法苑珠林 47.53

47.53

As stated in the *Sūtra on the Dāna-pāramitā Practiced by the Lord of All Giving Spoken by the Buddha*: The Buddha said: “In the distant past, immeasurable kalpas ago, there was at that time in the world a great king named Sarvadā (in the language of Jin, ‘Lord of All Giving’). At that time, when giving gifts, whatever was sought from him, he never went against their wishes. At that time, in another country, there was a young brahmin whose father died early. He lived alone with his mother, older sister, and younger brother, their household being poor and lowly. His mother told her son: ‘Our household is destitute, with no means to support ourselves. When your father was alive, he would go to King Sarvadā to beg, and we could sustain ourselves. Why do you not now go to that king’s realm and seek wealth and jewels from him?’
The son replied to his mother: ‘I as yet have no knowledge; I must first study, and only then set out.’
The mother told the son: ‘Now in your house there is nothing at all, yet you insist on studying before you set out! If you leave and this place is left destitute, how are we to survive?’
The son immediately said to his mother: ‘I shall first borrow one liang of gold, which can provide provisions for one year.’ His mother then consented. He went and borrowed one liang of gold, returned to give it to his mother, and then left home to study. When one year had passed, he returned home. When the mother saw her son return, she went out to greet him and asked: ‘Have you already gone to the Lord of All Giving?’
The son again answered his mother: ‘What I have studied is not yet mastered; I must study further.’
The mother said: ‘The previous gold is already exhausted. What plan will you make?’
The son replied to his mother: ‘I shall borrow again.’ The son then went again to the house where he had previously borrowed the gold, and told the master that he wished to borrow another liang of gold. The master of the gold told the son: ‘You took gold previously and have not yet repaid me, and now you ask again. If you truly wish to get more gold, you must put your mother, older sister, and younger brother as bond on the contract; only then can you obtain it. If the time arrives and the debt is not settled, your mother, older sister, and younger brother will be forfeit as slaves.’ He then gave his consent, drew up the contract, took [the gold], carried it home, and gave it to his mother. He again left home to study. When another year was completed, his knowledge was roughly prepared; he wished to return to tell his mother, and then set out for the realm of King Sarvadā.
While on the road, he was seized by the creditor, who had already bound his mother, older sister, and younger brother in foot-shackles. The young brahmin said to the creditor: ‘Although you have bound us, even if you keep me for an entire year I will be of no use to you. It is better that you release me. I shall go to King Sarvadā to beg for wealth and return to repay you.’ The master considered this and released the young brahmin, allowing him to go.
At that time, the army of a king from another state raised troops intending to seize the state of King Sarvadā. The ministers informed the king: ‘Now another state has mobilized troops and entered our borders. We do not know what plan the Great King will make.’
The king thought to himself: ‘Human life is exceedingly short and will surely return to impermanence. Moreover, from my youth I have loved giving; my mind is benevolent, patient, and without intent to harm. I do not wish to resist them. Why? Simply for the sake of my single self to mobilize troops—should anyone be injured, it is truly unfitting for me.’ He then instructed the ministers: ‘There is no need to make preparations, nor should you be afraid. Simply set out in orderly array to welcome them, make obeisance, respectfully serve them, and receive their commands so that they exceed me.’
The ministers again said to the king: ‘Another state has entered our borders; why do we not make preparations?’ The king remained silent and did not respond. This occurred three times. The king said: ‘There is no need to resist them, just as I said before.’ The ministers all said: ‘The king commands not to prepare; we shall all comply.’ The king said: ‘Very good. Let each pacify his family, and be careful not to cause disturbance.’
At midnight, the king removed his seal and sash and secretly fled away. The king of that other state entered the realm and assumed the royal throne, immediately advertising for the capture of King Sarvadā with a very heavy reward. The [former] king had left his state and traveled over five hundred li, when in the distance he saw the young brahmin. The king thought to himself: ‘This young brahmin must surely have come seeking me today, without doubt.’
At that time, the young brahmin also thought: ‘Could this person perhaps be King Sarvadā himself?’ Both walked forward, met each other, and stopped. The king asked the young brahmin: ‘Where have you come from, and where do you wish to go now?’
The young brahmin answered: ‘I wish to go to King Sarvadā.’
The king asked again: ‘Wishing to go to King Sarvadā, what do you seek?’
The young brahmin replied: ‘I lost my father when young and live in great poverty. I gave my mother, older sister, and younger brother as collateral for a debt. I wish to beg wealth and jewels from King Sarvadā to redeem my mother, older sister, and younger brother, and also to sustain myself.’
The king then said to him: ‘I am none other than King Sarvadā.’
The young brahmin asked the king: ‘Where is your royal retinue, that you travel alone?’
The king said: ‘Another state came wishing to have my place, and therefore I avoided them. Why? Because I do not wish to harm people and soldiers.’
When the young brahmin heard what the king said, he threw himself to the ground and wept bitterly, unable to control himself. The king then went forward, took the young brahmin by the hand, comforted him, and made him rise, saying: ‘There is no need to weep any more. What you seek shall now be given to you.’
The young brahmin said: ‘The king has now lost his realm. What can you take to give me in charity?’
The king then answered: ‘The king who came from that state offers a very heavy bounty for me. You may now cut off my head and take it to him; whatever you seek, you will be able to obtain it all.’
Thereupon the young brahmin spoke a verse in reply: