法苑珠林 80.28

80.28

Furthermore, the Sūtra on Prince Sudāna Spoken by the Buddha says: The Buddha addressed Ānanda: In the past, countless kalpas ago, there was a great country named Yebo. Its king was called Shibo. The king had twenty thousand consorts, yet not a single son. The king himself prayed and sacrificed to all the gods, devas, and spirits, and subsequently a conception was felt. When the ten months were complete, the crown prince was born and was named Sudāna. By the age of sixteen he was fully accomplished in the arts of writing and scholarship, and from his youth onward he constantly loved to practice giving (dāna). When the crown prince grew older, the king took a consort for him named Mandī, the daughter of a king, who was peerlessly upright and beautiful. The crown prince had one son and one daughter. The crown prince reflected that he wished to accomplish the perfection of giving (dānapāramitā). He went out of the city to tour and sightsee. Śakra, ruler of the gods, transformed himself into poor, deaf, blind, and mute people, who were all beside the road. After seeing them, the prince was grieved and unhappy. The prince addressed the king: 'I wish to ask a single boon from the Great King; I wonder whether you will grant it?' The king replied: 'Whatever you wish, I will not oppose your will.' The prince said: 'My wish is to take all the rare treasures in the Great King's inner storehouse, place them outside the four city gates and within the marketplace, and use them to practice giving so that whatever anyone requests, their wishes will not be thwarted.' The king said to the prince: 'Indulge whatever you desire; I will not oppose you.' The prince thereupon carted the rare treasures and placed them outside the four city gates and within the marketplace, letting people ask as they pleased. Throughout the eight directions, above and below, there was no one who did not hear of it. Those who came from thousands or ten thousands of li away were given to as they wished, without their intentions ever being thwarted. At that time there was a rival, hostile country. Hearing that the prince loved to practice giving and never thwarted what anyone requested, its king assembled his ministers and various religious practitioners (daoshi) to hold counsel together, saying: 'The king of Yebo has a white elephant that walks on lotuses, named Sudānayan, which possesses great strength and is skilled in battle. Whenever we engage in warfare with other states, this elephant is always victorious. Who is capable of going to beg for it?' All the ministers said: 'No one is capable of going.' Among them were eight brahmins who said to the king: 'We are able to go and beg for it; you should supply us with provisions.' The king immediately gave them provisions and said: 'If you can obtain the elephant, I will reward you richly.' The eight religious practitioners went to the country of Yebo and arrived at the gate of the crown prince's palace. Leaning on their staves, they all stood on one raised foot and said of themselves: 'We have intentionally come from afar wishing to make a request.' When the prince heard this, he was exceedingly joyful, went out to welcome them, and stepped forward to pay homage as a son greets his father. He then comforted them and asked what they sought. The religious practitioners replied: 'We have heard that the prince loves to practice giving and does not thwart people's wishes. The prince's name has spread throughout the eight directions, penetrating up into the azure heavens and down into the Yellow Springs. The merit of your giving is immeasurable. We wish to beg from the prince the white elephant that walks on lotuses.' The prince immediately led them to the stables and bade them take an elephant. The eight men said: 'We specifically want the white elephant that walks on lotuses, named Sudānayan.' The prince said: 'This great elephant is cherished and prized by my royal father; the king regards it as he does me. If I give it to you, I will cross my royal father's will, or he may banish me from the country.' Then the prince reflected to himself: 'Previously I made a vow that my giving would not thwart anyone's wishes. If I do not give it now, it will violate my original resolve. If I do not give away this elephant, how will I ever accomplish unexcelled equality?' He immediately commanded his attendants to saddle the elephant with its golden gear and quickly lead it out. With his left hand the prince held water to wash the hands of the religious practitioners, and with his right hand he led the elephant to confer it upon them. Having obtained the elephant, the eight men blessed the prince, mounted the white elephant together, and departed with joy. The prince said to the religious practitioners: 'You must leave swiftly! If the king finds out, he will pursue and take it back from you.' The eight religious practitioners then went away swiftly. When the ministers in the country heard that the elephant had been given to their enemy, they were all terrified. When the king heard of it, he was astounded: 'We hold the realm today because we have this elephant! This elephant surpasses the strength of sixty elephants, yet the prince has given it to our enemy! I fear we will lose the kingdom—what is to be done?' [The ministers said:] 'With the prince giving like this, the inner storehouse is emptied by the day. We fear that the entire country as well as his wife and children will all be given away to others.' When the king heard these words, he became even more unhappy. The king consulted with his ministers, wishing to inflict various punishments upon the prince. A great minister said: 'May the king not permit [harming him], but merely banish him from the country and place him in the Mount of the Wild Fields for about