根本說一切有部毘奈耶雜事

Volume Twenty-Seven

Next, the fourth verse in the sixth separate section: An account of the Great Medicine.

At that time, through the unsurpassed Dharma of miraculous transformation, the Blessed One brought benefit and gained victory, causing the non-Buddhist teachers to retreat and flee to the borderlands, for they had nothing more to say. Seeing this, the bhiksus all had doubts and addressed the Blessed One:

“Through the power of miraculous transformation, the Tathagata, the Great Teacher, has kindled the torch of the true Dharma, broken the banners of false views, vanquished the heretical factions, and accomplished a rare deed. Excellent indeed! The supremely exalted Great Sage has brought about such immense benefit.”

The Blessed One said:

“You should know that I have now completely abandoned the three poisons, perfected omniscience, attained great spiritual power, reached the shore of liberation, and realized the unsurpassed fruit. As the Tamer of Men, the Teacher of devas and humans, it is not extraordinary that I caused those people to retreat. Why is this? I recall that in the past, when I had not yet escaped desire and defilement, anger, delusion, birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, and distress, and was still filled with afflictive impurities, I nevertheless defeated the Six Teachers and their retinues, making them afraid to oppose me. They fled to the borderlands and even drowned themselves.

“Bhiksus, listen attentively. In the past, in the kingdom of Videha, there was a king named Good Birth who governed the country according to the Dharma ... as fully related elsewhere. The king’s consort was exceedingly beautiful and greatly favored by him. They had a prince whom everyone delighted to behold. Through the power of the prince’s merit, wind and rain came in due season throughout the kingdom, the five grains flourished abundantly, and food and drink were easily obtained. After twenty-one days, the relatives were summoned to perform the naming ceremony. The king thought, ‘Since my son’s birth, food and drink have been easily obtained; therefore, he should be named Abundant Food and Drink.’ He then entrusted the child to eight wet nurses to raise properly.

“When the prince grew up, he became proficient in every craft and skill, and none surpassed him in courage, loyalty, or integrity.

“Relying upon her son’s abilities, the chief consort became extremely arrogant and often disobeyed the king’s commands. Because of this, the king appeared sorrowful. Seeing that the king was unhappy, the ministers said:

“‘It seems that Your Majesty is troubled by some concern.’

“After hearing the king explain the matter, a minister said:

“‘If that is so, why not take another wife who is gentle and virtuous? In time, the chief consort may likewise become harmonious and compliant.’

“The king said:

“‘Where should I seek such a wife?’

“He replied:

“‘You should marry a princess from a neighboring kingdom.’

“The king said:

“‘There has long been enmity between us. How could such a marriage be arranged?’

“He replied:

“‘By skillful means, we can establish friendly relations with them. Your Majesty, be at ease and allow me to go investigate.’

“After going to meet the king of the neighboring country, the minister proposed the marriage. Hearing his proposal, the king told the minister:

“‘If we are to arrange this marriage, you must first pledge not to break your word. If my daughter gives birth to a son, he must be appointed heir to the throne; only then will I give her in marriage.’

“He replied:

“‘I shall respectfully obey Your Majesty’s command.’

“The king said:

“‘Return to your country and inform your king. If he agrees to this pledge, come back here.’

“He replied:

“‘The appointment of the kingdom’s crown prince is decided by the ministers. Having spoken sincerely, how could I dare go back on my word?’

“After hearing the minister’s report, the king arranged the wedding ceremony, and he and the princess became deeply compatible in affection and temperament.

“The king said:

“‘You are exceedingly gracious, gentle, and compliant. Is there anything you wish to ask?’

“The princess joined her palms and said:

“‘Having received Your Majesty’s favor, I ask that you grant this wish: if I give birth to a son, may he be appointed heir to the throne.’

“Upon hearing this request, the king became sorrowful and did not answer at once. He thought, ‘If I agree to this request, what will become of the present prince, who is courageous, loyal, virtuous, and talented, and whose handsome appearance is beyond compare? How could he be deposed so that another might be appointed? This is truly difficult, and I do not know whom to follow.’

“Observing his expression and knowing that the king was troubled, a minister said:

“‘Why does Your Majesty appear sorrowful?’

“After hearing the king recount the matter, the minister said:

“‘This is not worth worrying about. When I first proposed the marriage, I made that pledge. You should now comply with her wish and not cause her sorrow. We do not know whether the consort may be barren; and even if she gives birth, it is not certain whether the child will be male or female. Your Majesty should therefore agree.’

“The king told the consort:

“‘I shall comply with your wish.’

“Not long afterward, the consort gave birth to an extraordinarily handsome son. Twenty-one days later, when the naming ceremony was held, the relatives discussed what the child should be called. The king said:

“‘Before this child was born, the throne was already sought for him; therefore, he should be named Seeker of the Throne.’

“The child was entrusted to eight wet nurses to attend him. Although he had already grown up, the king still made no arrangements to appoint him heir to the throne. Suspecting that the king had broken his word, the consort’s royal father sent an envoy to remind him: ‘It was previously pledged that if my daughter gave birth to a son, he would be appointed heir to the throne. Now the proper time has come, so please keep your promise. If you do not keep your word, I shall lead the four divisions of my army to hold you accountable.’

