法苑珠林 19.32

19.32

Furthermore, the Sūtra of King Puda states: At that time, there was a king of the country of Fuyan named Puda, who held sway over various kingdoms and received tribute from the four directions. The king personally honoured the Buddha-Dharma and was never biased or unjust. He constantly harboured a compassionate mind, pitying the foolish commoners who did not know the Three Jewels. Whenever he observed the fast, he would mount a high tower to burn incense; returning, he would touch his head to the ground and prostrate in veneration. The ministers and people of the kingdom marvelled at the king acting thus, and conferred amongst themselves, saying, 'The king occupies the most revered position over the myriad people; those far and near revere and submit to him. Whatever he speaks, people follow. What inclination does he have to humiliate his dignified manner and touch his head and face to the ground?' The various ministers conferred repeatedly, wishing to remonstrate but not daring to do so. The king commanded his subordinates to prepare his chariot for a journey. The king then set out from the palace with several thousand officials and commoners. Not far along, he suddenly saw a man of the Way. The king immediately descended from his chariot, put aside his parasol, halted his retinue, and touched his head and face to the ground to venerate the man of the Way. He promptly followed him back and prepared food and drink, so that the journey was ultimately not completed. Thereupon the ministers remonstrated, saying, 'The Great King is supremely venerable; why is it fitting to touch your head and face to the ground on the road for this begging man of the Way? In all under heaven, what is honoured and noble is only the head and face; moreover, as lord of the kingdom, you are unlike others.' The king then commanded his subordinates to seek out a dead human's head as well as the heads of an ox, a horse, a pig, and a sheep. The subordinates immediately went all about searching for them, and only after several days did they obtain them. They returned and reported to the king, saying, 'Previously we were instructed to seek a dead human's head and the heads of the six domestic animals. Now we have obtained them all.' The king said, 'Sell them in the marketplace.' The subordinates then sent people to sell them. The heads of the ox, horse, pig, and sheep were all sold; only the human head was not sold. The king said, 'Sell it cheaply or dearly, just make haste to sell it. If it cannot be sold, then give it away to someone.' In this way, after several days of trying to sell it, it was still not sold; and when giving it away, no one would take it either. The head was completely bloated and stank so foully that none could approach it. The king then feigned great anger and addressed his subordinates, saying, 'You people previously remonstrated, saying that a human's head is most noble and that one must not humiliate oneself by touching head and face to the ground to venerate a man of the Way. When ordered to sell them, the heads of the six domestic animals all found buyers. For what reason is there no one who will take a human's head even when given away?' The king immediately commanded his subordinates to prepare the chariot to go out to the marshes in the wilderness outside the city. The king had questions to ask, and the ministers and people were all terrified. The king then addressed the ministers, saying, 'Do you happen to remember the young boy who used to hold the parasol during the time of my royal predecessor, or not?' The ministers replied, saying, 'We truly remember that he existed.' The king said, 'Where is this boy now?' They replied, 'He has been dead for a long time, indeed through seventeen years.' The king said, 'How was this boy's character, good or bad?' They replied, saying, 'We often observed him serving the late king, observing the fast with reverent solemnity, guarding himself with honesty and good faith, and never speaking what was contrary to Dharma.' The king told the ministers, 'If you were now to see the clothes this boy wore while alive, would you recognise them or not?' The ministers replied, saying, 'Although it has been a long time, we would still recognise them.' The king looked to his attendants and sent them in haste back to the inner storehouse to fetch the former dead boy's clothes. In an instant, the clothes arrived. He said, 'Are these they, or not?' They replied, 'They truly are his clothes.' The king said, 'If you were now to see the boy's body, would you recognise him or not?' The ministers were all silent for a long while, [then said,] 'We are dull and benighted, and upon seeing him abruptly we might not distinguish him.' The king was just about to explain the origin when the man of the Way seen before arrived at the king's place. The king was overjoyed; he stood up and touched his head and face to the ground to venerate the man of the Way. None of the ministers was not delighted. The man of the Way took a seat. The king joined his palms and fully stated the previous circumstances: 'Today I deliberately came forth in procession wishing to reveal the origin and outcome; I pray that you will guide and instruct the ministers and people of this kingdom out of their foolish ignorance, causing them to know the true Dharma.' The man of the Way immediately explained to the subordinates the king's original transformation: 'If you wish to know about the king: originally he was the young boy who held the parasol for the late king, constantly following the late king in observing the fast without violating it for a single day. Afterwards, when he passed away, his consciousness was reborn as the son of the king. Attaining supreme nobility today is entirely due to past deeds.' High and low among the ministers all agreed in unison, saying, 'We have had the fortunate encounter of beholding the man of the Way; we pray that you will extend your pity and compassion, and grant that we may become your disciples.' The man of the Way told them, saying, 'My teacher is named the Buddha. His body is complete with the marks and signs; he walks alone through the three realms, and his teachings are not in vain. The Buddha is now six thousand li away from here.' Within the space of a brief conversation, the man of the Way flew to the kingdom of Śrāvastī and fully reported to the Buddha: 'The people of that kingdom are greatly to be pitied; now they all sincerely wish to see the Buddha. We pray only that you bestow your great compassion and disclose the true path.' The Buddha then granted permission. The next day he arrived in the kingdom of Fuyan. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for the king, ministers, and people, saying, 'Do you wish to know the origin and outcome of King Puda and the man of the Way?' Ānanda said, 'We wish to hear of this matter.' The Buddha said, 'Long ago, in the time of the Buddha Mahāvīra, the king was the son of a great family whose father made offerings to the Three Jewels. The father commanded the son to pass around incense. At that time, there was an attendant who, being slighted in his mind, was not given incense. Because karmic offences and blessings correspond like echoes, he thus incurred this misfortune: although he was temporarily a servant, he honoured the Dharma without falsehood, and now has attained kingship. The man of the Way was originally that attendant. At that time, he did not obtain incense, yet although he did not obtain incense, his mind held no resentment; he immediately made a vow, saying: "If I attain the Way, I shall deliver this person." His merit and vow have borne fruit and united, so today he has come to deliver the king and the people.' When the king heard the Buddha explain their origin and outcome, his mind understood and he immediately attained the stage of srotāpanna. When the people in the kingdom heard the sūtra, they all received the five precepts and the ten virtues as their constant rule.