諸經要集 6.39

6.39

如賢愚經云。昔佛在世時。舍衛國有一長者。豪貴巨富生一男兒。面貌端正世所希有。父母歡喜。因為立字名檀彌離。年漸長大其父命終。波斯匿王。即以父爵而以封之。受王封已。其家舍宅變成七寶。諸庫藏中。悉皆盈滿種種寶物。時王太子字毘瑠璃。遇得熱病。諸醫處藥。啟王云。須牛頭栴檀用塗其身。當得除愈。王即募覓。若有得者。一兩之直賞金千兩。無持來者。有人白王。檀彌離家舍內大有。時王聞已。躬自往求。到檀彌離長者門前。見其外門純是白銀。即遣門人入通消息。時守門人入白長者。波斯匿王今在門外。長者聞已即出奉迎。請王入門。內見有一女。面首端正世間無比。坐白銀床。紡白銀縷。小女十人侍從左右。時王問言。是卿婦耶。長者答言。是守門婢。其小女者。通白消息。次入中門。純紺琉璃。門內有女坐琉璃床。面首端正倍勝於前。左右侍從倍復前數。次入內門。純以黃金。門內一女面首端正。復倍勝前。坐黃金床紡黃金縷。左右侍從復倍上數。王復問言。是卿婦耶。長者答言。是守門婢。入到舍內。見琉璃地。屋間剋鏤種種百獸。風吹動之形現地上。王見謂水怖不敢前。語長者言。餘更無地。殿前作海。彌離白王。是琉璃地非是水也。即脫手上七寶環玔。擲著于地。礙壁乃住。王知地已即共入內。昇七寶殿。婦在殿上坐琉璃床。更有寶床請王令坐。時婦見王眼中淚出。王問之言。何故不喜眼中淚出。婦答大喜。但於今者。聞王身上煙氣。是以淚出。王即問言。家不然火耶。答言。不也。王復問言。用何作食。婦答王曰。須食之時。百味自至。王復問言。不須明耶。婦答王言。用摩尼珠而以照之。遍室大明。時檀彌離跪白王曰。大王何故勞屈尊神到此。波斯匿王具以事答。長者聞已。即將王入遍示諸藏。七寶盈滿。牛頭香積不可稱計。王須任取。王取二兩。遣人先送。王敬語之。今有佛出卿聞不耶。彌離答言。云何名佛。王即為說。彌離歡喜即往佛所。佛為說法得須陀洹果。尋即出家得阿羅漢。三明六通具八解脫。阿難見已而白佛言。此檀彌離宿殖何業。生於人中受天福報。又值世尊出家得道。佛告阿難。乃往過去九十一劫。有佛出世號毘婆尸。入涅槃後於像法中。有五比丘共立要契。在一林中精勤修道。語一比丘。此去城遠乞食勞苦。汝當為福。一夏乞食供養我等。其一比丘。即便入城勸諸檀越。日為送食。四人身安。專精行道得阿羅漢。即語此人。緣汝之故我等安隱。所作已辦。汝願何等。其人聞已歡喜發願。使我來世天上人中富貴自然值佛獲道。緣是功德。從是以來九十一劫不墮惡道。天上人中常處豪貴。所須自然。今值我故出家得道。又賢愚經云。昔佛在世時。舍衛國中有一長者。其家巨富。財寶無量不可稱計。生一男兒。身體金色端正少雙。父母見已歡喜無量。因為立字名曰金天。其生之日。家中自然出一井水。縱廣八尺深亦八尺。汲用能稱人意。須衣出衣。須食出食。金銀珍寶一切所須。作願取之如意即得。兒年長大才藝博通。其父念言。我兒端正容貌絕倫。要覓名女金容妙體類我兒者。當往求之。時闍婆國有大長者。而生一女。字金光明。端正非凡。身體金色晃焴照人。初生之日。亦有自然八尺井水。其井亦能出種種寶。衣服飲食一切所須。稱適人情。其父母自念言。我女端正人中英妙。要得賢士金色光暉類我女者。乃共為婚。其女名稱遠徹。金天遂娶為婦。後時金天。請佛及僧飯食供養。飯食訖已。佛為說法。金天夫婦及其父母。悉皆獲得須陀洹果。金天夫婦。俱白父母求索出家。父母即聽。既出家已。夫婦並得阿羅漢果。一切功德皆悉具足。阿難見已而白佛言。金天夫婦宿殖何福。生豪族家身體金色。復有自然八尺井水。出種種物。佛告阿難。乃往過去九十一劫。毘婆尸佛入涅槃後。有諸比丘。遊行教化到一村中。村人見僧競共供養。時有夫婦。二人貧窮家無升斗。其夫見他供養眾僧。向婦啼哭懊惱。淚墮婦臂上。婦即問夫。何故啼哭。夫答婦言。我父在日。積財滿藏富溢難量。至我身上貧窮困極。本日雖有而不布施。今日值僧貧無可施前身不施今致此貧。今又不施未來轉劇。吾思惟此。是以懊惱。婦語夫言。雖有空意無錢可施。知當如何。婦又語夫。試至故舍。遍推覓之。儻或得之。夫遂往覓得一金錢。持至婦所。其婦爾時。有一明鏡。復得一瓶。盛滿淨水。安錢瓶中。以鏡著上。夫婦同心持布施僧。發願而去。緣是功德。從是以來。九十一劫不墮惡道。天上人中恒為夫婦。身體金色受福快樂。今值我故出家得道。

