佛說妙色王因緣經
Sutra of King Wonderful Color's Causes and Conditions
大唐三藏法師義淨奉 制譯
Translation by Tripitaka Master Yijing of the Tang Dynasty, by Imperial Command
如是我聞：
This is what I heard:
一時，薄伽梵在室羅伐城逝多林給孤獨園。
Once, the Blessed One was dwelling at Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, the garden of Anāthapiṇḍada.
爾時世尊從定起已，為諸四眾演說無上甘露妙法。時有無量百千大眾前後圍遶，諸根不動聽聞法要。
At that time, the World-Honored One arose from meditation and began to teach the supreme, wondrous Dharma, sweet as nectar, to the fourfold assembly. Countless hundreds and thousands of followers surrounded him, their senses stilled, listening intently to the essential teachings.
時諸苾芻既見大眾身心寂靜、慇懃聽法，咸皆有疑白佛言：「世尊！唯願慈悲為斷疑網。如來大師無上法王，今此座中聽法諸人，何故慇懃身心不動，聽聞妙法如飲甘露？」
At that time, the monks, seeing the assembly's minds and bodies still and attentive in listening to the Dharma, all had doubts and addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One! We beseech your compassion to dispel our doubts. You, the Tathāgata, are the supreme Teacher, the Dharma King without equal. Yet among those seated here listening to the Dharma, why are they so earnest, with minds and bodies unmoving, listening to the wondrous Dharma as if drinking sweet dew?"
世尊告曰：「汝等苾芻！我於往昔為求法故，敬心殷重。汝等諦聽！善思念之！吾當為汝說彼因緣。
The World-Honored One replied, “O monks, in the past, I sought the Dharma with deep reverence and earnest devotion. Listen carefully, reflect well, and I will tell you the cause and conditions of that.”
「乃往古昔，於婆羅痆斯大城中，有王名曰妙色，以法化世，國土豐樂、人民熾盛；無諸鬪戰、詐偽、怨賊，亦無病苦、災橫之事；稻蔗牛羊在處充滿，亦無瓦礫、荒梗棘刺，恩育兆人如觀一子。其王敬信，意樂賢善，自利利人，發堅固願，有慈心，希大法，愍人眾，愛群官，除去慳貪，常為大捨。王之夫人名曰妙容，顏貌端正，威儀詳審，眾德圓滿，人所愛樂。其王唯有一男，名端正子，年雖幼小忠孝仁慈，王所愛念無離左右。
Long ago, in the great city of Varanasi, there was a king named Miaose, who ruled with righteousness. His kingdom was prosperous and joyful, and the people were many. There was no fighting, deceit, hostility, or banditry; nor were there sickness, suffering, calamities, or disasters. Rice, sugarcane, cattle, and sheep were abundant everywhere. There were no broken tiles, barren land, thorns, or brambles. The king nurtured his millions of subjects as if they were his own child.
The king was devout, inclined toward goodness and virtue. He sought benefit for himself and others, made steadfast vows, and possessed a compassionate heart. He yearned for the great Dharma, took pity on the people, cherished his officials, abandoned miserliness and greed, and constantly practiced great generosity.
The king had a queen named Miaorong, whose appearance was dignified and graceful, whose bearing was calm and composed, whose virtues were complete, and who was beloved by all.
The king had only one son, named Duanzhengzi. Though still young, he was loyal, filial, kind, and benevolent. The king cherished him dearly, and the prince was never far from his side.
「後於異時，其妙色王心悕勝法，召集群僚而告之曰：『我於妙法情生渴仰，卿等宜應為我詢訪。』時諸大臣前白王曰：『大王！當知大覺世尊出興世者，方有妙法。』王報臣曰：『今雖無佛，試為我求。』時王即便以箱盛妙金寶懸於幢上，鳴鼓宣令普告四方：『若有為我宣勝法者，我以金箱報其恩德，廣設音樂而慶讚之。』如是詔召經歷多時，竟無一人能為說法，時王渴仰懷憂而住。
Later, at another time, King Wonderful Form, yearning for profound teachings, summoned his ministers and said to them: "My heart thirsts for the sublime Dharma. You should seek and inquire on my behalf." The ministers then addressed the king: "Great King, you should know that only when the Greatly Enlightened World-Honored One appears in the world can there be the sublime Dharma." The king replied to his ministers: "Though there is no Buddha now, try to seek one for me." The king then placed exquisite gold and jewels in a box, hung it atop a banner, beat drums to proclaim an edict throughout the four directions: "If anyone can expound the supreme Dharma for me, I will reward their kindness with this golden box, and widely arrange music to celebrate and praise them." Such a summons continued for a long time, yet no one came forward to teach the Dharma. The king, thirsting with longing, remained in sorrow.
