法苑珠林 54.13

54.13

如雜寶藏經云。時提婆達多作種種因緣。欲得殺佛然不能得。時南天竺國有婆羅門來。善知呪術和合毒藥。提婆即合毒藥以散佛上。風吹此藥反墮己頭上。即便悶絕躄地欲死。醫不能治。阿難白佛言。世尊。提婆達多被毒欲死。佛憐愍故為說實語。我從菩薩成佛已來。於提婆達多常生慈悲無有惡心者毒當自滅。作是語已毒即消滅。諸比丘言。希有世尊。提婆達多常起惡心於如來。如來云何猶故活之。佛言。非但今日惡心向我。過去亦爾。即問佛言。惡心於佛其事云何。佛言。過去之世。迦尸國中有波羅柰城。有二輔相。一名斯那。二名惡意。斯那常順法行。惡意常行惡行好為讒搆。而語王言。斯那欲作惡逆。王即收閉。諸天善神於虛空中出聲而言。如此賢人實無過罪。云何拘縛。第二惡意劫王庫藏反著斯那。王亦不信。王言。捉此惡意付與斯那仰使斷之。斯那即教惡意向王懺悔。惡意自知有罪。便走向毘提醯王所。作一寶篋盛二惡蛇。見毒具足令毘提醯王遣使送與彼王并及斯那。二人共看莫示餘人。王見寶篋極以嚴飾。心大歡喜。即喚斯那欲共發看。斯那答言。遠來之物不得自看。遠來果食不得即食。何以故。彼有惡人。或能以惡來見中傷。王言。我必欲看。殷勤三諫。王不用語。復白王言。不用臣語王自看之。臣不能看。王即發看。兩眼盲冥不見於物。斯那憂苦愁瘁欲死。遣人四出遍歷諸國遠覓良藥。既得好藥以治王眼。平復如故。爾時王者舍利弗是。爾時斯那者我身是。爾時惡意者提婆達多是也。

As the *Saṃyuktaratnapiṭaka-sūtra* says: At that time, Devadatta created various circumstances, wishing to kill the Buddha, yet he was unable to do so. At that time, a brāhmaṇa arrived from Southern India who was skilled in incantations and compounding poisons. Devadatta compounded poison to scatter over the Buddha, but the wind blew the poison back onto his own head. He immediately fell unconscious to the ground, on the verge of death, and physicians could not cure him. Ānanda said to the Buddha, “World-Honoured One, Devadatta has been poisoned and is about to die.” Out of pity, the Buddha spoke words of truth for him: “If, from the time I was a bodhisattva until attaining Buddhahood, I have constantly generated loving-kindness toward Devadatta without any malicious intent, may this poison naturally perish.” Having spoken these words, the poison immediately vanished. The bhikṣus said, “Rare indeed, World-Honoured One! Devadatta constantly generates malicious thoughts toward the Tathāgata; why does the Tathāgata still save his life?” The Buddha said, “Not only today does he direct malicious thoughts toward me; it was also like this in the past.” They then asked the Buddha, “What was the matter of his harboring malicious thoughts toward the Buddha?” The Buddha said: In a past age, in the kingdom of Kāśi, there was the city of Vārāṇasī. There were two ministers: one named Senā and the second named Durgati. Senā constantly practiced in accordance with the Dharma; Durgati constantly engaged in evil deeds and was fond of slander. He said to the king, “Senā wishes to commit rebellion.” The king immediately arrested and imprisoned him. Good spirits of the heavens produced a voice in the sky, saying, “Such a worthy person is truly without fault or guilt; why do you bind him?” Next, Durgati plundered the king's treasury and shifted the blame onto Senā, but the king did not believe it either. The king said, “Seize this Durgati and hand him over to Senā, commanding him to execute judgment upon him.” Senā then instructed Durgati to repent before the king. Durgati, knowing he was guilty, fled to the king of Videha. He made a treasure chest containing two venomous snakes, filled with lethal poison, and had the king of Videha send an envoy to present it to that king and to Senā, [saying,] “The two of you should look at it together; do not show it to anyone else.” Seeing that the treasure chest was exceedingly ornate, the king was greatly delighted. He immediately summoned Senā, wishing to open and inspect it together. Senā replied, “Articles from afar must not be viewed carelessly; fruits and food from afar must not be eaten immediately. Why? There are evil people there, who might use evil to harm us.” The king said, “I must see it.” Senā earnestly admonished him three times, but the king did not heed his words. He further addressed the king, “If you do not heed your subject's words, Your Majesty may inspect it yourself; I cannot look.” The king immediately opened and looked at it, and both his eyes went blind, unable to see things. Senā was grieved, anguished, and emaciated to the point of dying. He sent men in the four directions to travel far through all the kingdoms to seek good medicine. Having obtained good medicine, he treated the king's eyes, and they were restored as before. The king at that time was Śāriputra; Senā at that time was myself; and Durgati at that time was Devadatta.