諸經要集 9.88

9.88

As the Old Sūtra of Miscellaneous Parables says: Formerly, there was a kingdom where the five grains ripened in abundance. The people were peaceful and free from illness, and day and night there was instrumental music and singing; people had no sorrow or vexation. The king asked his ministers, “I have heard that there is misfortune in the world. What does it look like?” They replied, “Your subjects have never seen it either.” The king then sent an official to a neighboring country to search for misfortune. A spirit transformed into a man selling it in the marketplace. In appearance it resembled a pig, bound and tied with an iron chain as it was being sold. The official asked, “What is its name?” He replied, “The Mother of Misfortune.” The official said, “Is it for sale?” He replied, “It is for sale.” He asked, “How much money do you seek?” He replied, “Ten million.” He asked, “What does it eat?” He replied, “It eats one sheng of needles.” Having bought it, the official sent people from household to household demanding and searching for needles. Thus the people met each other in twos and threes searching for needles, throwing all the commanderies and counties everywhere into turmoil. Wherever the common people were, they suffered bitterly and were in utter distress. The official addressed the king, saying, “Although we obtained the Mother of Misfortune, it has caused turmoil among the people, making men and women lose their livelihoods. I wish to kill it and cast it away; I do not know if you permit it.” The king said, “Very well.” They took it outside the city to kill it. When they stabbed it, the blade did not penetrate; when they chopped it, it was not harmed; when they slashed it, it did not die. They piled up firewood and burned it; its body became red like fire. It then ran off, burning whatever village it passed through, burning whatever market it passed through, burning whatever city it entered, and burning whatever country it entered. It threw the people into turmoil, leaving them famished, exhausted, and destitute. This suffering was brought about solely because they grew weary of pleasure and purchased misfortune. This is a parable for being burned by the fire of sexual desire for women: men are poisoned by lust and do not know suffering even unto death.