As stated in the Damamūkanidāna-sūtra: Long ago, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an elder in Śrāvastī of great nobility and immense wealth. He had a baby boy whose facial features were upright and handsome, exceedingly rare in the world. His parents were joyful and gave him the name Danmili (Dhanapāla/Dānapāla). As he gradually grew up, his father died. King Prasenajit enfeoffed him with his father's rank. After he received the king's enfeoffment, his dwelling was transformed into one of the seven precious substances, and all the storehouses were filled to overflowing with various precious things.

At that time, the crown prince of the king, named Virūḍhaka, fell ill with a fever. The physicians prescribed medicine and reported to the king, saying: 'Ox-head sandalwood is needed to rub upon his body, and then he will certainly be cured.' The king immediately enlisted [the kingdom] to seek it: 'If anyone can obtain it, an ounce's worth will be rewarded with a thousand ounces of gold.' Yet no one brought any. Someone addressed the king: 'In the dwelling of Danmili, there is a great abundance.'

When the king heard this, he went in person to seek it. He arrived before the outer gate of the elder Danmili and saw that his outer gate was made entirely of pure silver. He then sent a gatekeeper inside to announce the message. The gatekeeper went in and reported to the elder: 'King Prasenajit is now outside the gate.' Hearing this, the elder came out to receive him and invited the king to enter the gate.

Inside, he saw a woman whose face and head were upright and beautiful, peerless in the world. She sat on a silver couch spinning silver thread, with ten maidens attending upon her left and right. The king then asked, 'Is this your wife?' The elder answered, 'She is a gate-keeping maidservant. The little maidens are those who convey messages.'

Next, he entered the middle gate, which was made entirely of deep-blue lapis lazuli. Inside the gate, there was a woman sitting on a lapis lazuli couch, whose facial beauty was twice as great as the previous one, and her attendants on the left and right were twice the previous number. Next, he entered the inner gate, which was made entirely of yellow gold. Inside the gate, there was a woman whose face was upright and beautiful, again twice as great as the previous one. She sat on a golden couch spinning golden thread, and her attendants on the left and right were again double the previous number. The king asked again, 'Is this your wife?' The elder answered, 'She is a gate-keeping maidservant.'

Entering inside the hall, he saw a lapis lazuli floor. Between the eaves were carved all kinds of wild beasts; as the wind blew and moved them, their forms appeared upon the ground. Seeing this, the king thought it was water and was frightened, not daring to advance. He spoke to the elder: 'Is there no other ground, that a sea was made before the palace?' Mili said to the king: 'This is a lapis lazuli floor; it is not water.' He immediately took off the seven-jeweled bracelet from his arm and cast it onto the floor; it hit the wall and only then stopped. Knowing it was solid ground, the king went inside together with him.

They ascended a palace of seven precious substances. The wife was in the palace sitting on a lapis lazuli couch. There was another precious couch, and she invited the king to be seated. When the wife saw the king, tears flowed from her eyes. The king asked her, 'Why are you unhappy that tears flow from your eyes?' The wife answered: 'I am greatly rejoiced. It is only that just now, I smelled the vapor of smoke on the king's body, and therefore tears fell.' The king then asked, 'Does your family not burn fire?' She answered, 'No.' The king asked again, 'What do you use to prepare food?' The wife answered the king: 'When food is needed, the hundred flavors arrive of themselves.' The king asked again, 'Do you not need light?' The wife answered the king: 'We use a maṇi jewel to illuminate it, and the entire room is made brightly luminous.'

At that time, Danmili knelt and addressed the king: 'For what reason has the Great King deigned to come to this place?' King Prasenajit fully replied with the circumstances. Hearing this, the elder immediately took the king inside to show him all the storehouses. The seven precious substances were full to overflowing, and the heaps of ox-head incense were incalculable. 'May the king take as much as needed.' The king took two ounces and sent someone ahead to convey it.

The king respectfully addressed him: 'There is now a Buddha who has appeared in the world; have you heard of it?' Mili answered, 'What is called "Buddha"?' The king then explained it to him. Mili was delighted and immediately went to the Buddha's place. The Buddha preached the Dharma for him, and he attained the fruit of srotāpanna. Soon after, he went forth into homelessness and attained arhatship, possessing the three knowledges, the six supernatural penetrations, and being complete with the eight liberations.

