---
title: "生經 · 28 佛說腹使經"
description: "竺法护是西晋时期著名译经家，祖籍月氏，世居敦煌。他深感当时佛教经典匮乏，发愿西行求法，带回并翻译了大量佛典。《生经》便是其重要译作之一，由诸多佛陀本生故事汇集而成，主要讲述释迦牟尼佛在过去世中，为菩萨时修行慈悲喜舍、救度众生的种种事迹。该经不仅是研究本生故事和早期佛教思想的重要文献，也为大乘菩萨道的实践提供了经典依据，在汉传佛教经典体系中占有独特地位，对后世佛教文学和艺术产生了深远影响。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmdztnp9w014ol404po8hx224"
---

### 佛說腹使經第二十八

> Buddha Speaks the Sutra on the Belly Messenger, Chapter 28

聞如是：

> Thus have I heard:

一時佛遊舍衛祇樹給孤獨園，與大比丘眾千二百五十人俱。爾時其國米穀踊貴，人民飢餓，佛諸比丘，各欲散去流遊諸國以為歲節。賢者阿難——博聞多智，於法無厭，辯才無礙，佛所說經，為無數人，護受經典，精進難及——心自念言：「假使世尊，詣於餘國，而造歲節，處於他域，無央數人，失其德本，坐具無所乏少。假使如來，止此舍衛，而為歲節，多所安隱，為成德本。」於時世尊，愍傷群黎，欲救護之，入舍衛城。波斯匿王，傍臣人民，往詣國王。阿難自往，說此本末。王波斯匿聞阿難言：「請佛三月及比丘眾，若干種饌，飲食具足，病瘦給藥，一切所安，隨其所樂，如是三月，無所乏少。」

> Thus I have heard: at one time, the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove, in Anathapindika's Garden, near the city of Shravasti, together with a large assembly of twelve hundred fifty monks. At that time, the country's grain had become very expensive, and the people were suffering from hunger. The Buddha and his monks were each thinking of dispersing to wander through various lands for the rainy-season retreat. The Venerable Ananda—widely learned, deeply wise, never wearying of the Dharma, eloquent without obstruction, keeping and teaching the scriptures spoken by the Buddha for countless beings, with diligence that was difficult to surpass—thought to himself: "If the World-Honored One were to go to another country and spend the retreat in another land, countless people would lose the roots of merit, and their sitting mats would not be lacking in plenty. But if the Thus-Come One stayed in this Shravasti and passed the retreat, it would bring much peace and security, and completing the roots of merit." At that time, the World-Honored One, out of compassion for the multitude of beings, wishing to rescue and protect them, entered the city of Shravasti. King Prasenajit, his courtiers, and the people came to the king. Ananda himself went and related the whole matter. King Prasenajit, hearing Ananda's words, invited the Buddha and the assembly of monks to be his guests for three months, offering a variety of foods, complete refreshments, medicines for the sick, and all the comforts they sought. For those three months, nothing was lacking.

佛比丘眾舍衛歲節，時諸比丘心自念言：「賢者阿難！功德難及，得未曾有，行權知時，曉了誼理，勸化國王波斯匿，供養世尊及比丘眾，歲節三月皆令安隱，令比丘眾九十日中無有憂慮，一切施安所供無乏，令比丘眾各自安隱，不復遊馳至於他國。」時佛徹聽聞諸比丘共議此事，尋即往到比丘眾所：「汝等向者何所講論？」諸比丘眾具足本末啟白如來。

> The Buddha with his community of monks spent the rainy season retreat in Shravasti. During that time, the monks thought to themselves: "The worthy Ananda's merit is truly remarkable and unprecedented. He skillfully adapted to the times, understood what was appropriate, and encouraged King Prasenajit to make offerings to the World-Honored One and the monastic community throughout the three months of the rainy season, ensuring everyone was safe and at ease. He enabled the monks to pass ninety days without worry, providing all necessities so that no one went without. He made it possible for the monks to live in peace without having to travel to other countries." The Buddha, hearing this discussion among the monks, went to where they were gathered and asked: "What were you all discussing just now?" The monks then fully recounted the matter to the Tathagata, from beginning to end.

佛告比丘：「賢者阿難！非但今世行權知時，前世亦然，行權方便。乃去往古久遠世時波羅奈國，時有王名梵達，王有大德，名稱遠聞。時國飢饉，米穀踊貴，人民飢餓，乞者眾多，無以可供。王憙施與，四面來乞，集如浮雲，十方皆至，隨力所任而供給之。布施如是無有休息，穀米遂貴，天轉旱酷，不復降雨，所種不收，人民飢困，乞者日滋。詣王宮門：『倉廩虛竭。』時諸臣吏各共議言：『今此國王，敢來乞者，尋即施與，不能逆人。天旱不雨，乞者遂甚，米穀踊貴，倉庫虛盡，將欲壞國。』時諸大臣欲救護國，往詣王所，具足為王啟說此議：『王所施與，今可省息，於法可依，須後豐有，爾乃復施。』王告之曰：『吾所施與，不能懈止。寡人有令志願布施，焉違本心？又來乞者，何忍逆之？其不來者，乃無所施。』時諸群臣，各共誼言：『吾等於宜當共作計，令諸窮士不得來乞，爾乃斷耳。』於時王施未曾懈廢，心自願言：『令諸倉穀，莫使消減！』時諸法明吏，告勅四遠：『不得令往從王乞匃，敢有乞者，皆受誅罰棄命都市。』四遠乞者，來詣其國，聞此急教，不敢行乞，不得見王，愁憂懊惱，問諸大臣：『審有是命，又問父母，實有急教，不得乞乎？』答曰：『有之！不得行乞。』乞者又問：『假令遠方有諸使吏，東西南北，皆足廩價穀糧飲食？』今此臣吏，獨欲飲食，故出惡教，勅諸四遠：『諸貧窮乞士，不得詣門從王乞匃，假使乞者罪皆應死！唯遠方使，得見倉庫。』展轉傳語，眾人皆知諸臣所建非王所為。

> The Buddha told the monks, "Venerable Ananda! It is not only in this present life that the Blessed One acts with wisdom and knows the right time. In previous lives as well, he skillfully employed expedient means. Long ago, in the distant past, there was a king in the land of Varanasi named Brahmadatta. This king was virtuous and renowned far and wide. At that time, the kingdom suffered a famine, grain prices soared, and the people were starving. Beggars were numerous, and there was not enough to provide for them. The king delighted in giving, and beggars gathered from all directions like floating clouds. People came from the ten directions, and he supplied them according to his means. He gave without rest, and because of this, grain prices rose even higher. The heavens turned scorching and dry, and no rain fell. The crops failed, the people were hungry and distressed, and beggars increased day by day. They came to the palace gates, saying, 'The granaries are empty and exhausted.' At that time, the ministers and officials discussed among themselves: 'Now this king—whenever anyone dares to come begging, he immediately gives to them and cannot refuse anyone. Heaven sends no rain, beggars grow more numerous, grain prices soar, and the storehouses are nearly empty. This will bring ruin to the kingdom.' Then the great ministers, wishing to protect the kingdom, went to the king and laid out this proposal in full: 'Your Majesty, your giving may now be reduced. It is fitting according to the law to wait until there is abundance later, and then give again.' The king told them, 'My giving cannot be relaxed or stopped. I have made a vow to give, so how could I go against my own heart? And how could I bear to refuse those who come to beg? It is only those who do not come that receive nothing.' Then the ministers all discussed together, saying, 'We should devise a plan together to prevent the poor from coming to beg, and only then will the begging be cut off.' At that time, the king's giving never slackened, and in his heart he made this wish: 'May the grain in the storehouses never diminish!' Then the officials who understood the law issued an order to all the four quarters: 'No one is permitted to go to the king to beg. Whoever dares to beg will be punished by death in the marketplace.' Beggars from the four quarters came to the kingdom, but upon hearing this urgent decree, they dared not beg and could not see the king. Worried and distressed, they asked the ministers, 'Is this order truly issued?' And they asked their parents, 'Is there truly an urgent decree that we may not beg?' The answer came: 'Yes, it is so. You cannot go begging.' The beggars asked further, 'If envoys come from distant lands—from east, west, south, and north—do they receive ample rations of grain and food?' They said, 'These ministers and officials simply want to protect their own food supply, so they issued this cruel order to the four quarters: "Poor beggars may not come to the palace gate to beg from the king. If they beg, they deserve death!" Only the envoys from afar may see the storehouses.' Word spread from mouth to mouth, and everyone understood: this plan was the ministers' doing, not the king's.

「有一梵志，飢窮經日，欲行乞匃，以救其命，遍行求索，給足妻子。假使穀賤，乞匃易得，所獲無量，設穀飢貴，乞匃難獲。馳走乞匃，無所不至，纔得活命，心懷憂悴，不可復言。其婦於時謂梵志言：『汝遭勤苦，乞匃遇患，無所不至，而不能得。何不詣王從其乞匃？本聞國王，敢有乞者，不逆人意。』梵志答婦：『汝不聞耶？國王有令，不得令人詣王乞匃，唯遠方使，乃得進見，給其廩價，餘人乞者，皆當見斬。』梵志答婦：『我身今日，欲得求安，反見危害，既依仰他，復見毀辱。』其婦答曰：『如諸臣吏，告勅四遠，唯遠使得前，不聽餘人。卿自應言：「從遠使來，欲見大王，食乃得度。」』

> There was a brahmin priest who was poor and starving for days. He wanted to go begging to save his life, so he searched everywhere to get enough to provide for his wife and children. When grain was cheap, begging was easy and he received plenty. But when grain was scarce and expensive, begging was difficult. He ran around begging, going everywhere, barely managing to stay alive, his heart heavy with sorrow—more than words could express. His wife then said to him, "You endure such hardship, begging and meeting with trouble, going everywhere yet unable to get what you need. Why not go to the king and beg from him? I've heard that the king never turns away anyone who comes to beg." The brahmin replied to his wife, "Haven't you heard? The king has issued an order: no one is allowed to come before the king to beg. Only envoys from distant places may be granted an audience and given provisions. Anyone else who begs will be beheaded." The brahmin said to his wife, "Today I want to find peace, but instead I meet with danger. I already depend on others, and now I face humiliation as well." His wife answered, "Just like the officials who issue orders to distant regions—only envoys from afar are allowed to approach, no one else is permitted. You should say: 'I have come as an envoy from a distant place and wish to see the great king. Only then can I get food to survive.'"

「於時梵志，即受婦言，執杖奉使，著奉使冠，詣王宮門。門吏曰：『子所從來？』答曰：『從遠使來。』門吏白王，啟其本末。即時現之：『子所從來？今十六國，穀米飢貴，各自守界，何從自到？從何國來？』吏具問是已。梵志答曰：『聞服王德故被使來。』吏又問曰：『於是國界，見彼國耶？聚落墟聚，足可達知。假使為己，唯願天王，獨為已者，所求易得。』『欲見大王，故來求見！』門吏問之，其對如是。王曰：『現之！』梵志即入。王問之曰：『為誰使來？』梵志對曰：『求不恐懼，唯見聽許，乃敢啟王說所使來。』王告之曰：『便具自說，原除恐懼。』王又問言：『與誰為使？』梵志啟曰：『大王欲知之？我腹使來。』於時梵志即說頌曰：

「『眾人求財利， 或遇諸怨賊，我為腹使來， 國主唯願恕！誰為最尊勢？ 誰其第一先？我實為腹使， 大王勿罪責。諸佛及緣覺， 聲聞聖弟子，捨置寂然處， 入城聚落乞。窮厄無所依， 生身遭苦患，今我為腹使， 唯人尊見恕。』

「於時王愍傷之，則以偈報梵志曰：

「『梵志當施卿， 赤牸牛千頭，乃與犢子俱， 焉得不惠使。吾為諸使者， 給與所飢乏，為使者作使， 加施無恐懼。』」

佛告諸比丘：「欲知爾時梵志者，阿難是也；梵達王者，波斯匿王是。爾時阿難，開化令悅，戴仰無量。於是阿難，今世在國，復化波斯匿王，穀米飢饉，供養世尊及比丘眾，三月之中無所乏少。是故比丘，當學善言柔和之辭，當作巧辭方便之語，是諸佛教。」

佛說如是，莫不歡喜。