[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 96.31 # 法苑珠林 96.31 法苑珠林 96.31 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [96.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.96.31) 我於往昔　無量劫中　捨所重身 以求菩提　若為國王　及作王子 常捨難捨　以求菩提　我念宿命 有大國王　其王名曰　摩訶羅陀 是王有子　能大布施　其子名曰 摩訶薩埵　復有二兄　長者名曰 大波那羅　次名大天　三人同遊 至一空山　見新產虎　飢窮無食 時勝大王　生大悲心　我今當捨 所重之身　此虎或為　飢餓所逼 儻能還食　自所生子　即上高山 自投虎前　為令虎子　得全性命 是時大地　及諸大山　皆悉震動 驚諸蟲獸　虎狼師子　四散馳走 世間皆暗　無有光明　是時二兄 故在竹林　心懷憂惱　愁苦涕泣 漸漸推求　遂至虎所　見虎虎子 血污其口　又見骸骨　髮毛爪齒 處處迸血　狼藉在地　是二王子 見是事已　心更悶絕　自躄於地 以灰塵土　自塗坌身　忘失正念 生狂癡心　所將侍從　覩見是事 亦生悲慟　先聲號哭　互以冷水 共相噴灑　然後蘇息　而復得起 是時王子　當捨身時　正值後宮 妃后婇女　眷屬五百　共相娛樂 王妃是時　兩乳汁出　一切肢節 痛如針刺　心生愁惱　似喪愛子 於是王妃　疾至王所　其聲微細 悲泣而言　大王今當　諦聽諦聽 憂愁盛火　今來燒我　我今二乳 俱時汁出　身體苦切　如被針刺 我見如是　不祥瑞相　恐更不復 見所愛子　今以身命　奉上大王 願速遣人　求覓我子　夢三鴿雛 在我懷抱　其最小者　可適我心 有鷹飛來　奪我而去　夢是事已 即生憂惱　我今愁怖　恐命不濟 願速遣人　推求我子　是時王妃 說是語已　即時悶絕　而復躄地 王聞是語　復生憂惱　以不得見 所愛子故　其王大臣　及諸眷屬 悉皆聚集　在王左右　哀哭悲號 聲動天地　爾時城內　所有人民 聞是聲已　驚愕而出　各相謂言 今是王子　為活來耶　為已死亡 如是大士　常出軟語　為眾所愛 今難可見　已有諸人　入林推求 不久自當　得定消息　諸人爾時 慞惶如是　而復悲號　哀動神祇 爾時大王　即從座起　以水灑妃 良久乃穌　還得正念　微聲問王 我子今者　為死活耶　爾時王妃 念其子故　倍復懊惱　心無暫捨 可惜我子　形色端正　如何一旦 捨我終亡　云何我身　不先薨歿 而見如是　諸苦惱事　善子妙色 猶淨蓮華　誰壞汝身　使令分離 將非是我　昔日怨讎　挾本業緣 而殺汝耶　我子面目　淨如滿月 不圖一旦　遇斯禍對　寧使我身 破碎如塵　不令我子　喪失身命 我所見夢　已為得報　直我無情 能堪是苦　如我所夢　牙齒墮落 二乳一時　汁自流出　必定是我 失所愛子　夢三鴿鶵　鷹奪一去 三子之中　必定失一　爾時大王 即告其妃　我今當遣　大臣使者 周遍東西　推求覓子　汝今且可 莫大憂愁　大王如是　慰喻妃已 即便嚴駕　出其宮殿　心生愁惱 憂苦所切　雖在大眾　顏貌憔悴 即出其城　覓所愛子　爾時亦有 無量諸人　哀號動地　尋從王後 是時大王　既出城已　四向顧望 求覓其子　煩惋心亂　靡知所在 最後遙見　有一信來　頭蒙塵土 血污其衣　灰糞塗身　悲號而至 爾時大王　摩訶羅陀　見是使已 倍生懊惱　舉首號叫　仰天而哭 先所遣臣　尋復來至　既至王所 作如是言　願王莫愁　諸子猶在 不久當至　令王得見　須臾之頃 復有臣來　見王愁苦　顏貌憔悴 身所著衣　垢膩塵污　大王當知 一子已終　二子雖在　哀悴無賴 第三王子　見虎新產　饑窮七日 恐還食子　見是虎已　生大悲心 發大誓願　當度眾生　於未來世 證成菩提　即上高處　投身虎前 虎飢所逼　便起啗食　一切血肉 已為都盡　唯有骸骨　狼藉在地 是時大王　聞臣語已　轉復悶絕 失念躄地　憂愁盛火　熾然其身 諸臣眷屬　亦復如是　以水灑王 良久乃穌　復起舉首　號天而哭 復有臣來　而白王言　向於林中 見二王子　愁憂苦毒　悲號涕泣 迷悶失志　自投於地　臣即求水 灑其身上　良久之頃　乃還穌息 望見四方　大火熾然　扶持暫起 尋復躄地　舉首悲哀　號天而哭 乍復讚歎　其弟功德　是時大王 以離愛子　其心迷悶　氣力惙然 憂惱涕泣　並復思惟　是最小子 我所愛重　無常大鬼　奄便吞食 其餘二子　今雖存在　而為憂火 之所焚燒　或能為是　喪失命根 我宜速往　至彼林中　迎載諸子 急還宮殿　其母在後　憂苦逼切 心肝分裂　或能失命　若見二子 慰喻其心　可使終保　餘年壽命 爾時大王　駕乘名象　與諸侍從 欲至彼林　即於中路　見其二子 號天扣地　稱弟名字　時王即前 抱持二子　悲號涕泣　隨路還宮 速令二子　覲見其母　佛告樹神 汝今當知　爾時王子　摩訶薩埵 捨身飼虎　今我身是　爾時大王 摩訶羅陀　於今父王　輸頭檀是 爾時王妃　今摩耶是　第一王子 今彌勒是　第二王子　今調達是 爾時虎者　今瞿夷是　時虎七子 今五比丘　及舍利弗　目犍連是 > In the past, during immeasurable kalpas, > I renounced the body I cherished to seek bodhi. > Whether as a king or as a prince, > I constantly renounced what was hard to renounce in order to seek bodhi. > I recall a past life in which there was a great king; > that king was named Mahāratha. > This king had a son who was capable of great dāna; > that son was named Mahāsattva. > He also had two elder brothers; > the eldest was named Mahāpraṇāda, > and the next was named Mahādeva. > The three went wandering together > and arrived at an empty mountain, > where they saw a tigress that had recently given birth, starving and destitute of food. > Then that supreme great prince gave rise to great compassion: > 'I should now renounce this body that I cherish. > This tigress, hard-pressed by hunger, > might otherwise eat her own offspring.' > He immediately climbed a high mountain > and threw himself before the tigress, > so that the tiger cubs could preserve their lives. > At that time, the great earth and all the great mountains shook and trembled; > the wild beasts and insects took fright, and tigers, wolves, and lions fled in all directions. > The world became pitch-dark, devoid of light. > At that time, the two elder brothers, still remaining in the bamboo grove, > were filled with sorrow and anguish, weeping and lamenting in grief. > Searching gradually, they reached the tigress's den, > where they saw the tigress and her cubs with blood smeared upon their mouths, > and also saw the skeleton, hair, claws, and teeth, > with spattered blood everywhere strewn over the ground. > When the two princes saw this, > their hearts were overwhelmed with anguish; they threw themselves upon the ground, > smeared their bodies with ash, dust, and dirt, > lost right mindfulness, and went out of their minds with grief. > The attendants they had brought, witnessing this spectacle, > likewise gave rise to grief and sorrow, wailing and weeping loudly first, > and sprayed each other with cold water; > only then did they revive and rise again. > At the moment when the prince renounced his body, > in the inner palace the queen and royal concubines, five hundred attendants in all, > were amusing themselves together. > At that time, milk flowed from both breasts of the queen, > and all her joints and limbs pained as if pierced by needles. > Grief and distress arose in her heart, as if she had lost a beloved child. > Thereupon, the queen hastened to the king's presence, > and in a faint, weeping voice said: > 'Great King, listen closely, listen closely! > A blazing fire of sorrow has now come to consume me. > Both of my breasts have simultaneously flowed with milk, > and my body suffers piercing agony as though pricked by needles. > Seeing such an inauspicious omen, > I fear I may never again see my beloved son. > Now, offering my body and life before the Great King, > I beg you to quickly send people to search for my son. > I dreamed that three young doves were held in my bosom, > and that the youngest one, who pleased my heart the most, > was seized and carried away by a hawk that flew down. > Having dreamt this, sorrow and distress at once arose in me. > Now terrified with grief, I fear his life will not be saved. > Please swiftly dispatch people to track down and seek my son!' > When the queen had spoken these words, > she immediately fainted and collapsed to the ground. > When the king heard these words, he too gave rise to sorrow and distress, > because he could not see his beloved son. > The king's ministers and all the royal retinue > gathered beside the king, > lamenting and wailing bitterly, their cries shaking heaven and earth. > At that time, all the people within the city, > hearing these sounds, came out in shock and astonishment, > saying to one another: > 'Has this prince returned alive, or is he already dead? > Such a great being always spoke gentle words and was loved by the multitude; > now he is hard to behold. > People have already entered the forest to search for him; > before long, definite news will surely be had.' > When the people were in such panic and dismay, > their weeping and lamentation moved the spirits and deities. > Then the great king rose from his seat > and sprinkled the queen with water; > after a long while she revived, regained right mindfulness, > and asked the king in a faint voice: > 'Is my son now dead or alive?' > At that time, remembering her son, > the queen's anguish redoubled, and her heart did not rest for an instant: > 'How pitiable is my son, so handsome and upright in form! > How could he suddenly abandon me and pass away? > Why did I not die first, > instead of seeing such bitter afflictions? > My fine son's wondrous countenance was like a pure lotus flower; > who destroyed your body, causing our separation? > Could it be an enemy from my past lives, > who, driven by past karmic conditions, has killed you? > My son's face was as pure as the full moon; > I never imagined that in a single day he would meet with such disaster! > I would rather my own body be crushed into dust > than have my son lose his life! > The dream I saw has already received its retribution; > it is only that I am so unfeeling as to be able to endure such pain. > Just as in my dream, my teeth fell out > and both breasts spontaneously flowed with milk at once: > surely I have lost my beloved son! > I dreamed of three young doves, and a hawk seized one away; > among the three sons, one must surely be lost!' > Then the great king said to his queen: > 'I will now dispatch ministers and envoys > to search everywhere east and west for our son. > For now, you must not grieve excessively.' > Having thus consoled the queen, > the great king had his carriage prepared and departed the palace. > Afflicted by sorrow and distress, pressed by grief and pain, > though amidst the multitude, his countenance was withered and haggard. > He went out of the city to seek his beloved son. > At that time, countless people, their lamentations shaking the earth, > followed behind the king. > After the great king had left the city, > he gazed in all four directions, seeking his son, > his heart troubled and confused, knowing not where he was. > At last, he saw from afar a messenger approaching, > his head covered in dust, his clothes stained with blood, > his body smeared with ash and filth, arriving in lamentation. > When the great king Mahāratha saw this envoy, > his anguish increased redoubled; he raised his head, wailed aloud, and wept looking up toward heaven. > The minister dispatched earlier then returned; > having reached the king's presence, he spoke these words: > 'May the King not grieve; the princes are still alive. > They will arrive shortly, allowing the King to see them.' > In a brief moment, another minister arrived; > seeing the king's sorrow and suffering, his face withered and haggard, > and his garments soiled with grime and dust, \[he said\]: > 'The Great King should know that one son has already perished; > the two sons, though still alive, are broken-hearted and without support. > The third prince saw that the tigress had newly given birth and had been starving for seven days; > fearing that she would eat her own cubs, > upon seeing this tigress, he gave rise to great compassion, > made a great vow to liberate sentient beings, > and in future ages attain bodhi; > he then climbed to a high place and cast his body down before the tigress. > Driven by hunger, the tigress fell upon him and devoured him; > all the flesh and blood have been entirely consumed, > and only the skeleton lies strewn over the ground.' > When the great king heard the minister's words, > he fainted once more, lost consciousness, and collapsed to the ground, > the blazing fire of sorrow burning furiously within his body. > The ministers and retinue were likewise afflicted; > they sprinkled the king with water, > and after a long while he revived, rose again, raised his head, and wept, wailing toward heaven. > Yet another minister arrived and addressed the king, saying: > 'Just now in the forest, I saw the two princes, > plunged in bitter grief and torment, weeping and crying out in lamentation. > Stupefied and overwhelmed, they threw themselves upon the ground. > I immediately searched for water and sprinkled it on their bodies; > after a long while they revived. > Looking in all four directions, \[all seemed like\] great fire blazing fiercely; > we supported them to stand up for a moment, > but they immediately collapsed to the ground again, raising their heads in grief and wailing toward heaven; > then again they praised their younger brother's merits.' > At that time, having lost his beloved son, > the great king's heart was dazed and faint, his strength drained; > weeping in sorrow and anguish, he thought to himself: > 'This youngest son was the one I loved and treasured; > the great demon of impermanence has suddenly swallowed him up! > The other two sons, though currently alive, > are scorched by the fire of sorrow; > they might well lose their lives on account of this. > I should go quickly to that forest > to receive and transport my sons, and hurry back to the palace. > Their mother remains behind, pressed by grief and pain, > her heart and liver torn apart; she may well lose her life. > If she sees the two sons and consoles her heart, > she may be enabled to preserve the remaining years of her life.' > Then the great king, mounting a famous elephant, > set out for that forest with his attendants. > Along the road, he saw his two sons, > wailing toward heaven, beating the ground, and calling their younger brother's name. > The king then went forward, embraced the two sons, > and weeping and wailing, returned along the road to the palace, > promptly having the two sons grant audience to their mother. > The Buddha told the tree deity: > 'You should now know that the prince Mahāsattva of that time, > who renounced his body to feed the tigress, was none other than myself. > The great king Mahāratha of that time > is now my father, King Śuddhodana. > The queen of that time is now Māyā. > The first prince is now Maitreya. > The second prince is now Devadatta. > The tigress of that time is now Gopī. > The seven tiger cubs of that time > are now the five monks, as well as Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana.' > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 96.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.96.30) - [Next: 97.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.97.1) - [Up: 96](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.96) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.96.31) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.96.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.96.31) · Pramāṇa