法苑珠林 75.35

75.35

Furthermore, the Old Sūtra of Diverse Parables states: In the past, a king guarded his women strictly. The king's queen consort said to the crown prince: 'I am your mother, yet all my life I have never seen the realm. I wish to go out for a single tour; you may inform the king.' After she asked three times, the crown prince informed the king, and the king granted permission. The crown prince himself drove the carriage. Along the road, the ministers welcomed her and bowed in homage. The queen consort reached out her hand, parted [the curtain], and exposed herself so that people could see her. The crown prince saw the woman's face like this, and so feigned abdominal pain and turned back. The queen consort said: 'I have no auspicious signs indeed!' The crown prince reflected: 'Even my mother is like this; how much more so other women!' That night, he abandoned the realm, left, and entered the mountains to wander and observe. At that time, beside the road, there was a tree beneath which was a spring of water. The crown prince climbed the tree and happened to see a brāhmaṇa who walked alone into the water pool to bathe. Having come out and eaten, he performed magic arts: he vomited forth a pot, from which came a woman with whom he retired to a secluded chamber. When the brāhmaṇa fell asleep, the woman again vomited forth a pot, from which came a man with whom she also slept. After sleeping, she swallowed the pot. In a short while, the brāhmaṇa awoke, put his wife back into the pot, swallowed it, took his staff, and left. The crown prince returned to the country and informed the king. He invited the brāhmaṇa and all the ministers, prepared food for three people, and set it to one side. When the brāhmaṇa arrived, he said: 'I am alone.' The crown prince said: 'Brāhmaṇa, you should bring out your wife to eat together.' Having no choice, the brāhmaṇa brought out his wife. The crown prince said: 'Wife, you should bring out your husband to eat together.' After repeating this three times, she had no choice but to bring out the man to eat together. Having finished eating, they departed. The king asked the crown prince: 'How did you know of this?' He replied: 'When my mother viewed the realm, I drove the carriage. Mother parted [the curtain], reached out her hand, and let people see her. I reflected that women are capable of much lustful desire, so I feigned abdominal pain, returned, and entered the mountains. There I saw the brāhmaṇa who hid his wife in his belly like this. The deceitfulness of women cannot be eradicated. I pray that the Great King release and pardon those in the palace to wander freely as they wish.' The king issued an edict to the inner palace that whoever wished to leave was free to follow their inclination. The Master says: 'The most untrustworthy things under heaven are women.'