twelve years; this should make him feel shame.' The king followed what this minister said. The king said to the prince: 'Leave the country! I banish you to Mount Daṇḍa for twelve years.' The prince addressed the king: 'I dare not disobey your command. I only wish to practice giving for seven days to unfold my humble mind, and only then leave the country.' The king said: 'It is precisely because your giving was too excessive, emptying my country's treasury and losing our treasure against our enemies, that I banish you! Leave immediately! I will not grant your request.' The prince said: 'I dare not disobey the Great King's decree. I have my own personal wealth; I wish to give it all away and only then depart, not daring to trouble the state.' The twenty thousand consorts went together to the king's presence, pleading to let the prince stay and practice giving for seven days before sending him out of the country. The king then granted it. Those coming from the four directions and afar were given to as they pleased. In seven days the wealth was exhausted; the poor became rich, and the myriad people were overjoyed. The prince took leave of his wife. Astounded to hear this, the consort said: 'What fault has the prince committed that it should come to this?' The prince fully explained the reasons: 'For this reason he banishes me.' Mandī said: 'May the country be abundant and prosperous without limit. We should simply strive together to seek the Way in the mountains.' The prince said: 'The place where people live in the mountains is fearful; you have always known luxury and joy—how could you endure this?' The consort replied to the prince: 'I could never part from you. A king takes a banner as his emblem, fire takes smoke as its emblem, and a woman takes her husband as her emblem. I rely only on the prince. If someone comes to beg, I will comply with it. Even if someone asks for me or our son and daughter, it will be according to whatever the prince gives.' The prince said: 'If you can be like that, it is very good.' The prince, together with the consort and their two children, went to his mother's quarters to bid farewell and depart. He addressed his mother: 'I hope you will frequently admonish the king to govern the country with upright governance and not oppress people crookedly.' Hearing this farewell, the mother was overcome with grief. She said to those around her: 'My body is like stone, my heart like steel. I have served the Great King without ever making an error, yet now I have only one son and he leaves me! How could my heart not break as if dead?' The prince, together with the consort and the two children, bowed to his parents and departed. The twenty thousand consorts each presented the prince with a string of genuine pearls, and the four thousand ministers fashioned jewels of the seven treasures to offer to the prince. Departing from the palace and out of the city, the prince gave them all away to those from far and near, exhausting them in that very moment. Several tens of millions of people, old and young throughout the country, escorted the prince together. The onlookers all lamented and shed tears at parting. The prince and his consort rode together, driving the chariot themselves as they went. After they had gone far ahead, they rested beneath a tree. A brahmin came to beg for the horses; the prince stopped the chariot and gave the horses to him. He placed the two children in the chariot, while the consort pushed from behind, and the prince stepped between the shafts to pull it along as they went. Just as they proceeded further, they met another brahmin who came to beg for the chariot; the prince immediately gave him the chariot. Just as they proceeded further, yet another brahmin came to beg. The prince said: 'I do not begrudge you anything, but my possessions are all exhausted.' The brahmin said: 'If you have no wealth, give me the clothes on your body.' The prince immediately stripped them off and gave them to him, putting on another old garment. Just as they proceeded further, they met another brahmin who came to beg; the prince gave him the consort's clothes. Moving further ahead, they met yet another brahmin who came to beg; the prince gave him the clothes of his two children. Having given away chariot, horses, money, valuables, and clothing until absolutely nothing was left, the prince did not have the slightest regret, even as small as a hair. The prince carried his son on his back, and the consort embraced her daughter, walking on foot as they went, accompanying each other into the mountains. Mount Daṇḍa was more than six thousand li away from the country of Yebo. As they went farther from the country, traveling in the marshes, they suffered greatly from hunger and thirst. Śakra, ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa devas, then magically transformed a walled city in the wilderness, filled with musical entertainment, clothing, and food. Someone came out to welcome them: 'The prince may stay here to eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves.' The consort said to the prince: 'Traveling the road has been extremely exhausting; can we rest here a while?' The prince said: 'My royal father banished me to Mount Daṇḍa. If I remain here, it would disobey my royal father's command and would not be the conduct of a filial son.' Thereupon he went out of the city, and when he looked back, the city was no longer visible. Proceeding onward, they reached Mount Daṇḍa. Below the mountain was a body of water, too deep to cross. The consort said to the prince: 'Let us stay here for a while and cross when the water recedes.' The prince said: 'My royal father banished me to the mountain. Staying here would disobey my royal father's instructions.' Because of the prince's compassionate mind, a hill arose within the water to dam and cut off its flow; lifting his garments, he crossed. Then he thought to himself: 'This water will flood and kill many humans and animals.' He immediately turned back and said to the water: 'Flow again as before! If anyone wishes to come to where I am, let them all be able to cross.' As soon as the prince spoke, the water flowed again as before. Proceeding into the mountain, he saw steep peaks, luxuriant trees, hundreds of birds singing mournfully, flowing springs, clear pools, sweet water, and delicious fruits. The prince said to his consort: 'Look at this mountain; there are also practitioners of the Way here.' When the prince entered the mountain, the birds and beasts of the mountain were all overjoyed and came to welcome the prince. On the mountain was a practitioner of the Way (daoren) named Ajiutuo, five hundred years of age, who possessed consummate and marvelous virtue. The prince bowed to him, stepped back, stood, and said: 'Now that I am in the mountain, where is there a place with good fruit and springs where I can dwell?' Ajiutuo said: 'Throughout this mountain are all lands of merit; wherever you are, you may dwell.' The practitioner further said: 'This mountain is a pure place; why have you brought your wife and children wishing to cultivate the Way?' Before the prince could reply, Mandī asked the practitioner: 'How many years have you cultivated the Way here?' The practitioner said: 'Four or five hundred years.' Mandī said: 'If you still reckon self and others, when will you attain the Way?' The practitioner said: 'I indeed fall short in this regard.' The prince then asked the practitioner: 'Have you heard of Crown Prince Sudāna of the kingdom of Yebo?' The practitioner said: 'I have heard of him often, but have not yet seen him.' The prince said: 'I am indeed Sudāna.' The practitioner asked the prince: 'What do you seek?' The prince replied: 'I seek the Mahāyāna.' The practitioner said: 'Since your merit is such, it will not be long before you attain the Mahāyāna! When the prince attains the unexcelled Way, I will be your foremost disciple endowed with supernatural power.' The practitioner then pointed out to the prince the place where he should dwell. The prince then bound and plaited his hair in the manner of the Dharma, took water and fruits for food and drink, and constructed thatched huts to house the male and female separately. The boy was named Yeli, aged seven, who wore grass garments and followed his father in and out. The girl was named Jīnayan, aged six, who wore deerskin garments and followed her mother in and out. The birds and beasts in the mountain were all joyful and came to take refuge with the prince. Empty pools all gave rise to spring water, withered trees all produced flowers and leaves, all poisons vanished, and fruit trees flourished together. The prince's son and daughter were beside the water playing with the birds and beasts. At that time, in the country of Kuru, there was an impoverished brahmin who did not take a wife until he was forty years old. His wife was exceedingly beautiful, while the brahmin had twelve uglinesses and resembled a ghost. His wife hated the sight of him and cursed him, wishing for his death. When the wife went to draw water, she met youths on the road who ridiculed her husband. Carrying the water, she returned and said to her husband: 'When I went to draw water, the youths teased me. Fetch me male and female slaves! If I do not have to draw water myself, people will not mock me.' The husband said: 'I am poor; where could I get them?' The wife said: 'If you do not fetch me male and female slaves, I will leave immediately and live with you no longer!' The wife further said: 'I have often heard that Crown Prince Sudāna was banished by his royal father to Mount Daṇḍa because of his excessive giving. He has a son and a daughter; you can go and beg for them.' At that time, the brahmin went to Mount Daṇḍa. Arriving beside the great water, merely by keeping the prince in mind he was able to cross. Then the brahmin entered the mountain, met a hunter, and asked for the prince's location, who pointed it out. The brahmin arrived at the prince's dwelling. Seeing him from afar, the prince was exceedingly joyful, went to welcome him, bowed, comforted him, and asked whence he had come. The brahmin said: 'I have come from afar, a man of the country of Kuru. Having long heard that the prince loves to practice giving, I wish to beg from the prince.' The prince said: 'I do not begrudge you anything, but all I had has been bestowed away; I have nothing to give you.' The brahmin said: 'If you have no goods, give me your two children to be my servants.' This was repeated three times. The prince said: 'You have come from afar for this purpose; why should I not give them to you?' At that time the two children were playing; the prince called them and said: 'This brahmin has come from afar to beg for you, and I have already promised you to him. Follow him and go.' The prince took them by the hand and handed them over, whereupon the earth shook. The two children were unwilling to follow him. Returning before their father, they knelt for a long time and said to their father: 'What past sin of ours makes us encounter this today, that royalty of a king should become other people's slaves?' Facing their father, they repented of their faults: 'May our sins be eradicated and merit arise through this condition, so that life after life we will never encounter this again!' The prince said to the children: 'All love and affection in the world must end in separation; everything is impermanent—how could it be held on to? When I attain the unexcelled Way, I will deliver you myself.' The two children said to their father: 'Apologize to mother for us; now we are severed forever, and we regret that we could not part face to face. Due to our past sins, we must suffer this great agony; we think of how mother, having lost us, will be stricken with grief, toil, and sorrow.' The brahmin said: 'I am old and feeble. The small children will each abandon me and run to their mother. How could I manage them? You must bind them and hand them over to me.' The prince then twisted the hands of the two young children behind their backs and had the brahmin bind them himself, tying them together and holding the end of the rope. When the two children were unwilling to go, he struck them with a whip until blood flowed onto the ground. Seeing this, the prince's tears fell to the ground, and the earth seethed for it. The prince and all the birds and beasts escorted the two children, returning only when they were no longer in sight. Then all the birds and beasts followed the prince back to the place where the two children used to play, wailing and throwing themselves on the ground. On the road, the children wound their rope around a tree, refusing to go, hoping their mother would come. The brahmin struck them with the whip. The two children said: 'Do not strike us anymore; we will walk on our own.' Looking up to heaven, they cried aloud: 'Mountain spirits and tree spirits, have pity and compassion on us! We did not get to see our mother to bid farewell. Please tell our mother to pick fruits quickly and come see us!' In the mountain, the sole of the mother's left foot began to itch, her right eye twitched warmly, and milk flowed from both her breasts. She reflected to herself: 'I have never had such strange omens! What use are the fruits? I ought to return and check on my children; could something be wrong?' Dropping the fruits, she ran back. The heavenly king Śakra knew that the prince had given the children to another and feared that the consort would ruin his wholesome intention; he transformed himself into a lion and squatted in the middle of the road. The consort said to the lion: 'Please step aside a little and let me pass.' Knowing that the brahmin had gone far, the lion rose, cleared the path, and let the consort pass. When the consort returned, she saw the prince sitting alone without the two children. She went to the thatched hut and searched everywhere, but could not find them. She returned to the prince and asked: 'Where are the two children? To whom have you given them? Tell me quickly where they are; do not drive me mad!' This was repeated three times, but the prince did not answer. The consort grew even more distressed: 'The prince's silence only makes me more frantic!' The prince said to the consort: 'A brahmin from the country of Kuru came to beg the two children from me, and I gave them to him.' Hearing this, the consort was overcome with agony, collapsed to the ground like Mount Tai collapsing, and rolled about weeping inconsolably. The prince said: 'Stop! Do you remember the original compact in the past at the time of Dīpaṃkara Buddha? At that time, I was a brahmin youth named Megha (Peidawei), and you were a brahmin maiden named Bhadrā (Xuluotuo). You held seven stalks of flowers, and I held five hundred silver coins to purchase five flowers from you, wishing to scatter them over the Buddha. You entrusted two flowers to me to offer to the Buddha and made the vow: "May I always be your wife in future lives!" At that time I made a compact with you: "If you wish to be my wife, you must follow my will in whatever giving I do without thwarting people's desires; only my parents will I not give away, but as for the rest of my giving, it will all follow my will." You answered: "Yes." Now that I have given away the children, would you disturb my wholesome mind instead?' When the consort heard the prince's words, her mind opened in understanding, and she recalled her past lives. She acquiesced to the prince's giving so that he might swiftly attain his wish. Seeing the prince practice giving like this, the heavenly king Śakra descended to test the prince to see what he sought. Transforming himself into a brahmin who also had twelve uglinesses, he arrived before the prince and said of himself: 'I have constantly heard that the prince loves to practice giving and does not thwart people's wishes. Therefore I have come here wishing to beg for your consort.' The prince said: 'Yes, very well, you may have her.' The consort said: 'If you give me to another today, who will attend upon the prince?' The prince replied: 'If I do not give you away now, how will I accomplish unexcelled equality?' The prince then led the consort and handed her over. Śakra saw that the prince had not the slightest regret; all the devas praised him, and heaven and earth shook violently. The brahmin then led the consort away. Walking seven steps, he immediately led the consort back, entrusting her to the prince: 'Do not give her to anyone else again.' The prince said: 'Why do you not take her?' The brahmin said to the prince: 'I am not a brahmin; I am the heavenly king Śakra, who came on purpose to test you. What boon do you wish for?' He then restored his divine body. The consort then bowed and asked for three boons: 'First, cause the brahmin who took my children away to bring them back and sell them in our native country. Second, cause my two children not to suffer from hunger and thirst. Third, cause me and the prince to return to our country soon.' Heavenly King Śakra said: 'It shall be as you wished.' The prince said: 'My wish is to cause all sentient beings to attain liberation, free from the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death.' Śakra said: 'How great! What you wish for is unexcelled, what you wish for is uniquely supreme, beyond what I can reach.' Having finished speaking, Śakra suddenly vanished.