法苑珠林 37.17

37.17

又雜阿含經云。阿育王問比丘言。誰於佛法中能行大施。諸比丘言。給孤獨長者最行大施。王問彼施幾許。比丘答曰。以捨億千金。王聞已。彼長者尚能捨億千金。我今為王何緣復以億千金施。當以億百千金施。乃至用私藏盡。將此閻浮提夫人婇女太子大臣。總施與聖僧。後用四十億金。還復贖取。如是計校總用九十六億千金。乃至王得重病自知命盡。常願以億百千金作功德。今願不滿便就後世。唯減四億未滿。王即辨諸珍寶送與雞頭摩寺。乃至以半阿摩勒菓。送與僧。禮拜僧足問訊大聖。眾等我領此閻浮提。是我所有。今者頓盡。不得自在。唯此半果哀愍納受令我得福。上座耶舍令研磨著石榴羹中行之。一切皆得周遍。王復問傍臣曰。誰是閻浮提王。諸臣啟言。大王是也。時王從臥起而坐。顧望四方合掌作禮。念諸佛功德。心念口言。我今復以此閻浮提施與三寶。時王書紙上而封緘之。以齒印印之。作如是事畢。即便無常。爾時太子及諸人民興種種供養葬送。如王之法而闍維之。

Furthermore, the Saṃyuktāgama states: King Aśoka asked the bhikṣus, "Who has been able to practice the greatest giving within the Buddha's Dharma?" The bhikṣus said, "The elder Anāthapiṇḍada practiced the greatest giving." The king asked, "How much did he give?" The bhikṣus replied, "He gave one hundred thousand koṭis of gold." Having heard this, the king thought, "That elder was still able to give one hundred thousand koṭis of gold. Now, being a king, for what reason should I only give one hundred thousand koṭis of gold? I ought to give one hundred thousand thousand koṭis of gold!" And so he exhausted his private treasuries, and took this Jambudvīpa, his queen, his palace ladies, the crown prince, and his ministers, and gave them all to the holy Saṃgha. Later, he used forty koṭis of gold to redeem them. Calculating in this manner, he expended ninety-six thousand koṭis of gold in all. Eventually, the king fell gravely ill and knew his life was ending. He had always vowed to make merit with one hundred thousand thousand koṭis of gold, but now, with his vow unfulfilled, he was about to pass into the next life, falling short by just four koṭis. The king then prepared various precious jewels to send to Kukkuṭārāma Monastery. Eventually, he sent half an āmalaka fruit to the Saṃgha. Bowing down to the feet of the Saṃgha, he inquired after the Great Holy Ones, saying: "I used to govern this Jambudvīpa, and it was my possession. Now it is all gone, and I have no mastery over it. There is only this half fruit. Compassionately accept it, so that I may obtain merit." The elder Yaśas ordered it ground into powder and put into pomegranate soup to be distributed, so that everyone received some. The king asked his attending ministers, "Who is the king of Jambudvīpa?" The ministers reported, "The Great King is." At that time, the king arose from his bed and sat upright. Looking around in the four directions, he joined his palms in reverence, mindful of the merits of the Buddhas. He thought in his mind and spoke with his mouth: "I now again give this Jambudvīpa to the Three Jewels." The king then wrote this on paper, sealed it up, and stamped it with his tooth-seal. Having completed these deeds, he passed away. Thereupon, the crown prince and the people made various offerings and conducted the funeral, cremating him in accordance with the law of a king.