法苑珠林 50.36

50.36

又佛說栴檀樹經云。佛告阿難。諦聽執受。時維邪梨國有五百人。入海採寶。置船步還。經歷深山日暮止宿。豫嚴早發。四百九十九人皆引去。一人臥熟失輩。仍遇天雨雪失去徑路。窮厄山中啼哭呼天。有大栴檀香樹。樹神謂窮人言。可止留此。自相給衣食到春可去。窮人便留。至于三月啟樹神言。受恩得全身命。未有微報顧有二親。今在本土。實思得還。願乞發遣。樹神言善。便自從意。以金一餅賜之。去此不遠當得還邑。窮人臨去問樹神言。此樹香潔世所希有。今當委還。願知其名。神言。不須問也。窮人復言。依陰此樹積歷三月。若到本國當宣樹恩。神便報言。樹名栴檀。根莖枝葉治人百病。其香遠聞世之奇異。人所貪求不須噵也。窮人還至國中親族歡喜。後無幾間國王病頭痛。禱祀天地山水諸神。痛不消差。名醫省視。唯得栴檀香以護病得愈。王即募求民間無有。便宣令國中得栴檀香者。拜為封侯。妻以王女。時窮人聞賞祿重。便詣王所白言。我知栴檀香處。王便令匠臣將窮人往伐取香樹。至到樹所。使者見樹洪直。枝條茂盛華果煌煌。以希見故心不忍伐。不伐者則違王命。躊躇[褒-保+(非/(乏-之))]回不知云何。樹神空中言曰。便伐。但置其根。伐已以人血塗之。肝腸覆其上。樹自當生還復如故。使者聞神言如此。便令人伐之。窮人住在樹邊。樹枝跢地標殺窮人。使者便與左右議言。向者樹神言。當得人血肝腸以祠樹心。不知當以誰賽。此人今死。便以當之。則屠割之。取其肝血如神所勅。樹即更生如本無異。車載伐樹以還國中。醫即進藥王病得愈。舉國歡喜。王命國中人民其有病者。皆出香給病皆得愈。舉國欣欣遂致太平。阿難退坐稽首質言。是窮人。何無反復。違樹神重誓。佛報曰。乃往昔維衛佛時。有父子三人。其父奉行齋戒未曾懈怠。大兒常於中庭空中燒香供養十方諸佛。小弟愚癡不知三尊。輒以衣覆香上。兄謂弟言。此事大重。何以犯之。弟起惡言。誓斷兄兩足。兄復起念當拍殺弟。父言。汝二子諍使我頭痛。大兒報言。願得我身為藥令父平損。口不妄言。故世世受罪。弟興惡意欲斷兄足。後果將人往斷樹身。兄欲拍殺弟。今作樹神。果因樹為體拍殺弟身。時國王頭痛者其父也。奉齋精進故得尊貴。時言使我頭痛者。後果頭痛。各受其殃。佛言。罪福報應如影隨形。

