毘多輸柯因緣
The Story of Vitasoka
是時阿育王於佛法生大信心。起八萬四千塔已作五眾大會以飲食供養。有三十萬阿羅漢學人一倍精進凡夫無數。阿育王倍生信心。時阿育王弟毘多輸柯信外道法言。釋迦牟尼弟子無有解脫。何以故。常樂樂行畏苦行故。乃至阿育王語其弟言。汝於非處莫起信心。於佛法處當生信心。時阿育王於異時中欲為捕獵。阿育王弟於彼山中見一仙人五熱炙身。其於苦道而起實意。往其所禮其足。說言大德住此幾時。仙人答言。經十二年。復更問言。汝食何食。答言。常食樹木果根。復問。汝衣何衣。答言。結茅為衣。復問。臥處云何。答言。以草鋪地。又問。汝因何事而起煩惱。答言。見鹿行欲起我欲心。以欲心火燒於我心。時阿育王弟心便生疑。如此苦行尚起欲心。佛之弟子常修樂行。云何見欲而不起心。既起欲心何得於欲而起厭離。即說偈言。
At that time, King Ashoka developed deep faith in the Buddha’s teachings. After he had constructed eighty-four thousand stupas, he held a grand gathering for the fourfold assembly and offered food and drink as offerings. Among the attendees were three hundred thousand arhats, twice as many learners of the Dharma, and countless ordinary people—all of whom deepened King Ashoka’s faith even further.
Now, King Ashoka’s younger brother, Vitashoka, had placed his faith in non-Buddhist teachings. He said, “None of Shakyamuni’s disciples have attained liberation. Why? Because they always prefer pleasure and are afraid of hardship and ascetic practices.”
One day, King Ashoka said to his brother, “Do not place your faith in what is false. You should instead develop faith in the Buddha’s Dharma.”
Another time, King Ashoka arranged a hunting trip. In the mountains, his brother came across a hermit who was practicing self-mortification by subjecting his body to the five forms of heat. Vitashoka was deeply impressed by this austere practice and felt a sincere belief in it. He approached the hermit and, bowing at his feet, asked, “Venerable sir, how long have you been living here?”
The hermit replied, “Twelve years.”
“What do you eat?” asked Vitashoka.
“I always eat the roots and fruits of trees and plants,” said the hermit.
“What do you wear?”
“I weave grass into a robe.”
“Where do you sleep?”
“I spread grass on the ground and sleep there.”
“What makes you feel troubled or defiled?” asked Vitashoka.
The hermit replied, “When I see deer mating, I feel a desirous thought arise. The fire of this desire burns in my mind.”
Vitashoka then became doubtful. He thought, “If even such intense ascetic practice cannot stop lustful thoughts, how could the Buddha’s disciples, who enjoy a comfortable life, avoid such desires? And if they do feel desire, how could they ever feel disgust for it?”
He then recited a verse:
仙人往苦林 食樹花果根
服氣除穢食 不能滅欲愛
釋迦牟尼子 食酥酪乳味
於種種衣服 悉皆不能捨
若伏諸根者 頻陀山能浮
Ascetics dwell in groves of suffering, Eating fruits, flowers, and roots. Breath-fasting and cleansing foods, Cannot extinguish desire and love.
The disciples of Shakyamuni, Eating ghee, curds, and milk, And wearing various kinds of clothes, Are completely unable to renounce them.
If one masters the senses, Even Mount Vindhya could float.
