諸經要集 9.96

9.96

又雜寶藏經云。佛言昔迦尸國王名為惡受。極作非法。苦惱百姓。殘賊無道四遠賈客。珍奇勝物皆稅奪取不酬其直。由是之故。國中寶物遂至大貴。諸人稱傳惡名流布。爾時有鸚鵡王。在於林中。聞行路人說王之惡。即自思念。我雖是鳥尚知其非。今當詣彼為說善道。彼王若聞我語。必作是言。彼鳥之王猶有善言。奈何人王為彼譏責。儻能改修。尋即高飛至王園中。迴翔下降在一樹上。值王夫人入園遊觀。于時鸚鵡。鼓翼嚶鳴而語之言。王今暴虐無道之甚。殘害萬民毒及鳥獸含識嗷嗷。人畜憤結。呼嗟之音周聞天下。夫人荷剋與王無異。民之父母豈應如是。夫人聞已。瞋恚熾盛。此何小鳥罵我溢口。遣人伺捕。爾時鸚鵡不驚不畏。入捕者手。夫人得之即用與王。王語鸚鵡。何以罵我。鸚鵡答言。說王非法乃欲相益。不敢罵王。時王問言。有何非法。答言。王有七事非法。能危王身。問言。何等為七。答言。一者耽荒女色不敬真正。二者嗜酒醉亂不恤國事。三者貪著碁博不修禮敬。四者遊獵殺生都無慈心。五者好出惡言初不善語。六者賦役謫罰倍加常則。七者不以義理劫奪民財。有此七事能危王身。又有三事傾敗王國。王復問言。何謂三事。答言。一者親近邪侫諂惡之人。二者不附賢勝。不受善言。三者好伐他國不養人民。此三不除。傾敗之期非旦則夕。夫為王者率土歸仰。王當如橋濟度萬民。王當如秤親疎皆平。王當如足不違聖蹤。王者如日善照世間。王者如月與物清涼。王如父母恩育慈矜。王者如天覆蓋一切。王者如地載養萬物。王者如火。為諸萬民燒除惡患。王者如水潤澤四方。應如過去轉輪聖王。乃以十善道教化眾生。王聞其言。深自慚愧。鸚鵡之言至誠至欵。我為人王所行無道。誠遵其教奉以為師受修正行。爾時國內。風教既行惡名消滅。夫人臣佐皆生忠敬。一切人民無不歡喜。爾時鸚鵡者。我身是也。爾時迦尸國王惡受者。今輔相是也。爾時夫人者。今輔相夫人是也。

Furthermore, the Zabaozang jing says: The Buddha said: Formerly, there was a king of Kāśi named Evil Acceptance (Duḥprasaha). He committed extreme unrighteousness, tormenting the common people, behaving cruelly and tyrannically. When merchants came from the four distant quarters with rare and superior goods, he levied taxes on them and seized them, not paying their price. For this reason, precious goods within the kingdom eventually became extremely expensive; people circulated reports of this and his bad repute spread far and wide. At that time, there was a parrot king in the forest who heard travelers speaking of the king's evil. He thought to himself: “Although I am a bird, I still know that this is wrong. I should now go there and speak the good path to him. If that king hears my words, he will surely say: ‘Even that king of birds possesses good words; how can a king of men be criticized by him?’ Perhaps he will be able to reform.” He immediately flew high into the king's park, circled, and descended into a tree. Just then, the queen entered the park for an excursion. At that time, the parrot fluttered its wings, chirped, and spoke to her, saying: “The king is now exceedingly cruel and tyrannical. He harms the myriad people, and the poison reaches even the birds and beasts; all sentient beings cry out in lamentation, and humans and animals harbor resentment and distress. The sound of their wailing is heard throughout the world. The queen shares in this oppression, no different from the king. How can the father and mother of the people be like this?” Having heard this, the queen was filled with blazing wrath: “What kind of little bird is this, mouthing insults at me?” She sent someone to lie in wait and catch it. At that time, the parrot was neither startled nor afraid, and entered the captor's hands. When the queen obtained it, she immediately gave it to the king. The king said to the parrot: “Why did you insult me?” The parrot replied: “I spoke of the king's unrighteousness in the desire to benefit you; I did not dare to insult the king.” Then the king asked: “What unrighteousness is there?” It replied: “The king has seven unrighteous deeds that can imperil the king's own person.” He asked: “What are the seven?” It replied: “First, indulging in women and not respecting the true and upright. Second, being addicted to wine and drunkenness and not caring for the affairs of state. Third, being covetous of board games and not cultivating propriety and respect. Fourth, hunting and killing living beings with no compassion at all. Fifth, being fond of uttering evil speech and never speaking kindly. Sixth, doubling the levies, labor, and punishments beyond the regular standards. Seventh, robbing the people's wealth contrary to justice. These seven things can imperil the king's person. Furthermore, there are three things that ruin the kingdom.” The king again asked: “What are the three things?” It replied: “First, being close to corrupt, sycophantic, and wicked people. Second, not attaching oneself to the worthy and superior, and not accepting good words. Third, being fond of attacking other kingdoms and not nurturing the common people. If these three are not eliminated, the time of ruin will come morning or evening. As a king, the entire land looks up to and relies upon you. A king should be like a bridge, conveying the myriad people across. A king should be like a balance scale, equal to both the close and the distant. A king should be like feet, not deviating from the traces of the sages. A king is like the sun, illuminating the world with goodness. A king is like the moon, granting coolness to all things. A king is like parents, nurturing with kindness and pitying with compassion. A king is like heaven, covering all things. A king is like the earth, bearing and sustaining the myriad creatures. A king is like fire, burning away evil misfortunes for the myriad people. A king is like water, moistening the four quarters. You should be like the wheel-turning sage kings of the past, using the ten paths of good action to teach and transform sentient beings.” When the king heard these words, he felt deeply ashamed: “The parrot's words are most sincere and earnest. I, as a king of men, have acted without principle. I truly will comply with its teaching, revere it as my master, and receive and practice correct conduct.” At that time, once the transforming influence was practiced within the country, his bad repute was extinguished. The queen and ministers all gave rise to loyalty and respect, and all the people rejoiced without exception. The parrot king of that time was myself; the king of Kāśi of that time, Evil Acceptance, was the present chief minister; and the queen of that time was the present chief minister's wife.