「爾時，帝釋遍觀下界誰善誰惡？誰於勝因情無懈倦？遂見此王為法憂惱，便作是念：『此妙色王久悕勝法，我當試之，其事虛實？』遂即化作大藥叉，身手足異常，面目可畏，來至眾中而白王曰：『仁求勝法，我能說之。』王聞法音歡喜踊躍，告藥叉曰：『密跡主！有妙法者，幸願為說，我當諦聽！』藥叉告曰：『大王今者生輕法心，謂為易得即令宣說。事不應然，我身飢虛，何能為說？』王聞語已，尋命膳官所有上食速宜奉進。藥叉告曰：『王厨之食非我所飡，唯人熱血肉是我常食。』王曰：『人之血肉何可卒求？』藥叉曰：『王之愛子宜應見與。』王聞此語，便作是念：『我久辛苦尋求勝法，今聞法音便成無價。』時端正子在父邊立，聞是語已，跪白王曰：『唯願父王勿生憂惱！父之所望當令滿足。可持我身奉密跡主，以充其食。』王曰：『汝見求法，捨所愛身。善哉，丈夫！隨汝所樂。』其端正子即便以身奉上藥叉。藥叉受已，對王、大眾分裂其身，噉肉飲血。王雖見此，慕法情深，了無驚懼。
At that time, the god Indra looked down upon the world to see who was virtuous and who was wicked, and who remained diligent in seeking the highest cause. He then saw this king, troubled in his quest for the Dharma, and thought to himself: "This King Miaose has long yearned for the supreme Dharma. I shall test him to see if his resolve is true or false."
He then transformed into a great yaksha—with limbs of unusual size and a fearsome countenance—and came before the assembly, addressing the king: "Benevolent one, you seek the supreme Dharma. I can teach it to you."
Hearing these words of Dharma, the king was filled with joy and excitement. He said to the yaksha: "O Secret-Keeper! If you possess the wondrous Dharma, I earnestly beg you to teach it. I shall listen with utmost attention!"
The yaksha replied: "Great King, you now hold the Dharma in light regard, thinking it can be obtained so easily. But it should not be so. My body is weak with hunger—how can I teach?"
Hearing this, the king immediately ordered his kitchen officers to quickly bring forth the finest food. The yaksha said: "The food from the king's kitchen is not what I eat. Only fresh human flesh and blood are my usual fare."
The king asked: "How can human flesh and blood be obtained so suddenly?"
The yaksha replied: "The king's beloved son should be given to me."
Hearing these words, the king thought: "I have long toiled in search of the supreme Dharma. Now that I have heard the voice of the Dharma, it has become priceless."
At that time, the handsome prince was standing beside his father. Hearing this, he knelt and said to the king: "I beg my royal father not to be distressed! What you hope for shall be fulfilled. You may offer my body to the Secret-Keeper to satisfy his hunger."
The king said: "You, in seeking the Dharma, are willing to give up your beloved body. Excellent, noble one! Follow your aspiration."
The handsome prince then offered his body to the yaksha. The yaksha accepted it and, before the king and the great assembly, tore the prince apart, devouring his flesh and drinking his blood. Though the king witnessed this, his longing for the Dharma was so profound that he felt not the slightest fear or alarm.
「時密跡主復告王曰：『我仍未飽，更與汝妻。』時妙容夫人亦在王側，聞斯語已，亦同其子身奉藥叉。藥叉受已，噉其血肉，復告王曰：『然我飢虛，尚未充足。』王便白言：『密跡主！一子已施，妻復重食，尚云飢虛；隨意當取，我願供給，無退轉心。』藥叉告曰：『王之自身宜與我食。』王曰：『善哉！實不敢悋，然我身死如何聞法？今我先可聽其妙法，既受持已，當即捨身。』
At that moment, the Vajra Master said to the king once more, "I am still not satisfied. Give me your wife as well." Lady Miaorong, who was standing beside the king, heard these words and, like her son, offered herself to the yaksha. The yaksha accepted and devoured her flesh and blood, then declared to the king, "Yet my hunger remains, still not fully sated."
The king then replied, "Vajra Master! I have already offered my son, and now you have consumed my wife as well, yet you still speak of hunger. Take whatever you wish—I am willing to provide it, without a thought of turning back."
The yaksha said to him, "Then your own body should be given to me to eat."
The king replied, "Very well! I truly do not begrudge it. But if I die, how shall I hear the Dharma? Let me first listen to this wondrous teaching. Once I have received and upheld it, I will then give up my body."
「是時藥叉共王立要，即於無量百千萬億大眾之中，說勝妙伽他曰：
At that moment, the yaksha made a pact with the king and, before the countless hundreds of thousands of millions in the great assembly, spoke these sublime verses:
「『由愛故生憂， 由愛故生怖，
若離於愛者， 無憂亦無怖。』
From attachment arises worry, From attachment arises fear. If one is free from attachment, There is no worry, no fear.
「王既聞此勝妙法已，心生慶幸，歡悅無量，告密跡主曰：『我已聞法，如說奉持。今我此身，隨意當食。』
Having heard this sublime teaching, the king was filled with joy and boundless delight. He said to the Lord of Mysteries, "I have now heard the Dharma and will uphold it as taught. From this moment, I shall eat as I please."
「時天帝釋，見王為法，身心不動如妙高山，知其必當證無上覺，捨藥叉像，復天帝形，信喜內充，怡顏前進，一手携子，一手持妻，而告王曰：『善哉，善哉！是善丈夫，堅裝甲冑破煩惱軍，濟度愚迷出生死海，觀斯勇猛，必當不久能成無上正等菩提。汝之妻、子我今相付。』時王即便白天帝曰：『善哉，善哉！天主憍尸迦！降大慈悲，為善知識，已能滿我樂法之心。』是時天帝於大眾中忽然不現。」
At that moment, the god Indra, seeing the king's unwavering dedication to the Dharma—his body and mind as steady as a majestic mountain—knew that he would surely attain supreme enlightenment. He cast off his yaksha form and resumed his divine appearance as Indra. Filled with faith and joy, he stepped forward with a gentle expression, holding the king's son in one hand and his wife in the other, and addressed the king:
"Excellent, excellent! O noble one, you have donned the armor of resolve to vanquish the army of afflictions, to rescue the deluded from the sea of birth and death. Witnessing such courage, I am certain you will soon achieve supreme, perfect enlightenment. Your wife and child I now return to you."
The king then replied to Indra, "Excellent, excellent! O lord of gods, Kauśika! You have shown great compassion, acting as a true spiritual friend, and have fulfilled my heart's longing for the Dharma."
At that, Indra vanished from the midst of the assembly.
爾時，世尊告諸苾芻：「於汝意云何？勿生異念，彼時妙色王者，即我身是；端正子者，羅怙羅是；妻妙容者，即耶輸陀羅是。汝等當知，我往昔時為求法故，捨所愛妻，子及以已身，尚無所悋，何況餘物。由此緣故，今時所有一切大眾從我聞法，專心聽受無有疲厭；又由我昔求法忘勞，今於長夜為眾說法，亦無疲倦。汝等苾芻，當學於我，恭敬尊重，勤求勝法；既聞法已，如說修行，勿為放逸。」
At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the monks: "What do you think? Do not doubt this. The King of Splendid Form in that story was none other than myself; the handsome son was Rāhula; and the wife of beautiful appearance was Yaśodharā. You should know that in the past, for the sake of seeking the Dharma, I gave up my beloved wife, my son, and even my own body without hesitation—how much more so other possessions. Because of this, all who gather now listen to the Dharma from me with focused attention, never growing weary. And because I sought the Dharma tirelessly in the past, I now teach the multitude tirelessly through the long night. You monks should learn from me: revere and honor the Dharma, diligently seek the supreme teaching. Having heard it, practice accordingly. Do not be negligent."
爾時諸苾芻及人天眾聞佛說已，歡喜奉行。
At that time, the bhikkhus and the assembly of humans and devas, having heard the Buddha’s teaching, rejoiced and respectfully put it into practice.
佛說妙色王因緣經
The Sutra of King Wonderful Color's Causes and Conditions