“Hearing this, the king was terrified and knew of no plan to adopt. He became deeply sorrowful. Seeing this, a minister asked:

“‘Why does Your Majesty look so sorrowful?’

“After hearing the king’s explanation, the minister said:

“‘Your Majesty, there is no other course. You should appoint Seeker of the Throne as crown prince and eliminate Prince Abundant Food.’

“The king said:

“‘You should not speak of such an unlawful deed. I have heard of sons killing their fathers, but I have never heard of fathers killing their sons. I cannot commit such an inhumane act.’

“The minister said:

“‘If you will not kill him, then maim him.’

“The king said:

“‘How is maiming him any different from killing him?’

“He replied:

“‘If you will not do that, then banish him far away.’

“The king said:

“‘He is a good and innocent man. For what reason should he be banished?’

“He replied:

“‘How difficult could it be to find some fault in him? But for the time being, Your Majesty should appoint the prince as heir to the throne. Crown Prince Abundant Food will know for himself what to do.’

“At that time, the king selected an auspicious day and appointed Seeker of the Throne as crown prince. When Abundant Food learned of this, he thought, ‘My royal father has forsaken me. If I remain here, I will surely be killed.’ He went to his mother and told her of his intention:

“‘I wish to go to the kingdom of Pancala to preserve my life.’

“On hearing this, his mother felt as though an arrow had pierced her heart. She rushed forward, embraced her son’s neck, and wept in alarm. She spoke these verses to him:

“My son, you have always lain and sat upon lofty cushions,

Your body clothed in beautiful, embroidered robes.

How could you go alone to another kingdom,

Lie upon the ground, and live in coarse garments?

Whether asleep or awake, you have always dwelt in comfort,

Roaming through cool palaces and splendid halls.

How could you endure heat, cold, hunger, and thirst,

The hardships of wind and frost in desolate places?

Within the royal palace you ride elephants and horses,

And eat fine delicacies whenever you please.

The finest garments protect you from heat and cold;

Why cast them aside and go into the wilderness?

Drums, music, strings, and songs are always played in harmony,

Delighting the minds of all who hear them.

Everyone reveres you and waits upon you;

Why is your heart sorrowful, and where do you wish to go?”

“The prince replied:

“Who enjoys happiness forever?

Who suffers hardship forever?

Calamities come to everyone;

When overcome, one must yield.

When suffering ends, happiness will come,

As the stars in the heavens revolve.

Meetings give rise to sorrow and suffering;

Such is the way of worldly phenomena.

“After addressing his mother with such sorrowful words, the prince bade her farewell and departed for the kingdom of Pancala. As he drew near that country, he became hungry and thirsty. He rested beneath a tree beside the road, looked in the four directions without knowing what to do, and then lay down and fell asleep.

“A minister of Pancala happened to pass that way. Seeing the prince’s extraordinarily dignified bearing, he stopped for a long while, then awakened him and asked:

“‘Who are you, and whose son are you?’

“He replied:

“‘I am Abundant Food and Drink, son of the king of Videha.’

“He asked:

“‘Why have you come here?’

“After hearing the prince recount what had happened, the close minister understood the matter clearly. He brought the prince before the king and reported:

– Great King, this is Prince Túc Ẩm Thực, son of Thiện Sinh. Because his father established the younger son and cast aside the elder, the prince fled here.

When questioned by the king, the prince recounted what had happened. Upon hearing it, the king felt both joy and sorrow. He gladly consoled him, granted him lands, and gave him his daughter in marriage.

Before long, they had a son whose pleasing countenance was praised by everyone. On the day of his birth, food and drink were easily obtained throughout the entire kingdom. They invited their relatives to gather and name him. Since he was descended from Prince Túc Thực and, upon his birth, food and drink were abundant, they named the child Đa Túc Thực. The king entrusted the infant to eight wet nurses to be raised, and when he grew up, he became accomplished in both learning and the arts.

Unfortunately, Prince Túc Thực passed away. His wife grieved for him and was overwhelmed with sorrow. Seeing this, the king thought: “It is in a woman’s nature always to think of her husband. I shall remarry the princess to a minister and have my grandson accompany her.”

After arriving at that household, the princess found contentment and satisfaction, and she no longer grieved.

Near the minister’s house, there was a chicken sleeping in a tree. Seeing it, a physiognomist said:

– Whoever eats the flesh of this chicken will become king.

Hearing this, and without asking the physiognomist for further details, the minister killed the chicken and told his wife:

– Prepare it as a meal and wait for me to return from court.

After the lady had cooked the chicken, Đa Túc Thực returned from school. Not seeing his mother and being hungry, he noticed the pot boiling and thought, “My mother has not yet returned. Let me see whether there is anything in the pot to eat.” Seeing the chicken’s head, he broke it off and ate it to satisfy his hunger for the moment. When his mother returned, she asked:

– Have you eaten yet?

Hearing her son say that he had just eaten the chicken’s head, she fed him until he was full and then told him to return to school.

When the minister came home, he ordered that the meal be served. After the lady set it before him, he saw that the chicken had no head and asked why.

The lady replied:

– The child has already eaten it.

Wondering whether one had to eat all the flesh to become king or whether eating only a small portion would suffice, the minister became doubtful. He went out and asked the physiognomist, “Earlier, when you predicted that whoever ate the flesh of that chicken would become king, did you mean that the person had to eat it all, or would eating a little be enough?”

He replied:

– There is no need to eat it all; whoever eats the head will attain that destiny. If someone has already eaten the chicken’s head, killing that person and eating his head will also enable one to become king.

Upon hearing this, the minister thought: “I should kill this child and eat his head, but it would be very difficult to do so without his mother knowing. I must first learn what she thinks.”

Later, in the course of conversation, the minister jokingly asked the lady:

– Between your husband and your son, whom would you wish to become king?

Hearing this, his wife grew suspicious and thought: “If I say that I want my son to become king, this man will cast me aside. I must therefore answer in accordance with his wishes.” Having thought thus, she said:

– I wish only for my husband to become king.

Being intelligent and resourceful, the wife surmised:

– Because of the chicken’s head, this minister intends to kill my son. I must now be vigilant and devise a plan in advance so that my loved one does not fall into danger.

In a secluded place, she told her son:

– Because you ate the chicken’s head, your father intends to kill you. Leave this country and go to the land of Ty Đề Ê. That is the homeland of your ancestors, and all your relatives and kin still live there. If you reach that place, you will surely enjoy peace and happiness.

Heeding her instruction, the son did his utmost to obey. He bade farewell to his mother and set out for Ty Đề Ê. When he was about to reach it, he became so hungry that he lay down and slept beneath a tree.

At that time, King Cầu Sinh, stricken with a grave illness, passed away. According to an ancient law of the country, if a new king had not yet been installed, the former king’s funeral carriage could not depart. The king had no son, and no one knew whom to install, so the ministers deliberated together: “Whoever is capable of becoming king, we shall raise to the throne.”

The ministers saw beneath the shade of a tree an extraordinary and majestic man, rarely encountered in the world. Although the sun had moved westward, the tree’s shadow did not shift. Everyone who saw this marveled and said: “This man’s handsome appearance is unsurpassed, and the tree’s shadow persists in sheltering him. He must certainly be an extraordinary person. Let us awaken him.” When roused, he asked:

– Why have you awakened me?

They replied:

– We awakened you because you are worthy of becoming king.

He said:

– This is surely not the proper way to awaken a king!

Everyone asked:

– Then what is the proper way?

He replied:

– First, music should be played softly to awaken him gradually.

Upon hearing this, the ministers thought: “This is no child of a poor family. He must certainly come from a noble house.”

Together they asked:

– Where are you from, and whose son are you?

Although only twenty years old, the prince was as robust as a lion king, and his voice was clear and resonant. He recounted his ancestry to everyone:

– My royal ancestor was Thiện Sinh. His son was named Túc Ẩm Thực, and I am that man’s son. Hearing this, the six great ministers rejoiced and said, “We have regained a king of the former royal line.” They arranged the complete rites and music, and a great throng of people and carriages escorted the prince into the city. There they performed the consecration ceremony, enthroned him, and installed him to govern the people. Formerly named Đa Túc Thực, he was now renamed Toại Ẩn; because the royal lineage had flourished anew, he was given the title Trùng Hưng.

Because the king was still young, the ministers treated him lightly and seldom carried out his commands. One day, during his leisure, the king left the city to travel about and visited the people in the villages, asking under whose authority those estates and settlements lay. They replied that all belonged to the ministers...

The king thought: “The cities and villages all belong to the ministers. Although I am king, I possess only the palace and my food and drink; I have no property of the realm at all. If they act contrary to the laws of the state, what can be done?”

Knowing the king’s thoughts, a deity in the sky said:

– The king should not grieve. In this country there is a city named Mãn Tài. In that city lives a man named Viên Mãn, who will have a son named Đại Dược. Once Đại Dược enters your service, he will manage affairs for the king. Whenever matters arise, his judgments will be obeyed by all, and the king will live with great delight, ease, and peace of mind.

The king then dispatched an envoy to the city of Mãn Tài to determine whether Viên Mãn lived there and, if so, whether his wife was pregnant.

Obeying the command, the envoy went to that city to investigate. He found the husband and learned that his wife was pregnant, so he returned and reported:

– This matter is indeed true. His wife is pregnant.

Upon hearing this, the king ordered the envoy to summon Viên Mãn. The king skillfully reassured him with kind words, granted him that city, and said:

– Your wife is pregnant. Nurture and protect her carefully, and do not allow her to come to harm.

When the full term had elapsed, she gave birth to a boy of incomparable beauty. After twenty-one days, when they wished to name him, the relatives gathered to deliberate, but they did not know what name should be given to the child.

The mother said:

– I formerly suffered from measles. I consulted physicians everywhere, and although they gave me every kind of medicine, I did not recover. When I became pregnant with this child, the illness disappeared. He should therefore be named Đại Dược.

The mother spoke this verse:

For curing every illness,

Đại Dược is supreme;

This is the finest medicine,

So name him Đại Dược.

One day, his father carried Đại Dược on his back to a pond to bathe. Along the road, he saw a fish bone and, mistaking it for a precious jewel, kicked it over with his foot. Đại Dược spoke this verse:

Seeing a fish bone on the ground,

He mistakes it for a precious jewel and kicks it over;

Unwilling to attend to his own affairs,

He strives to find treasure dropped by another.

The fish bone was cast away by someone;

It is no precious jewel.

Surely Vaiśravaṇa would not

Scatter gems upon the road.

Upon reaching the pond, the father placed Đại Dược on the bank, removed his clothes, and entered the water. Seeing a white heron perched upon a lotus leaf, he thought, “I shall catch this bird.” When it saw him approach and nearly reach it, the bird flew high into the air. Đại Dược spoke this verse:

The bird perched upon a lotus leaf,

Upon seeing Father, flew high into the air.

One should not first draw near

To seize the life of a living being.

On another day, his father carried Dai Duoc on his back to the Ganges to bathe. Upon arriving, he set his son on the bank, took off his clothes, and entered the water. Seeing a large copper bowl floating down from the east with a white goose perched upon it, the father was puzzled, not knowing what it was, and looked up to ask his son. Dai Duoc replied:

The Ganges flows toward the east,

A copper bowl drifts with the stream,

A white goose perches upon it—

What strange thing is this we see!

On another day, the father went to bathe, taking Dai Duoc with him and leaving him on the bank as before. A large washing vessel and some grass were floating with the current, with a bird perched upon them. Dai Duoc spoke a verse to his father as before.

When Dai Duoc had just reached adolescence, he went with the cowherd boys to amuse themselves in a certain place. They discussed among themselves: “We have no lord, so we should honor Dai Duoc as our king.”

After being enthroned, Dai Duoc selected other boys to serve as his assistants. From then onward, his following grew ever larger.

A certain brahmin had married a young wife. While traveling to another village, he came to a sparse forest and went aside to relieve himself. A large man approached and asked the wife:

“Is that man your father or your grandfather?”

She replied:

“He is neither my father nor my grandfather, but my husband.”

The large man said:

“Are you not ashamed before your companions? There are many handsome men in this world. Did you see none of them, that you should follow that old brahmin? A beautiful young woman like you, as lovely as a flower, is being wasted. Leave that old man and become my wife. If he comes to contend for you, call me your husband before everyone.”

Heeding his words, the wife immediately went away with the large man.

After washing at the pond, the brahmin could not find his wife. He climbed to a high place and searched in every direction. Seeing the two walking away together, he hurried after them. When he caught up, he seized one of his wife’s hands and pulled her back. The large man likewise pulled her by the other hand.

The brahmin said:

“You have stolen my wife.”

The other man said:

“I swear that she is my wife and certainly not yours.”

The two pulled her back and forth while quarreling. Because the other man was young and strong, he drew the woman toward himself. Knowing that he was weak and hoping someone would help him, the brahmin came to an open field and cried aloud:

“A robber has taken my wife!”

The boys were playing in a forest clearing. Hearing the man cry that his wife had been taken, they said to Dai Duoc:

“You have proclaimed yourself king. Someone is crying that his wife has been taken, an act contrary to justice. Why do you not rescue him?”

Hearing this, Dai Duoc ordered the boys to detain all three and asked what they had been disputing about.

The brahmin replied:

“I am old and have no strength, and this robber has taken my wife.”

The robber said:

“This man is lying. She is truly my wife.”

Dai Duoc asked the woman:

“Who is your husband?”

She pointed to the robber and said that he was her husband. Seeing the brahmin beat his breast in grief and claw at the ground, Dai Duoc wished to determine what was true and what was false. He asked the young man:

“From where did you bring your wife here?”

He replied:

“From my wife’s family home.”

Dai Duoc asked:

“What did you eat and drink?”

He replied:

“I ate meat broth, rice, and drank wine.”

“If so, let me examine the food to determine whether your words are true or false.”

Having said this, Dai Duoc put his hand into the man’s mouth, but only saliva came forth and there was no trace of anything else.

He asked the brahmin:

“From where have you come?”

He replied:

“From my wife’s family home.”

Dai Duoc asked:

“What did you eat?”

He replied:

“Yogurt and cakes mixed with poria powder.”

When told to vomit it up, the old man immediately did so, and it was exactly as he had said.

Seeing this, Dai Duoc knew that the young man was the robber who had stolen the old man’s wife. He therefore had him beaten with many strokes, buried in the ground up to his neck, and had these words written upon his forehead with peacock bile: “Let those who steal others’ wives look upon this and consider their punishment.”

In this manner, as many as five hundred thieves who had stolen cattle and goats were successively punished.

At that time, the cities and villages throughout the realm were all under the control of the six great ministers. King Trung Hung therefore thought: “My position is now weak. What should I do?”

Remembering Dai Duoc and wishing to meet him, the king did not inform his officials but personally led his troops to the city of Man Tai to visit the boy. While passing through a dangerous place, he heard loud cries. Looking everywhere, he saw no one. The king’s attendants searched all around and found five hundred robbers buried alive with only their heads protruding. They reported this to the king and read the writing on their foreheads, which identified them as robbers.

Seeing this, the king asked:

“Who has caused you such suffering?”

They all replied:

“The boy Dai Duoc acted in accordance with the law. He did not punish the innocent.”

The king praised him, but compassion arose in his heart, and he released them.

When Dai Duoc heard that the king was approaching with his troops, he and the other boys each returned to their own homes.

When the people in the city of Man Tai heard that the king was about to arrive, they all arranged splendid offerings and went outside the city to welcome him, carrying golden vessels filled with water, parasols, banners, and streamers. After extending words of comfort to them, the king asked:

“Let Vien Man’s son, named Dai Duoc, come here at once.”

His father said to the king:

“The boy is still young and cannot yet obey Your Majesty’s command.”

The king again ordered:

“Call him here nevertheless.”

When the father brought him, the king saw that the boy possessed a dignified and handsome appearance, as well as courage and strategic ability. Yet because he was still too young to be entrusted with official duties, the king returned him to his father and withdrew his troops to the capital.

After returning to the capital, the king thought: “I should test the intelligence and strategic skill of the boy Dai Duoc.”

The king sent a messenger to tell Vien Man:

“Braid golden sand into a rope one hundred cubits long and bring it here at once.”

Upon hearing the royal decree, Vien Man became extremely frightened and distressed. He pondered anxiously: “From ancient times until now, I have never heard of sand being braided into a rope.”

Seeing his father troubled, Dai Duoc asked:

“Father, why do you look sorrowful?”

He replied:

“The king has ordered me to make a rope of sand one hundred cubits long. I have never heard of such a thing. He must intend to use this as a means of finding me guilty.”

Dai Duoc asked:

“Where is the messenger? Let me meet him so that I may send a reply to the king.”

When his father summoned the messenger, Dai Duoc said to him:

“Please report to the king on my behalf: ‘This humble subject is an ignorant rustic of shallow learning and limited experience. Moreover, I possess no wisdom by which to fathom Heaven’s intention, and I do not know what color of rope the great king requires. In the imperial capital there are many talented people. I beg that Your Majesty send me a piece to serve as a model. Then I shall make not merely a short length of one hundred cubits, but even a thousand fathoms.’”

Returning to court, the messenger reported the matter to the king. The king asked:

“Were those the words of the son or the father?”

He replied:

“They were the words of Dai Duoc.”

Upon hearing this, the king was greatly impressed and recalled the words of the celestial deity. If they were indeed true, this boy would enable the king to recover sovereign authority throughout the realm.

Afterward, the king again sent a messenger to that city, ordering its people to cook rice and bring it to him, but under these conditions: the rice must be made from grain that had not been pounded in a mortar, and not a single grain could be broken; it could be cooked neither indoors nor outdoors; in cooking it, they could use neither fire nor anything other than fire; when bringing the cooked rice, they could travel neither on a road nor off a road; they could neither walk nor ride a horse; they could be neither in sight of the sun nor in a place of darkness; and the person carrying the rice could be neither male nor female.

Bearing the king’s command, the messenger went to the city of Man Tai. After exchanging greetings, he delivered the royal order to Vien Man.

Upon hearing it, Vien Man was greatly alarmed and distressed. Seeing his father troubled, Dai Duoc asked:

“Father, why do you appear so sorrowful and anxious?”

After hearing his father explain, Dai Duoc said:

“This matter is not worth worrying about. I shall accomplish it perfectly.”

Mahauṣadha brought out the glutinous rice and gathered many people to remove each husk with their fingers, so that the grains would not be broken. Once the rice was ready, he found a place to cook it. He set the cooking pot beneath the eaves outside the doorway, with the fierce sunlight above, and lit a fire beside it to provide heat. When the rice was cooked and the time came to deliver it, he instructed the messenger to walk with one foot on the road and the other on the roadside, carrying the basin of rice upon his head beneath a parasol, so that it was neither in sunlight nor in darkness. He wore a shoe on one foot and left the other bare. Thus, he was neither barefoot nor traveling in a vehicle. The rice was carried by a eunuch, who was neither male nor female.

When the rice was presented, the king questioned the messenger, who recounted everything in full. The king was greatly delighted and asked:

“Who devised this?”

He replied:

“Mahauṣadha.”

The king was greatly astonished and said to the messenger:

“Mahauṣadha possesses profound resourcefulness and great wisdom. He is thoroughly versed in skillful methods. Judging from his strategies, he truly has the ability to assist a king.”

Afterward, the king again sent a messenger to tell Viên Mãn:

“I require a garden complete with groves, ponds, flowers, and luxuriant fruit trees. Bring it here quickly.”

When the messenger arrived and delivered the king’s command, Viên Mãn was distressed because the task was impossible. A garden was an insentient thing that could not be moved; how could he possibly bring it away?

Seeing his father distressed, Mahauṣadha questioned him, and they spoke as before. His father said:

“How could I not be distressed? The king demands the garden and its ponds. How can I bring them to him?”

Mahauṣadha said:

“Father, you need not worry. I shall accomplish everything and gladden the king.”

He told the messenger:

“Having received the king’s command, how would we dare not carry it out? Yet the gardens and ponds of this region have long been accustomed to their wild ways and know nothing at all of the proper etiquette for coming and going. If they were to enter the capital, I fear they might behave carelessly. I humbly ask the great king to send a small garden here temporarily to instruct them. They may then follow behind it, and the task can be accomplished.”

Upon returning to court, the messenger reported everything in full. The king asked:

“Whose words were those?”

When the messenger told him that they were Mahauṣadha’s, the king was greatly astonished, admiring him as extraordinary.

Afterward, the king sent a messenger to deliver five hundred bulls to Viên Mãn, ordering him to tend them and provide the king with milk and butter without any deficiency. When the messenger arrived and delivered the command, Viên Mãn was deeply distressed. Seeing his father in this state, Mahauṣadha questioned him, and they spoke as before.

His father replied:

“How could I not be distressed? The king has sent bulls and ordered me to obtain milk and butter from them for his use. How can anything be obtained from an improper source? If I fail to obey the king’s command, I shall certainly incur severe punishment.”

Mahauṣadha said:

“Father, please do not worry. Let me devise a plan that will persuade the king not to demand milk and butter.”

Mahauṣadha summoned a certain man and his son and instructed them:

“Go to the capital and watch for the time when the king comes out. At a place not far from him, fasten a large wooden bowl against the father’s abdomen and cover it with his garment. The father must roll upon the ground, groaning in pain, while the son offers incense and flowers and implores the devas throughout the ten directions to protect his father and grant him a safe delivery.”

After receiving these instructions, the father and son went together to the capital. When they saw that the king was about to come out, they approached a nearby place and carried out the instructions one by one. The son wept and implored the devas:

“May you, in your compassion, grant my father a safe delivery.”

Hearing these words, the king sent a messenger to inquire why he spoke in this way. When the messenger arrived, he saw a man rolling upon the ground with his belly greatly swollen, crying out and groaning, while his son offered incense and flowers and implored the devas. The messenger asked:

“What are you doing?”

He replied:

“My father is about to give birth and is crying out in pain, so I am imploring the devas to protect him.”

When the messenger returned and reported this, the king summoned the father and son and asked what they were doing. The son replied:

“My father wishes to give birth but cannot, and therefore he is groaning.”

Upon hearing this, the king laughed and said:

“I have never heard of a man giving birth.”

The son said:

“It is exactly as the king says. Your Majesty knows that a man cannot give birth, so why did you give five hundred bulls to Viên Mãn and order him to provide milk and butter? Has Your Majesty ever heard of a bull giving birth? Since bulls do not give birth, how can they produce milk and butter?”

The king laughed and asked:

“Whose plan was this?”

When he heard from the messenger that it was Mahauṣadha’s, the king marveled at the young man’s wisdom.

Afterward, the king discussed the matter with his ministers: “Mahauṣadha is exceedingly wise, and few can equal him. We should test his ingenuity with another task. Give Viên Mãn a mule to tend, but it must not be tethered, confined in a stable, or deprived of grass; it must be allowed to roam freely.”

Upon reaching that city, the messenger delivered the mule to Viên Mãn and clearly conveyed the king’s words:

“You must tend it carefully and not allow it to escape. If you fail to obey the command, you will be punished.”

Upon hearing the command, Viên Mãn felt as though an arrow had pierced his heart. He thought, “This task is so difficult that even Heaven could not accomplish it, much less a human being.”

Seeing this, Mahauṣadha questioned his father, and they spoke as before. He said, “Father, do not worry. I shall take care of everything.”

By day, Mahauṣadha let the mule graze in the fields; by night, he drove it into the house. In a vast, open place where there was nothing to which a rope could be tied, this was truly difficult. Mahauṣadha ordered twenty men to guard the mule until midnight. They formed groups of five and worked together: some held its legs while one man sat astride it. Taking turns, they restrained it in this manner throughout the night. Acting upon the king’s command, a messenger secretly observed how they tended and guarded it, then reported the matter. The king said:

“If that is how they guard it, the mule has no means of escape. How can we find grounds to punish them?”

A minister said:

“We should order a skilled rider to go there late at night while they are asleep and secretly ride the mule away without anyone knowing.”

They carried out these instructions. The next morning, the guards informed Viên Mãn that the mule was gone. Hearing this, he was consumed by fear, believing that he would lose his life. Understanding what had happened, Mahauṣadha reflected, “When there is time to proceed slowly, a plan can be devised, but when a matter becomes too urgent, even the mind is obstructed.” He then said to his father:

“I have a plan, but carrying it out will be somewhat difficult. If Father can endure the shame, we may hope to escape punishment.”

