法苑珠林 47.55

47.55

Thereupon, King Sarvadā again said to the young brahmin: “If you do not wish to take my head, you may cut off my nose and ears and deliver them; you can also obtain the reward, though I fear it will not satisfy the king.”
The young brahmin replied to the king: “Today I cannot bear to do this.”
The king again said to the young brahmin: “If not so, you may bind me and take me to deliver to him; you can also gain greatly thereby.”
The young brahmin could tell that the king would return to being king and would not be harmed by him. The young brahmin said: “If the king truly wishes this, we may return together; only when we approach your native realm shall I bind you.”
Thereupon, the king and the young brahmin went together and returned to the native realm. When they were twenty-odd li away, as they were about to arrive, the king put his own hands behind his back and said to the young brahmin: “You may bind me.” The young brahmin then bound the king. The people throughout the realm all heard that King Sarvadā had been bound and was being delivered by a young brahmin from another state. When the people, old and young, saw the king, there was none who did not weep; throwing themselves to the ground, they grieved as if mourning their own parents.
They proceeded forward to the palace gate. The ministers immediately entered and reported to that king: “The former King Sarvadā who fled and was sought with a bounty has been bound and brought by a young brahmin; he is now at the palace gate.”
That king immediately said: “Bring him in so I may see him.”
King Sarvadā then stepped forward into the palace. When that king, his ministers, and all the officials saw King Sarvadā, there was none who did not throw themselves to the ground and weep. That usurping king also shed tears, and asked the ministers: “Why do you all weep?”
The ministers said: “We see that King Sarvadā abandoned his realm and gave it to the king, and now he offers his own person in charity to this young brahmin, doing so without regret; therefore we weep.”
When that usurping king heard each of the ministers speak thus, he immediately threw himself to the ground and wept bitterly, unable to control himself. He then asked the young brahmin: “How did you capture this king today?” The young brahmin answered the king fully concerning the origin and circumstances. When that usurping king heard what the young brahmin said, he again threw himself to the ground, weeping, and issued an order instructing the ministers to quickly untie the king’s bonds, bathe him, clothe him, invest him with his seal and sash, and re-establish him as king, having him immediately return to the throne to rule the state as before. Thereupon, that king knelt on both knees, joined his palms in praise, and spoke these verses: