經律異相 9.4

9.4

Suvarṇaprabhāsa-śīrṣā and the elder's son Bhīruśrava were together in a pleasure garden, scattering flowers, burning incense, and adorning themselves with entertainment and music. At that time, when the woman looked upon the elder's son, her desires were satisfied. Mañjuśrī (in older translations called Ruxou) transformed this woman's body so that she died instantly. Her complexion turned repulsive; pus and blood flowed from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth; and her body putrefied and decomposed, unbearable to look upon. Blue flies flew in from all around to feast together on it. When the elder's son saw this woman's body decay and ruin in such a way, he was terrified and uneasy, wishing to take refuge and be rescued from this affliction, wondering where he might go to escape this suffering. At that time, through the majestic spiritual power of the youth Mañjuśrī, the trees in the garden naturally emitted praises. When the elder's son heard the trees' eulogy, he leapt with joy, and wholesome thoughts instantly arose. Gathering the woman's corpse into the fold of his garment, he discarded it amidst a thicket of trees and abandoned it, going away. Thereupon the Bhagavat, wishing to instruct and transform that elder's son, emitted light from his body, its radiance universally illuminating the territory of Magadha. When the elder's son saw the Tathāgata's majestic spiritual power towering and magnificent, joy arose in his heart. Śakra Devānām Indra stood before him. Seeing the elder's son, he praised him, saying: "Young man of wholesome conditions, you have obtained blessings and benefits, even being able to see the Buddha!" When that young man heard this encouraging praise, he went together with Śakra to the Buddha's place. Śakra held flowers and gave them to the young man, saying: "You may take these flowers and scatter them over the Tathāgata." Having scattered them, he bowed his head to the Buddha's feet, stood in front, and said: "I now take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha of sages. There was a licentious woman, Suvarṇaprabhāsa-śīrṣā, with whom I was making merry in a pleasure garden. But today her countenance turned repulsive and she instantly died. I have abandoned all my family and kin, and great fear has arisen within me. Might not the king investigate and interrogate me?" The Buddha said, "Cease your worry." At that time, Suvarṇaprabhāsa-śīrṣā, seeing that the elder's son had received instruction and conversion and followed the monastic discipline and teaching, went to the Buddha's place together with music and performers. Bowing her head to the Buddha's feet, she stepped back and stood to one side. Then Mañjuśrī said to the elder's son: "Do you recognize this sister?" He answered, "I already know her." He asked again, "How do you know her?" Thereupon the elder's son replied to Mañjuśrī, speaking a verse:
"Form is like a mass of foam;
Feeling is like the arising of a bubble;
Conception and thoughts are like a mirage;
I have understood and known it to be thus."
The Buddha told Ānanda: "In an ancient life, Mañjuśrī exhorted and converted this woman, causing her to generate the aspiration for the Way. In a past life, I also exhorted and converted her, causing her to generate the aspiration for the Way. After ninety-two hundred thousand kalpas, Suvarṇaprabhāsa-śīrṣā will become a Buddha named Ratnaprabhāsa. The elder's son will become a bodhisattva named Guṇaprabhāsa. When she becomes a Buddha, before entering extinction, she will bestow the prediction of buddhahood upon the Bodhisattva Guṇaprabhāsa, and only then will she enter parinirvāṇa, named Dhāraṇīraśmi." (From the Da jingfamen jing).