His father said:

“I seek only to escape death. There is nothing I would refuse to do.”

Mahauṣadha then shaved his father’s hair into seven strips and painted his body blue, yellow, red, and white. He seated him upon a donkey and went toward the capital, loudly announcing that Mahauṣadha and his father were coming, the father’s hair shaved and his body adorned in an exceedingly strange fashion.

Hearing this announcement, the king and his ministers discussed the matter together:

“It is excellent that Mahauṣadha has come from afar, but by humiliating his own father, he has violated the law.”

The king and the others went outside the city to meet Mahauṣadha and see whether the report of his conduct was true or false. When they arrived, they saw that it was indeed true.

At that time, a minister addressed the king:

“Why did the great king previously proclaim that Mahauṣadha was intelligent, resourceful, and superior to others? Look at this conduct—how despicable it is!”

The king asked Mahauṣadha:

“Why have you subjected your father to such humiliation?”

He replied:

“Great King, I consider this an honor and do not regard it as humiliation. I possess much wisdom and ability, and therefore I have bestowed this upon my father.”

The king asked:

“Between your wisdom and your father’s, which is superior and which inferior?”

He replied:

“Mine is superior.”

The king said:

“I have never heard that a son is superior to his father. A son is born of his father and is raised through his father’s toil. Therefore, one should say that the father is superior to the son.”

Mahauṣadha addressed the king:

“May Your Majesty carefully judge between father and son: which is superior?”

The king and his ministers all said:

“The father is superior.”

Mahauṣadha stepped forward, knelt, bowed, and said:

“Previously, Your Majesty ordered us to tend the mule, but it has now escaped. This donkey is the mule’s father; according to your reasoning, it is therefore superior to the mule. I beseech Your Majesty to accept it and impose no further punishment.”

Hearing this, the king and his ministers marveled at this stratagem, which was rare in the world. Greatly delighted, the king held a grand ceremony and appointed Mahauṣadha as a chief minister. All affairs of state were entrusted to him for judgment. His renown grew ever greater; he investigated many matters clearly, won the trust of people near and far, and was praised by all.

There was a brahmin who had mastered the treatises at an early age. Because he took a wife, he spent an excessive amount of his wealth. Soon afterward, he thought: “I spent so much on taking a wife that none of my household wealth remains. I am now impoverished; how shall I make a living?”

He went elsewhere and practiced the art of illusion, earning five hundred gold coins, which he then carried home. When he drew near his village, he thought: “My wife is young and beautiful. We have been apart for a long time, and there has been no man in the house, so she could have acted as she pleased. I do not know whether her heart can be trusted. I should not bring these gold coins home.”

At dusk, he entered a deserted forest, dug a hole, and buried the coins beneath a many-rooted banyan tree. He then returned to his former home.

Previously, his wife had committed adultery with a man named Suśrava, “Good Hearing,” so that night she had prepared fine food for them to eat before remaining together.

Upon reaching the house, the brahmin knocked at the door and called out. His wife asked from inside:

“Who is it?”

He replied:

“It is I, ...”

On hearing him give his name, his wife hurriedly hid Suśrava beneath the bed. She then opened the door, feigned delight, led her husband into the room, and served him the remaining food until he was satisfied.

After eating, the husband thought: “Could this woman be committing adultery with another man? Why else would there be such fine food at night?”

Being straightforward by nature, the husband asked:

“Good wife! Today is neither an auspicious day nor a festival. Why is there such fine food?”

His wife replied:

“The other day, I dreamed that a deity told me you would soon return. Knowing this, I prepared fine food and waited for you.”

The husband said:

“I am truly blessed. Just as I was about to return home, a deity informed you of it.”

After they had eaten and drunk, they lay on the bed and exchanged greetings. His wife said:

“You left me and have been away for so many years and months. Did you manage to earn any money?”

He replied:

“I earned a little.”

His wife then asked, using a coded expression to tell the man beneath the bed, “My Suśrava, listen and learn the amount”:

“How much did you bring back?”

He replied:

“I obtained five hundred gold coins.”

She asked:

“Where did you put them without telling me?”

He replied:

“Do not worry. I shall bring them home tomorrow morning.”

His wife said:

“You and I are one. Why conceal it and not let me know?”

Being as guileless as a horse’s entrails, the husband immediately replied:

“I left them outside the city.”

His wife said in coded words:

“My Suśrava, listen and learn the place,” and then asked:

“Where did you put them?”

He replied:

“Beneath the many-rooted banyan tree in the forest....”

His wife said:

“Noble sir, you have suffered from the hardships of the journey. Please rest.”

When she knew that her husband was sound asleep, the wife said:

“Suśrava! You have heard what was said; quickly act accordingly.”

Crawling out from beneath the bed, Suśrava went to the many-rooted banyan tree, took the money, and carried it back to his own house.

The next morning, the brahmin went to the place where he had hidden the money. Seeing only the empty hole and nothing remaining, he tore at his hair, beat his breast, and returned home weeping loudly. His relatives and acquaintances came together and asked:

“Why are you so distressed?”

He replied:

“I searched for work for a long time and endured immense hardship before obtaining five hundred gold coins. Yesterday, after dusk, when no one was passing by, I buried them beneath that tree and returned home to sleep. When I went there today to retrieve them, thieves had stolen them.”

Everyone said:

“The circumstances of this matter would be difficult for anyone else to discern. You should ask Mahauṣadha. His wisdom is extraordinary and surpasses that of other men. If you rely upon him, you will recover your money. Apart from this, we know of no other way.”

Weeping as he walked, the brahmin went to Mahauṣadha’s house. After exchanging greetings, he related the foregoing matter to him.

Mahauṣadha asked:

“Did you tell anyone about this matter?”

The brahmin recounted the entire affair.

Mahauṣadha thought that the brahmin’s wife must be committing adultery with another man and had thus brought about this wrongful deed.

Mahauṣadha consoled him:

“Be patient for a while and grieve no more. I shall recover the lost property for you.”

Mahauṣadha then asked:

“Do you have a dog at home?”

He replied:

“Yes.”

Mahauṣadha said, “Return home and tell your wife:

“‘Previously, before the image of Maheśvara, I made a vow that if I returned safely to my homeland, I would invite eight brahmins and make offerings to them. You invite four, and leave the remaining four to me.’”

After speaking thus to his wife, the brahmin returned and reported everything fully to Mahauṣadha.

Mahauṣadha said:

“When those eight men arrive, take one of my men with you and have him stand before the door. As they enter, tell him to observe them carefully.”

Mahauṣadha further instructed the man:

“Carefully observe those eight brahmins. Note which ones the dog barks at and which one it does not bark at but instead approaches with its tail wagging. If you see such a sign, remember it well. Have the wife serve the food with her own hands, and observe carefully which man she glances at, speaks to, and smiles at.”

Having received these instructions, the messenger went to the house and stood directly before the door. The eight invited men entered the house one after another, and the dog barked at every one of them. But when it saw Suśrava, it immediately stopped barking, ran forward to welcome him, made sounds, wagged its tail, and showed delight. The messenger then took careful note of Suśrava. During the meal, the wife served the food. When she came to Suśrava, she cast sidelong glances at him and smiled, behaving differently than she did toward the others.

Upon returning, the messenger reported everything in full to Mahauṣadha. After hearing it, Mahauṣadha snapped his fingers and said:

“How extraordinary! Then it was indeed he who stole the property.”

Mahauṣadha immediately ordered the messenger to summon Suśrava and rebuked him, saying:

“Can it be the Dharma of a brahmin to steal another person’s property and take it as his own? You must return that property to him.”

Suśrava replied:

“I swear a solemn oath that I did not take another person’s property.”

Mahauṣadha then told the messenger:

“This is a wicked man. Confine him in prison and, in accordance with the law of the kingdom, subject him to severe punishment.”

Hearing that he would be tortured, Suśrava became extremely frightened and pleaded:

“Chief Minister, please spare me! I shall return the property.”

He retrieved the gold coins, still intact and unopened, and handed them to Mahauṣadha.

After recovering the gold coins, the brahmin rejoiced and thought: “I am already old. That I have recovered my lost money is entirely due to Mahauṣadha’s power; therefore, I should repay this great kindness.”

Having thought thus, he brought half the money and presented it to Mahauṣadha. After accepting it, Mahauṣadha distributed it all, declaring, “My purpose is to help others; how could I seek personal gain for myself?”

At that time, Mahauṣadha’s good reputation spread far and wide. When the king, his ministers, the people, and others heard of this, they all said:

“We possess merit and have therefore obtained the protection of this capable man, so we shall not suffer unjust injury.”

There was a man who had traveled to another kingdom and was returning to his former dwelling. He rested beside a lake outside the city and took provisions from his leather bag to eat. In his haste to go and urinate, he forgot to tie the mouth of the bag. A venomous snake then crawled inside. When the man returned, he did not examine the bag carefully but tied it shut and carried it away.

Outside the city gate, a physiognomist encountered him and said:

“Good man, from your complexion I can see that you are about to die.”

Although he heard this, the man paid no attention. After walking a short distance, he regretted not asking the reason and thought: “I should first go and ask Mahauṣadha, and then return home. He possesses great wisdom and will resolve this matter for me.”

He carried the entire bag of provisions to Mahauṣadha’s house and explained what had happened.

After reflecting, he thought, “... Perhaps there is a venomous snake in the bag, and that is why the physiognomist spoke thus.” Right there in the midst of the assembly, Jivaka told them to place the bag upon the ground, and he used a staff to pry open its mouth. From within the bag crawled a large venomous snake. It spread its hood, spat venom, coiled its body, and darted away. Seeing this, everyone marveled and regarded it as extraordinary.

MULASARVASTIVADA

VINAYA MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Here ends Fascicle Twenty-Seven.