經律異相 43.37

43.37

There was a caravan leader named Jili (Śrī). He went to sea to retrieve great and precious jewels, and returned safely. He had eighty billion mani jewels in all, each one worth one hundred billion ounces of gold. He gave many precious objects to a beggar, and without entering his own home, he went back to sea to gather precious jewels. After going to sea, he obtained twice as many treasures. After eighty years, he returned to his home country. When he was about to enter the city, he saw a criminal. The executioners had seized and bound him, and were beating the drum of ill omen, proclaiming the order through the streets and alleys as they led him to the execution ground to inflict the penalty. At that time, the man condemned to die encountered Jili and said: “Caravan leader, save me from the death penalty! Bestow life upon me! You are a great donor, a virtuous and good man.” Having heard this, Jili said to the condemned man, “Alas, man! I now bestow fearlessness upon you and will save you from the death penalty.” He immediately went to the executioners and gave each man a mani jewel worth one hundred million ounces of gold, saying, “Halt a little while and wait for me; I will now go to the king and return.” Jili then hurried to the king’s presence and said, “Great King, I wish to buy this man’s life with fine jewels.” The king replied, “Jili, this man’s crime cannot be forgiven and cannot be bought off. If you absolutely wish to buy it, you must give me everything you possess and offer yourself to die in his stead; only then can he be spared.” Jili rejoiced: “I have obtained a great benefit, fulfilling my wish! To be able to rescue this man accords with my desire.” He immediately took all the wealth in his household as well as the treasures obtained from the great sea—immeasurable thousands of billions of gold, silver, and precious objects—and sent them all to the king, saying to the Great King, “Please release this man. Everything I possess is now here.” The king said to the executioner, “Take Jili and execute him.” They immediately bound Jili and led him to the execution ground. A man raised his sword with his right hand to strike Jili, but his arm stayed straight and would not come down. Astonished and terrified, he reported it to the king to see for himself. Hearing these words, the king took the sword himself, wishing to kill Jili. As he raised the sword, both his hands fell to the ground; seized with great ruin and torment, he cried out and died. At that time, Jili was myself; the king at that time was Devadatta. (From the Bodhisattvapiṭaka Sūtra, lower scroll.)