there is birth, there is death, with vices and blessings following one another. In three places they are weeping for this boy, their grief and swooning being equally unbearable. In the end, whose son is he? Who is his true kin?' Thereupon the Bhagavat spoke this verse: