（五）
(5)
海中有一國名私訶疊，中多出珍寶唯無石蜜。時有賈人，持五百餘車石蜜往，念欲上王，所得賞報必勝市賣，便以石蜜置王宮門，作事自陳。如是月日之中無有問者，恚曰：「彼王亦是人，我亦是人，眼耳鼻口四大俱爾，乃不可得一見與言語也。何則？王福德勝人故也。吾亦當作功德，當令王不覺來歸我。」時遂行作沙門，以蜜供養三尊，求一靜處思惟苦空非身，使其未半，意解無縛得六通道，諸能一處不移成羅漢者，地為震動，帝釋諸天應來慰問，於是天帝諸天人皆下，作禮助其歡喜。比丘問天帝：「卿等天上盡何所為？」答曰：「天上有四戲觀園，三處是五欲處，一處是道德，在中或論佛貴典，或時論天下四輩精進持法者。」比丘曰：「論持者為一等也，為有深淺乎？」天帝曰：「普論善人耳，佛泥曰以來有三人，諸天持論未曾廢捨。」比丘曰：「斯何人也？天帝與我一一說之。」天帝言：「波羅柰國有一人作沙門，自誓言：『當經行仿佯，不得應真終不臥息。』於是晝夜經行，足壞流血百鳥逐啄，三年得道；諸天稱察無不奉承矣。有一人在羅閱祇國亦作沙門，布草為蓐坐其上，自誓曰：『不得道終不起。』而蔭蓋來但欲睡眠，使人作錐長八寸，睡來時便刺兩髀，以瘡痛不睡，一年之中得應真道；天亦歎未曾有也。復有一人在拘睒尼國亦作沙門，在山石室峻險，卒無能得往來者。時魔波旬見其精進，便化作水牛，在比丘前鳴鼻角目，以欲觸之，比丘甚畏而思曰：『此間牛所不能得至，何以有此？得無是魔所為也？』即㖑言：『汝是弊魔所為耶！』魔謂已知便服本形。比丘語魔：『卿恐我何求？』魔言：『見道人精勤恐出我界去，故來相恐矣。』比丘說言：『我所以作沙門者求度世間，佛有相好欲見之耳，佛以去世無能見者，聞魔能變作佛身，為吾現之，吾便不復精進也。』魔其當然即化為佛，在前立，思惟即得應真，諸天空中稱善無量，魔悔愁毒即時滅去。」
In the ocean there was a country called Sihadi, which produced many treasures but no rock sugar. A merchant once carried over five hundred carts of rock sugar there, intending to present it to the king, thinking the reward would be greater than selling it in the market. So he placed the rock sugar at the palace gate and waited to state his case. But days and months passed without anyone asking about it. Angry, he said: "That king is also a person, and I am also a person. We both have eyes, ears, noses, and mouths—the four elements are the same. Yet I cannot even get to see him or speak with him. Why? Because the king's merit and blessings surpass others'. I too should do meritorious deeds, so that without the king knowing, blessings will come to me."
So he became a monk and offered rock sugar to the Three Treasures. Seeking a quiet place, he contemplated suffering, emptiness, and the absence of a permanent self. Before halfway through his practice, his mind was liberated from attachments, and he attained the six supernatural powers. When someone becomes an arhat without moving from one spot, the earth trembles, and the gods of Śakra's heaven come to offer their congratulations. Therefore, the heavenly king and all the gods descended, paid homage, and shared in his joy.
The monk asked the heavenly king: "In your heaven, what do you all do?" The heavenly king replied: "In heaven there are four pleasure gardens. Three are places for the five desires, and one is for spiritual practice. There, we either discuss the precious scriptures of the Buddha or talk about the four groups of people in the world who diligently uphold the Dharma." The monk asked: "Are those who uphold the Dharma all equal, or are there degrees of depth?" The heavenly king replied: "We generally discuss virtuous people. Since the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, there have been three people about whom the gods have never stopped talking."
The monk said: "Who are they? Please tell me one by one." The heavenly king said: "In the city of Vārāṇasī, there was a man who became a monk and vowed: 'I will walk in meditation back and forth. If I do not attain arhatship, I will never lie down to rest.' So day and night he walked, until his feet were injured and bleeding, and hundreds of birds followed to peck at him. After three years, he attained the path. All the gods praised and respected him.
"Another man in Rājagṛha also became a monk. He spread grass as a mat and sat on it, vowing: 'If I do not attain the path, I will never rise.' But drowsiness came over him, and he wanted to sleep. So he made an awl eight inches long, and whenever he felt sleepy, he would stab both his thighs. Because of the pain of the wounds, he did not sleep. Within one year, he attained arhatship. The gods marveled, saying this had never been seen before.
"There was also a man in Kauśāmbī who became a monk and lived in a steep mountain cave so dangerous that no one could come or go. At that time, Māra the Evil One saw his diligence and transformed into a water buffalo. It snorted, rolled its eyes, and shook its horns in front of the monk, as if about to gore him. The monk was very frightened and thought: 'How could a water buffalo get to this place? Could it be Māra's doing?' He immediately shouted: 'Is this the work of the wicked Māra!' Realizing he had been recognized, Māra returned to his original form. The monk said: 'Why do you frighten me? What do you want?' Māra replied: 'Seeing your diligent practice, I fear you will escape my realm. That is why I came to frighten you.'
"The monk said: 'I became a monk seeking to transcend the world. I wanted to see the Buddha's excellent marks and features, but since the Buddha has passed away, I cannot see him. I have heard that you can transform into the Buddha's body. If you show yourself to me, I will stop being diligent.' Since Māra was capable, he changed into a Buddha and stood before him. The monk contemplated and immediately attained arhatship. All the gods in the sky praised him endlessly. Māra, filled with regret and anguish, vanished at once."
天帝語比丘：「是三人諸天所歎，于今未休。」比丘語天帝：「此三人者，明識苦空是以朽身。吾本無意為人所輕，遂行求道得出三界，亦復奇妙亦得應真。」諸天報曰：「今還天上以道人上頭第一。」於是諸天作禮而去。於是國王聞石蜜主勤行得道，即往稽首叩頭謝過，遂為國師，興隆三寶國致太平，得福得度不可復計。
The Lord of Heaven said to the monk, "These three people are praised by the gods, and the praise has not yet ceased." The monk replied, "These three truly understand that suffering and emptiness make the body fragile. I was once looked down upon by others, but I took up the spiritual path and sought liberation, eventually escaping the three realms. That too is remarkable — I have also attained arhatship." The gods said, "Now let us return to heaven, with this monk honored as the foremost among us." Then the gods bowed and departed.
When the king heard that the honey merchant had diligently practiced and attained enlightenment, he went to pay his respects, bowing his head and asking forgiveness. The merchant then became the king's spiritual teacher. Through his guidance, the Three Jewels flourished, and the kingdom enjoyed peace. The blessings and liberation brought about were incalculable.