經律異相 46.27

46.27

A king of the country of Kāśī was named Brahmadatta. Once, when out hunting in the wilderness, he saw a house (the *Fubao jing* says: under a tree by the mountain) and went toward it. Inside there was a woman. When he asked her for food and drink, there was nothing he sought that he could obtain. The king asked to see her, but she was completely naked. The king took off his clothes and gave them to her, but as soon as they touched her body, they burst into flames. This happened three times. The king asked the woman about it. The woman answered: "In the past I was a king's wife. The king offered food to śramaṇas and gave them robes as well. At that time I admonished him, saying: 'Giving food alone is enough; there is no need to give robes' (the *Fubao jing* says: 'cut down what was given to the śramaṇas'). For this reason I suffer this retribution. If the king wishes to enable me to wear clothes, he must make clothes for me and first give them to śramaṇas and those who understand the scriptures. If the king seeks a śramaṇa and cannot find one, he may give them to a worthy who observes the five precepts. Let that worthy make a prayer of dedication, saying: 'May the woman on the golden bed gain immeasurable merit and be able to wear royal garments.'" The king asked the woman, "What kind of spirit are you?" She answered: "I am superior to humans and slightly inferior to devas; therefore, I am among the ghosts and spirits. After casting off this life, I shall be born in the first heaven" (drawn from the *Dṛṣṭānta-sūtra* and drawn from the *Fubao jing*).