Seeing this, Ānanda addressed the Buddha, saying: 'What past karma did this Danmili cultivate that he was born among human beings to enjoy heavenly blessings, and moreover encountered the Bhagavat, went forth, and attained the Way?'

The Buddha told Ānanda: 'Ninety-one kalpas in the distant past, there was a Buddha who appeared in the world named Vipaśyin. After he entered nirvāṇa, during the semblance Dharma, there were five monks who together made an agreement: they diligently practiced the Way in a forest. They spoke to one monk: "This place is far from the city, and begging for food is arduous. You should generate merit: for one summer, beg for food and make offerings to us." That one monk then entered the city and exhorted various dānapatis to send food daily. The four were at ease in body, dedicated and diligent in walking the Way, and attained arhatship. They then spoke to this person: "Because of you, we are at peace, and what was to be done has been done. What is your wish?" Hearing this, the person rejoiced and made a vow: "May I in future lives, among gods and humans, naturally enjoy wealth and nobility, encounter a Buddha, and attain the Way!" Due to this merit, from that time onward for ninety-one kalpas, he has not fallen into the bad destinies, has constantly abided in wealth and nobility among gods and humans, having whatever was needed naturally. Now, because he encountered me, he went forth and attained the Way.'

Also, the Damamūkanidāna-sūtra says: Long ago, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an elder in Śrāvastī whose household was immensely rich, with boundless and incalculable wealth and jewels. He had a baby boy whose body was golden in color, handsome and rarely matched. Seeing him, his parents rejoiced boundlessly, and therefore gave him the name Jintiān (Suvarṇadeva, 'Golden Deva'). On the day he was born, a well of water naturally emerged in his home, eight feet wide and eight feet deep. Drawing water from it complied with people's wishes: if clothing was needed, clothing came forth; if food was needed, food came forth. Gold, silver, precious jewels, and everything required—whatever wish was made, it was obtained at will.

When the child grew up, his talents and arts were broad and versatile. His father thought: 'My child is handsome, his appearance peerless. I must seek a distinguished maiden with a golden countenance and wondrous form matching my child, and then go ask for her.' At that time, in the country of Shepo (Jāva/Campā?), there was a great elder who gave birth to a daughter named Jīnguāngmíng (Suvarṇaprabhā). She was extraordinarily handsome, her body golden in color, radiating light that illuminated people. On the day she was born, there was also a natural eight-foot well of water. That well was also able to produce various jewels, clothing, drink, food, and everything needed, suiting people's wishes. Her parents thought to themselves: 'Our daughter is handsome, outstanding among humans. We must find an accomplished man with golden brilliance matching our daughter, and then join them in marriage.' The girl's fame spread far and wide, and Jintiān subsequently married her as his wife.

Later, Jintiān invited the Buddha and the saṃgha to make food offerings. When the meal was finished, the Buddha preached the Dharma for them. The couple Jintiān, along with his parents, all attained the fruit of srotāpanna. The couple Jintiān together reported to their parents, seeking to go forth. The parents gave permission. After going forth, the couple both attained the fruit of arhatship, completely endowed with all merits.

Seeing this, Ānanda addressed the Buddha, saying: 'What blessing did the couple Jintiān cultivate in the past, that they were born into a noble clan, their bodies golden in color, and moreover possessed a natural eight-foot well of water that produced various goods?'

The Buddha told Ānanda: 'Ninety-one kalpas in the distant past, after the Buddha Vipaśyin entered nirvāṇa, there were monks traveling and converting, who arrived at a village. Seeing the monks, the villagers vied with one another to make offerings. At that time, there was a couple who were impoverished, not possessing even a sheng or a dou of grain at home. Seeing others make offerings to the saṃgha of monks, the husband wept and was distressed to his wife, his tears falling upon his wife's arm. The wife then asked the husband, "Why do you weep?" The husband answered the wife, saying: "When my father was alive, his wealth filled the storehouses, his abundance hard to measure. Arriving at my turn, I am impoverished and in extreme distress. Originally, although there was wealth, no dāna was made. Today, encountering the monks, I am too poor to offer anything. Failing to give in a former life has brought about this poverty today. If I do not give again now, the future will become increasingly dire. I ponder this, and therefore I am distressed."

The wife spoke to the husband: "Though we have the intention, having no money to give, what can we do?" The wife also said to the husband, "Try going to our former house and search all over it. Perhaps you might find something." The husband then went to search and found one gold coin, bringing it to the wife. At that time, the wife had a clear mirror, and she also found a pitcher, which she filled with clean water. Placing the coin in the pitcher and setting the mirror on top, husband and wife with one mind offered it to the monks, made a vow, and departed. Due to this merit, from that time onward for ninety-one kalpas, they have not fallen into the bad destinies, have constantly been husband and wife among gods and humans, their bodies golden in color, enjoying blessings and bliss. Now, because they encountered me, they went forth and attained the Way.'