諸經要集 19.12

19.12

又法句喻經云。昔有一國。名曰賢提。時有長老比丘。長病委頓羸瘦垢穢。在賢提精舍中臥。無瞻視者。佛將五百比丘。往到其所。使諸比丘傳共視之。為作漿粥。而諸比丘聞其臭處。皆共賤之。佛使帝釋取其湯水。佛以金剛之手。洗病比丘身體。地尋震動豁然大明。莫不驚肅。國王臣民天龍鬼神。無央數人往到佛所。稽首作禮白佛言。佛為世尊。三界無比。道德已備。云何屈意洗病比丘。佛告國王及眾會者言。如來所以出現於世。正為此窮厄無護者耳。供養病瘦沙門道人。及諸貧窮孤獨老人。其福無量所願如意。會當得道。王白佛言。今此比丘宿有何罪。困病積年療治不差。佛告王曰。往昔有王。名曰惡行。治政嚴暴。使一多力五百主令鞭人。五百假王威怒。私作寒暑。若欲鞭者齎其價。數得物者鞭輕。不得鞭重。舉國患之。有一賢者。為人所謀。應當得鞭。報五百言。吾是佛弟子。素無罪過為人所枉。願小垂恕。五百聞是佛弟子。輕手過鞭無著身者。五百壽終墮地獄中。拷掠萬毒。罪滅復出墮畜生中。恒被撾杖五百餘世。罪畢為人。常嬰病痛不離身。爾時國王者。今調達是。五百者今此病比丘是。時賢者今吾身是。吾以前世為其所恕鞭不著身。是故世尊躬為洗之。人作善惡。殃福隨人。雖更生死不可得免。於是世尊即說偈言。

Furthermore, the Dharmapada-avadāna-sūtra states: In the past there was a kingdom called Xianti. At that time there was a senior bhikṣu who had been ill for a long time, exhausted, emaciated, and filthy, lying in the Xianti monastery with no one to look after him. Leading five hundred bhikṣus, the Buddha went to his place and ordered the bhikṣus to take turns looking after him and prepare broth and porridge for him. But the bhikṣus smelled his foul odor and all despised him. The Buddha instructed Śakra, Lord of the Devas, to bring hot water, and with his own vajra-hands, the Buddha washed the sick bhikṣu's body. The earth immediately trembled and a vast light shone brightly; there was none who was not awed. Countless people—the king, ministers, citizens, devas, nāgas, ghosts, and spirits—went to the Buddha's presence, bowed their heads in homage, and addressed the Buddha, saying: 'The Buddha is the Bhagavat, peerless in the three realms, complete in virtue and the Path. Why humble your intention to wash a sick bhikṣu?' The Buddha told the king and the assembly: 'The reason the Tathāgata appears in the world is precisely for those in destitute distress who are without protection. Making offerings to emaciated, sick śramaṇas and practitioners of the Way, as well as the poor, lonely, and elderly, brings immeasurable merit; one's wishes will be fulfilled as desired, and one will certainly attain the Way.' The king addressed the Buddha, saying: 'What past transgression does this bhikṣu have that he has been sorely afflicted for years and cannot be cured by treatment?' The Buddha told the king: 'In the distant past, there was a king named Bad Conduct whose rule was severe and tyrannical. He ordered a strong man named Five Hundred to take charge of flogging people. Relying on the king's dread authority, Five Hundred secretly manipulated their treatment. When someone was to be flogged, if they brought payment, the one who gave valuables received light blows, while the one who did not received heavy blows; the whole country suffered from this. There was a virtuous man who was framed by someone and was due to be flogged. He spoke to Five Hundred, saying: "I am a disciple of the Buddha; I am innocent by nature and have been wronged by another. Please show a little mercy." Hearing that he was a disciple of the Buddha, Five Hundred swung the whip lightly past him without letting it touch his body. When Five Hundred's lifespan ended, he fell into hell, undergoing myriad tortures and floggings. When that retribution was exhausted, he emerged and fell into the animal realm, constantly being beaten with sticks for over five hundred lifetimes. When that retribution was finished, he was reborn as a human, but was constantly afflicted with illness that never left his body. The king at that time was what is now Devadatta; Five Hundred is this sick bhikṣu today; and the virtuous man at that time was myself. Because in a past life he spared me and did not let the whip touch my body, the Bhagavat has now washed him in person. When people do good or evil, calamity and blessing follow them; even though passing through birth and death, one cannot escape it.' Thereupon, the Bhagavat spoke a verse: