佛說耶祇經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the country of Kānai. In that country there was a very wealthy Brahmin named Dayaki.

He had originally been a follower of one of the ninety-six schools of the non-Buddhist teachings, and he constantly prayed for the blessings and protection of the heavenly gods. He heard it said that those who venerate the Buddha attain wealth, nobility, long life, and peace; that they are liberated from birth and death; and that they receive blessed rewards, do not fall into the three evil destinies, and suffer no more. Dayaki thought to himself: "It would be far better for me to abandon the non-Buddhist teachings and venerate the Buddha." Thereupon Dayaki went to where the Buddha was, prostrated himself with his head to the ground, knelt upon his knees, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"Reverently I beseech you, World-Honored One! I was originally foolish and without understanding, but now I have indeed heard that the World-Honored One, in his great compassion, delivers beings universally and far and wide; that throughout the heavens above and the earth below, and among humankind, the Buddha is the most noble and exalted One. I have never once known peace, and so now I wish to forsake the worship of the non-Buddhist teachings and turn to take refuge in the World-Honored One. May the World-Honored One have compassion, receive me, and instruct me."

The Buddha said:

"What you say is quite right. This shows that you have reflected with sound judgment. If you cease evil and practice good, then how could you still worry about not attaining peace?"

Dayaki addressed the Buddha:

"World-Honored One, until now I have served and worshipped wrongly, and so today I turn back and take refuge in the Buddha. Since the World-Honored One has shown compassion, may he remove my defiled deeds and actions. I will receive and hold to the pure teaching of the World-Honored One. If this can be so, it will be great good fortune for me."

Dayaki came before the Buddha and received the five precepts:

1. Not to kill living beings; 2. Not to steal or rob; 3.

Not to engage in sexual misconduct; 4. Not to speak with a double tongue, not to speak harsh words, not to speak falsehoods, not to speak frivolous and embellished words; 5. Not to drink intoxicants.

Having taken refuge in the Three Jewels, he rose to his feet, circumambulated the Buddha three times, and Dayaki upheld the precepts and abstinence for seven days, and then departed. After arriving in another country to dwell there, Dayaki saw people hunting and killing living beings, stealing goods and property, and he did as they did; seeing the beauty of women, his mind became attached with craving; seeing people do right and do wrong, he debated the way with them; seeing people drinking intoxicants in confusion and disorder, he wished to join in with them; and his mind was not settled and at peace.

Dayaki felt remorse and thought to himself: "I am not able to uphold the Dharma of the Buddha. Surely I must return the precepts back to the Buddha!" Having thought thus, he went at once to where the Buddha was, bowed his head, and addressed him, saying:

"Reverently I beseech you, World-Honored One! Before, I followed the World-Honored One and received the five precepts, but I have been restrained and forbidden in far too many things, and I have not been content. Now I have reflected and wish to abandon the venerable Dharma of the World-Honored One, for I do not have the ability to uphold and venerate it. May I be permitted to return the five precepts?"

The Buddha remained silent and gave no answer. Before the words had even left Dayaki's mouth, spontaneously there appeared ghosts and spirits who took up iron mallets and struck Dayaki, splitting open his head. Again there were ghosts and spirits who stripped off Dayaki's garments.

Again there were ghosts and spirits who took sharp iron hooks, hooked them into his mouth, and pulled out Dayaki's tongue. Again there were ghosts and spirits, lustful women, who used knives to cut off Dayaki's "hidden organ." Again there were ghosts and spirits who poured molten copper into Dayaki's mouth. Some stood in front, some behind, some to the right, some to the left—all the ghosts and spirits vied with one another to tear apart Dayaki's flesh and body.

Dayaki looked utterly horrifying: his eyes bulged and rolled, his mouth gaped open, and his face was the color of earth. Then, spontaneously, Dayaki was burned and scorched by fire throughout his whole body; he sought to live but could not, and wished to die but could not either. Every gesture and action of the ghosts and spirits tore at him relentlessly.

When the Buddha saw Dayaki in this state, with compassion he asked:

"How do you feel now?"

Dayaki's mouth was sealed and he could not speak, but he stretched out his hands, groping and reaching toward the Buddha, wishing to beg for rescue. The Buddha then used his majestic spiritual power to emit radiant light, causing the ghosts and spirits to become frightened and depart. Dayaki revived and came back to life; he rose to his feet, bowed his head before the Buddha, and addressed him, saying:

"Reverently I beseech you, World-Honored One! Within my mind there were the bandits of the five desires that incited me to become entangled in evil deeds and to speak evil words. Now I have undergone this punishment because I myself went against the teaching of the World-Honored One. I pray that the World-Honored One will have compassion upon me."

The Buddha said:

"It was only your own mind and speech that brought about these transgressions, and no one else." Dayaki addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One, from this day onward I will reform myself and uphold and maintain the five precepts. I will observe abstinence for three months out of the year and six times each month; I will light incense and kindle lamps, make offerings to the Three Jewels, and not dare to commit faults in body, speech, or mind."

The Buddha said:

"If you can be like this, it is excellent! If the eye can see, then the body can come into contact. One reaps what one does oneself; do good and one gains good. Harbor evil thoughts in the mind, and the retribution will be evil. The Tathāgata is the teacher within the Dharma, instructing people to forsake evil and practice good, so as to be forever liberated and delivered. The heavenly beings, the people, and even the foolish all attain wisdom and are free from suffering. From this day forward you should reform yourself and cultivate goodness, and do not let your mind and intention judge wrongly, becoming a person in error as you were before."

When the Buddha had finished speaking the sutra, Dayaki's mind and intention were awakened and opened, and he immediately attained the fruit of stream-entry (srotāpanna). Rejoicing, he took his leave. Dayaki returned home and encouraged everyone in his family, both old and young, to go to where the Buddha was, to receive the five precepts, and to observe abstinence for three months out of the year and six times each month. Dayaki left his household, shaved off his hair and beard, donned the kāṣāya robe, and followed the Buddha as a śramaṇa, whereupon he attained the fruit of arhatship.

The Sutra Spoken by the Buddha on Dayaki