法苑珠林 49.54

49.54

夫以立忠立孝。所以揚名於後代。行逆行乖。所以受報於來苦。孝逆昇沈善惡胡越。故大慈愍闍王之凶勃。譽羅雲之善徵。將恐不孝毒火無由而滅。惡逆重闇開了未期。譬如牢獄重囚具縈眾苦。抱長枷穿大械。帶金鉗負鐵鎖。捶撲其軀膿瘡穢爛。周遍形骸臭惡纏匝。而欲以此狀求見慈父懇誠難覩也。

Establishing loyalty and filial piety is that by which one spreads fame to future generations; committing treason and perversity is that by which one receives retribution in future suffering. Filial piety and transgression, rising and falling, good and evil are as far apart as the Hu and Yue tribes. Therefore, the Great Compassionate One pitied the savage cruelty of King Ajātaśatru, while praising the auspicious signs of Rāhula. One fears that the toxic fire of unfilial conduct will have no way to be extinguished, and the heavy darkness of evil inversion will have no appointed time to clear. It is like a prisoner facing heavy punishment in a jail, bound with every kind of suffering: wearing a long cangue and fitted with heavy shackles, bearing metal fetters and laden with iron chains, his body beaten with rods until suppurating sores rot and putrefy, foulness covering his entire form and enveloped in stench—and yet, in this state, he wishes to seek an audience with his loving father; such sincere earnestness is difficult indeed to be seen.