經律異相 45.24

45.24

Formerly, there was an elder named Shan-shi (Sudatta). In his family was an unmarried daughter. Staying at home facing the fire, the warm qi entered her body, and she consequently became pregnant. Her parents were astonished and questioned her about the circumstances. The daughter answered truthfully that she did not know the cause. The parents questioned her repeatedly, applying canes and whips, but her words did not change. It was then reported to the king. The king also interrogated and reprimanded her, but her words were no different. He sentenced her to death. The daughter then cried grievance, saying: "Under heaven, there could actually be an unprincipled ruler who wrongly executes the innocent! If I am not chaste, I can naturally be kept under examination. Why am I wronged like this?" The king then kept her under examination and found that it was as the daughter said, with nothing more or less. He said to her parents: "I wish to take her." The mother replied: "Take her as you please; what use is this condemned girl?" The king then took her into the palace and nourished and cared for her as appropriate. When the months and days were fulfilled, she gave birth to a boy, handsome and exceedingly wonderful. As he grew up, he left home to train on the Path, intelligent and broadly knowledgeable. Through vigor, before long, he attained the path of an arhat and returned to deliver his parents. (Extracted from the Fenbie gongde jing, fascicle 5)