Furthermore, the Sūtra on the Sandalwood Tree Spoken by the Buddha states: The Buddha told Ānanda: 'Listen attentively and bear it in mind. At that time, in the country of Vaiśālī, there were five hundred people who entered the sea to gather jewels. Leaving their ships behind, they returned on foot. Passing through deep mountains, night fell and they halted to rest. Preparing early to depart, four hundred and ninety-nine people all set off. One person was sleeping soundly and missed his companions. He then encountered falling rain and snow and lost his trail. Destitute and distressed in the mountains, he wept and cried out to Heaven. There was a great candana tree. The tree spirit said to the destitute man: 'You may stay and remain here. I shall provide you with food and clothing myself; when spring comes you may leave.' The destitute man then stayed. When three months had passed, he addressed the tree spirit, saying: 'Having received your kindness, my whole life has been preserved. I have not made the slightest recompense, yet I consider my two parents who are now in my native land. I truly wish to return; pray allow me to depart.' The tree spirit said: 'Very well, follow your own wishes.' It gave him a gold ingot, saying: 'Not far from here you shall reach your town.' As the destitute man was about to leave, he asked the tree spirit, saying: 'This tree's fragrance and purity are rare in the world. Now that I am to leave and return, I wish to know its name.' The spirit said: 'There is no need to ask.' The destitute man said again: 'I have relied on the shade of this tree for three full months. If I reach my native country, I should proclaim the tree's kindness.' The spirit then replied, saying: 'The tree is named Candana. Its roots, stem, branches, and leaves cure all diseases of men. Its fragrance is smelled from afar, an extraordinary wonder of the world. It is something people covet and seek; there is no need to speak of it.' The destitute man returned to his country, and his relatives rejoiced. Not long afterward, the king of the country fell ill with a headache. He offered sacrifices to heaven, earth, mountains, rivers, and all the spirits, but the pain did not abate or heal. A famous physician examined him and said that only candana incense could protect him and cure the illness. The king immediately sought it among the common people, but there was none. He then proclaimed throughout the country: 'Whoever obtains candana incense shall be enfeoffed as a marquis and wed to the king's daughter.' When the destitute man heard of the rich reward and emolument, he went to the king's presence and stated: 'I know the location of the candana incense.' The king then ordered the master artisan to take the destitute man to go and cut down the fragrant tree. Reaching the tree, the envoy saw that the tree was vast and straight, its branches and foliage lush, and its blossoms and fruits splendid. Because it was rarely seen, his heart could not bear to cut it down. Yet if he did not cut it down, he would disobey the king's command. Hesitating and turning about, he did not know what to do. The tree spirit spoke from midair, saying: 'Go ahead and cut it! Just leave its roots. After cutting it down, smear it with human blood and cover it with liver and intestines; the tree will naturally grow back as before.' Hearing the spirit speak thus, the envoy ordered people to cut it down. The destitute man stood beside the tree; a tree branch fell to the ground and struck the destitute man dead. The envoy then discussed with his attendants, saying: 'Just now the tree spirit said that human blood, liver, and intestines must be obtained to sacrifice to the tree's heart. We did not know who should be used for this offering. Now that this man has died, let him serve as it.' They then butchered and dismembered him, taking his liver and blood as instructed by the spirit. The tree immediately regrew, no different from before. They loaded the cut tree into carts to return to the country. The physician then administered the medicine, and the king's illness was cured. The entire country rejoiced. The king commanded that any persons in the country who were ill should all be given the incense, and their illnesses were all cured. The whole country was delighted, and peace was consequently attained.' Ānanda withdrew from his seat, prostrated himself, and asked: 'Why was this destitute man so ungrateful, betraying the tree spirit's solemn pledge?' The Buddha replied, saying: 'Long ago, in the time of Vipaśyin Buddha, there was a father and two sons. The father observed the precepts and abstinences without ever being negligent. The elder son always burned incense in the courtyard to midair to make offerings to the Buddhas of the ten directions. The younger brother was foolish and did not know the Three Honoured Ones; he repeatedly covered the incense with clothing. The elder brother said to the younger brother: 'This matter is very grave; why do you violate it?' The younger brother uttered evil words, vowing to cut off both of his elder brother's feet. The elder brother also formed the thought that he would strike his younger brother dead. The father said: 'You two sons quarreling gives me a headache.' The elder son replied, saying: 'I vow that my own body may become medicine to bring relief and healing to my father.' Because his mouth did not utter false speech, he endured retribution life after life. The younger brother aroused the evil intent of wishing to cut off his elder brother's feet; later he indeed led people to cut down the tree trunk. The elder brother wished to strike his younger brother dead; now being a tree spirit, he indeed took the tree as his body and struck his younger brother's body dead. The king who had a headache at that time was the father; because he practiced the fasts with diligence, he attained an exalted and noble station. His remark that 'you make my head ache' later indeed resulted in a headache; each received his retribution.' The Buddha said: 'The karmic retribution of sins and blessings follows one like a shadow following a form.'