經律異相 41.35

41.35

In the past, in the town of Duoshou, there was a brāhmaṇa who served as the king's grand astrologer, foremost in the realm. He had a son whose head was naturally crowned with a garland of fire, and so he was named Jyotirmāla. He was handsome and upright, possessing thirty [marks]. There was a potter's son named Nandipāla, who had been an intimate friend of Jyotirmāla from their youth, and they held mutual respect and affection in their hearts. The potter's son was energetic, courageous, benevolent, and filial. Both his parents were blind, yet he provided for them without deficiency. Although he was a potter, his hands never dug the earth; he took only broken walls, collapsed banks, and earth churned by rats, mixing them to make vessels. If someone came to buy, they would place grain, barley, hemp, or beans on the ground and take the vessels. He never disputed the price, nor did he accept gold, silver, or valuables; he took only grains for maintenance. The monastery where the Tathāgata Kāśyapa dwelt was not far from the town of Duoshou, where he was with twenty thousand great monks, all of whom were arhats. Nandipāla said to Jyotirmāla, "Let us go together to see the Tathāgata Kāśyapa." Jyotirmāla replied, "What is the use of seeing this renunciant? He is merely a shaven-headed man. What Dharma could he possess? The path of the Buddha is difficult to attain!" This was said up to three times. Nandipāla again said to Jyotirmāla, "Shall we go together to the water to bathe?" Jyotirmāla replied, "Very well." They then went together to the water to bathe. Nandipāla raised his right hand, pointed into the distance, and said, "Kāśyapa's monastery is not far from here. We could go together and see him briefly." Jyotirmāla replied, "What is the use of seeing him?" Nandipāla then seized Jyotirmāla's robe and pulled him. Jyotirmāla took off his robe and ran away. Nandipāla then seized him by the head, pulled him, and said, "Just once, let us go see the Buddha together!" According to the customs of that land, seizing someone's head was taboo, and by law was punished by decapitation. Jyotirmāla, astonished and terrified on his behalf, thought, "Is the potter's son willing to face death just to seize my head?" Nandipāla said, "Even if I die, I will never let you go! I must ensure that you see the Buddha!" Jyotirmāla thought to himself, "There must surely be something good, for him to be willing to face death and seize me like this." Jyotirmāla said, "Release my head, and I will follow you." He then retied his hair, put on his clothes, and followed him to Kāśyapa Buddha. Nandipāla addressed the Buddha, saying, "This Jyotirmāla is my close friend from youth, yet he does not recognize or believe in the Three Honoured Ones. May the World-Honoured One instruct and transform him." When the young man Jyotirmāla saw the marks and signs of the Buddha, he thought, "All the marks and signs recorded in the texts are present, except for two." At that time, the Tathāgata Kāśyapa extended his broad and long tongue to cover his face, the uṣṇīṣa, and both ears seven times. Licking his head, he drew his tongue back into his mouth. A glorious light radiated forth, illuminating the great trichiliocosm, outshining the radiance of the sun and moon up to the Akaniṣṭha heaven. The light circled his body seven times and entered through the crown of his head. Then, by the power of his supernatural faculties, he revealed the concealed private member, allowing Jyotirmāla alone to see it while others did not. The young man Jyotirmāla saw the thirty-two marks of the Buddha in full, leaping for joy and unable to contain himself. The Tathāgata Kāśyapa explained to the young man Jyotirmāla the severance of a bodhisattva's merit. What is the severance of a bodhisattva's merit? When the body performs what should not be performed, when the mouth speaks what should not be spoken, and when the mind thinks what should not be thought—these are the three evil deeds of a bodhisattva. Thereupon Jyotirmāla stepped forward, bowed at the Buddha's feet, and said, "I now repent; may the Buddha accept it. From this day forward, I shall never dare transgress again." This was done up to three times, and the Tathāgata Kāśyapa silently accepted it. The young man Jyotirmāla and the young man Nandipāla both bowed at the Buddha's feet, took their leave, and returned. Jyotirmāla said, "You have suffered a loss, not gained a benefit. I do not wish to see your face, nor do I wish to hear your name." Nandipāla replied, "Why is that so?" Jyotirmāla said, "You heard the profound Dharma from the Buddha long ago; how can you remain at home?" Nandipāla replied, "My parents are aged and moreover both blind. If I am to support my two parents, how could I leave household life? If I were to leave household life, my parents would perish. For this reason, I cannot leave household life." Jyotirmāla said to Nandipāla, "Having heard from Kāśyapa Buddha about the karmic retributions of a bodhisattva's three evil deeds, I no longer delight in living at home. From here, I wish to return to the Buddha's place and seek to become a monk." Nandipāla answered, "Excellent, Jyotirmāla! Have you attained the power of reflection? You should return at once. Why is that? An age with a Buddha is difficult to encounter." The young man Jyotirmāla then embraced Nandipāla, circumambulated him three times, joined his palms, and apologized, saying, "If I have committed any fault of body, speech, or mind toward you, I pray you will forgive me, as you have pointed out and taught the true and great Path." Thereupon Jyotirmāla spoke a verse in praise: