法苑珠林 45.7

45.7

As the Saṃyuktaratnapiṭaka-sūtra says: The Buddha said: In the past, the king of the country of Kāśi was named Evil Receipt. He engaged extensively in unlawful deeds, tormenting the common people with cruelty and lack of principle. From travelling merchants coming from the four distances, he confiscated rare and fine goods by taxation without paying their value. For this reason, precious items in the country became extremely expensive; people spread his evil reputation everywhere. At that time, a parrot king lived in the forest. Hearing travellers on the road speaking of the king's evils, he thought to himself: "Though I am a bird, I still know what is wrong. Now I should go to him and speak of the good path. If that king hears my words, he will surely say: 'Even the king of birds possesses good words; how can a human king suffer his rebuke?' Perhaps he may reform and cultivate himself." He immediately flew high into the king's garden, wheeled around, and descended upon a tree. It happened that the king's consort had entered the garden for recreation. At that time, the parrot flapped his wings, chirped, and spoke to her, saying: "The king is currently tyrannical and extremely devoid of the Way, mutilating the myriad people and inflicting cruelty reaching even to birds and beasts. Sentient beings lament, humans and livestock harbour resentment, and the sounds of wailing are heard throughout the world. The consort's harshness is no different from the king's; how could the father and mother of the people be like this?" Having heard this, the consort flared with anger: "What little bird is this that vilifies me with a mouthful of insults?" She sent men to lie in wait and catch him. At that time, the parrot was neither alarmed nor frightened, entering into the hands of the catcher. When the consort got him, she immediately brought him to the king. The king said to the parrot: "Why did you revile me?" The parrot replied: "I spoke of Your Majesty's unlawfulness only wishing to benefit you; I did not dare to revile Your Majesty." The king then asked: "What unlawfulness is there?" He replied: "There are seven unlawful matters that can endanger Your Majesty's person." He asked: "What are the seven?" He replied: "First, indulging in female beauty and failing to respect the true and upright. Second, being fond of wine and drunken chaos, without caring for state affairs. Third, greedily attached to board games and gambling, without cultivating propriety and respect. Fourth, going on hunts and taking life, entirely devoid of compassion. Fifth, delighting in uttering evil words and never speaking good words. Sixth, doubling the usual regulations for taxes, corvée, and punishments. Seventh, plundering the people's wealth without righteousness and reason. Having these seven matters can endanger Your Majesty's person. Furthermore, there are three matters that will jointly ruin Your Majesty's state." The king asked again: "What are the three matters?" He replied: "First, keeping close to perverse, flatterous, and treacherous people. Second, not associating with the worthy and good, and not accepting good words. Third, delighting in attacking other states and not nurturing the people. If these three are not eliminated, the time of collapse will come either morning or evening. Now, one who is king is someone whom the entire land relies upon; the king should be like a bridge, ferrying across the myriad people. The king should be like a scale, treating both the intimate and the distant with equality. The king should be like a path, not deviating from the footsteps of the sages. The king is like the sun, shining universally on the world. The king is like the moon, bestowing coolness upon things. The king is like father and mother, nurturing with grace and caring with compassion. The king is like heaven, covering all things. The king is like earth, bearing and sustaining all beings. The king is like fire, burning away evil afflictions for the myriad people. The king is like water, moistening the four quarters. You should be like the wheel-turning sage kings of the past, who converted sentient beings by means of the ten paths of good deeds." When the king heard his words, he felt deeply ashamed. "The parrot's words are utterly sincere and truthful. Being a king of men, what I have done was devoid of the Way. I request to follow his teachings, venerate him as my teacher, and receive and cultivate correct practice." At that time, good customs and teaching were put into effect throughout the country, evil reputation disappeared, the consort and ministers all gave rise to loyalty and respect, and not one among the people failed to rejoice. The parrot of that time was my own body; King Evil Receipt of Kāśi of that time is now this prime minister; and the consort of that time is now the prime minister's wife.