阿育王弟復更說言。釋迦弟子誑阿育王令作功德。時阿育王聞其此言。即設方便語大臣言。我弟於外道生信。當以方便令其得入佛法。時大臣答阿育王言。大王云何教我所作。王語大臣。我今欲洗入彼浴室。應脫天冠及衣服等。汝當以我服飾莊嚴我弟令登王座。臣答言爾。及至阿育王將入浴室脫莊嚴具。入浴室已。是時大臣語阿育王弟。若無阿育汝當作王。是故今者試著天冠被天衣服及登王座。大臣語已而便與著令登王座。時大臣即白阿育王言。王所勅使臣已作竟。阿育王出觀其弟。著天冠及登王座。而語言。我今未滅汝已作王。阿育王嗔即命行殺之人。身著青衣披髮執鈴。至已禮王白言。今者欲何所作。王語言。我捨此弟汝可殺之。王語已竟。便有多人執諸器仗而圍繞之。是時大臣禮阿育王足。而白王言。此是王弟願王忍辱莫起嗔心。時阿育王答大臣言。我當忍辱。至於七日為我弟故於七日中暫與其國令其作王。種種伎樂及諸婇女以供給之。一切臣民皆往問訊。行殺之人執刀門立。日日白王。今一日已過餘六日在。如是乃至六日已過餘一日在。至第七日王莊嚴具天冠衣服還阿育王。大臣諸人將毘多輸柯共往問訊阿育大王。時王問言。汝七日為王種種伎樂好聞見不。弟以偈答言。
King Ashoka's brother then said further, "The disciples of the Buddha are tricking King Ashoka into performing virtuous deeds." When King Ashoka heard this, he devised a plan and said to his minister, "My brother has faith in the heretics. I need to use a clever method to help him enter the Buddha's Dharma." The minister replied, "Great King, what do you command me to do?" The king told him, "I am about to go bathe in the bath chamber. I'll take off my crown and robes. You must dress my brother in my attire and seat him on the throne." The minister agreed. So when King Ashoka entered the bath chamber and removed his ornaments, the minister said to Ashoka's brother, "If Ashoka were gone, you would become king. So now, try on the crown and royal robes and sit on the throne." With these words, he dressed him and seated him on the throne. The minister then reported to King Ashoka, "I have done as you commanded." King Ashoka came out of the bath, saw his brother wearing the crown and seated on the throne, and said, "While I am still alive, you have made yourself king!" Furious, King Ashoka summoned the executioner, who appeared dressed in a blue robe, hair disheveled, carrying a bell. After bowing to the king, he asked, "What do you wish to be done?" The king said, "I abandon my brother to you—kill him." As the king spoke, many men with various weapons surrounded the brother. The minister then bowed to King Ashoka's feet and said, "This is your brother, Great King. Please be patient and do not give rise to anger." King Ashoka replied, "I will be patient. For my brother's sake, I will give him seven days. For those seven days, I will let him rule as king temporarily. Let him have all kinds of music, dance, and entertainments, with palace ladies to serve him. All the ministers and citizens shall come to pay their respects. Let the executioner stand at the door with drawn sword. Each day he will report, 'One day has passed, six remain.' So it goes until six days have passed and one remains." On the seventh day, the brother returned the king's crown and robes to Ashoka. The ministers and others took Vitasoka to pay respect to King Ashoka. Then the king asked him, "You were king for seven days—did you enjoy the music and entertainments?" The brother replied with a verse:
若人見色 及聞音聲 食種種味
此能答王
If a person sees sights, hears sounds, and tastes various flavors, this person can answer the king.
王復語言。我與汝國七日為王。百種伎樂皆恣汝意。無數眾人日日問訊呪願於汝。云何而言。不見不聞不得好味。復以偈答。
我於七日中 不見不聞聲
不嗅不甞味 亦不覺諸觸
我身莊嚴具 及諸婇女等
思惟懼死故 不知如此事
伎女歌舞聲 宮殿及臥具
大地諸珍寶 初無歡喜心
以見行殺者 執刀在門立
又聞搖鈴聲 令我懷死畏
死撅釘我心 不知妙五欲
既著畏死病 不得安隱眠
思惟死將至 不覺夜已過
是時阿育王語其弟言。毘多輸柯汝於一生中思惟死苦。雖得上妙五欲而不生愛。出家比丘於十二入思惟無量生死無常。云何而得起煩惱耶。又復思惟地獄之苦及諸畜生更相殘害。餓鬼飢渴眾苦所逼。思惟人中四方馳走初無安樂。思惟天上壞敗之苦。如是五道身心之苦無有樂處。觀此五陰無常苦空無我不實。譬如空村無有居民。如是五陰皆空無我。以無常火燒諸世間。佛諸弟子常作此觀。云何而得起煩惱耶。復說偈言。
汝於一日中 思惟生死畏
而無有歡樂 不起貪愛心
佛諸弟子等 日日觀生死
云何生歡樂 而起煩惱心
於飲食衣服 及以臥具等
思惟解脫法 而不起著心
觀身如怨家 三有如火宅
思惟何方便 而得解脫之
深樂解脫法 不貪於五欲
其心如蓮華 處水而不著
時阿育王。以善方便佛法教化毘多輸柯。時毘多輸柯合掌向王而說言。大王。我於今者歸依如來及以法僧。而說偈言。
我今歸依佛 佛面如蓮華
天人所歸依 無漏法及僧
時阿育王。以兩手抱其弟頸而語言。我不誤汝。為欲令汝信佛法故。是故為汝現此方便。時毘多輸柯以種種華香及諸伎樂供養佛塔。以種種飲食供養眾僧。復往鷄寺耶舍上座六通羅漢所。至已對耶舍坐為欲聞法。時耶舍以神通力。見其前世已造善業。今於此生是最後身得阿羅漢。為其說法讚歎出家。既得聞法便樂出家。即起合掌白耶舍言。善說法律我得出家受具足不。於佛法中欲修梵行。耶舍答言。善男子。汝可還白阿育王聽出家不。時毘多輸柯即還阿育王處。至已合掌白言。大王。今當聽我出家。我於佛法欲修梵行。復說偈言。
我心亂不住 猶如象無鉤
王意如鐵鉤 勿制我出家
王為地中主 當聽我出家
佛作世間光 今欲修其行
阿育王聞其言。手抱其頸。悲泣落淚而語言。毘多輸柯勿作此意。何以故。出家之人形服麁弊飲食假人眠臥樹下。汝今制心勿欲出家。毘多輸柯答言。大王。我於今者不為瞋故而欲出家。亦不為貪欲。不為貧苦。亦不為脫怨家。但見世間種種諸苦生死相隨無有脫處。唯見佛法正路能脫生死終無所畏。是故我今樂欲出家。阿育王聞之更增悲泣。時毘多輸柯復說偈言。
生死為懸繩 有人則恒動
在上必復墮 和合必分離
時阿育王復語之言。汝當先習乞食。然後乃得出家。時王後園有一大樹以草布地令住其下。與一瓦鉢令入宮乞食。毘多輸柯。即便持鉢行入宮內。種種上食而便得之。時阿育王嗔宮內人。汝於今者云何乃與乞食者上食。從今已去當以麁食施之。乃至以麥為飯。經宿臭壞乃可施與。時毘多輸柯得而食之不以為惡。阿育王見而語之言。汝今勿食此食。聽汝出家。出家之後恒來見我。乃至毘多輸柯往至鷄寺。至已思惟。我若於此出家。人物亂我不得修道。當於遠處而出家也。便往毘提國於彼出家。思惟精進得阿羅漢果。是時長老毘多輸柯得阿羅漢已受解脫樂。復思惟言。昔與王約。出家之後恒來見王。我於今者應滿本約。乃至次第行至波吒利弗多國。是時長老毘多輸柯早起著衣持鉢入國乞食。次第行至阿育王城。語門人言。汝入白王云。毘多輸柯今在門外欲見大王。時守門人即入白王。今毘多輸柯至欲見大王。時阿育王而語之言。汝可將入令至宮中。毘多輸柯即便入宮。阿育王見即從座起。為其作禮如大樹倒。起而合掌視之無厭。悲泣而言。
一切諸眾生 當樂於和合
汝今除和合 而味寂靜心
我今知汝心 以慧無厭足
時阿育大臣名曰善護。見毘多輸柯著糞掃衣執持瓦鉢。次第乞食麁好俱受心無分別。見已白阿育王言。毘多輸柯少欲知足所作已辦王當生歡喜心。何以故。
常行乞食 著糞掃衣 住於樹下
心常在定 心廣無漏 其體無病
正命自活 常生歡喜
時阿育王聞是語已心大歡喜。便說偈言。
捨於孔雀姓 及摩伽陀國
種種諸珍寶 上妙之五欲
樂於四聖種 除憍慢煩惱
行於大精進 名聞顯我國
最勝十力法 而汝能受持
時阿育王以手捧之置好座上。種種飲食自手與之。食竟洗鉢置之一處。阿育大王於其前坐聽其說法。是時毘多輸柯為王說法。而說偈言。
王今得自在 當修不放逸
三寶甚難值 王應勤供養
時阿育王。與五百大臣及國人民。以自圍繞合掌恭敬送毘多輸柯。大臣人民而說偈言。
大兄阿育王 今恭敬送弟
出家有勝果 於今為現證
是時長老毘多輸柯。欲顯其功德身昇虛空。一切人民皆見其去。時阿育王與諸大眾合掌觀之。目不暫捨復說偈言。
無復親友愛 如鳥飛虛空
我以貪愛鎖 不能自在去
禪定有勝果 於身得自在
隨意之所行 一切無罣礙
為欲愛所盲 不能見此法
汝今以神力 輕我起欲愛
我本有慧慢 今汝為最勝
我等著世法 見聖始知畏
今我等啼泣 由汝今捨我
時長老毘多輸柯。往至邊地至已得病。以病重故頭皆發瘡。時王聞之即遣給事醫藥療治。後得小差醫師給事悉遣令還。其體所資唯食牛乳。為乞食故往多牛處。復有一國名分那婆陀那(翻正增長)。彼國一切信受外道。復有一人受外道法事裸形神。畫作如來禮其神足。有一佛弟子見此事白阿育王。王時聞已語駛將來。阿育王所領。於虛空中半由旬上。一切夜叉悉繫屬王。地下一由旬一切諸龍悉繫屬王。是時夜叉聞王語已。於一念頃即將外道弟子并畫像來。時阿育王見已生大瞋心。於分那婆陀那國一切外道悉皆殺之。於一日中殺十萬八千外道。復有一外道弟子。受外道法事裸形神。畫作如來禮其神足。時阿育王復聞是事。即勅餘人令取此人及其親屬。置一屋中以火焚之。時王復勅。若有人能得一尼揵首者。我當與其金錢一枚。是時長老毘多輸柯入養牛處一日停住。毘多輸柯病來多日頭鬚髮爪悉皆長利。衣服弊惡無有光色。時養牛女竊生是念。今此尼揵來入我舍。便語其夫。汝應殺此尼揵取頭與阿育王。必當得金。其夫聞已即便拔刀往毘多輸柯所欲斬其頭。時此長老即自思惟。見其業至無得脫處。即便受死。而將頭至阿育王所欲求覓金。王即觀之見其頭髮駮奪。心中生疑。即問其醫師及給事人。時醫師給事人即白王言。此是毘多輸柯頭。王聞是已悶絕躄地。以水灑之良久乃起。時有大臣白王。無漏之人不滅此苦。大王當施眾生無畏。乃至阿育即隨其言。宣令一切不得復殺尼揵。時諸比丘生疑問優波笈多。毘多輸柯昔造何業今受此報為人所殺。優波笈多答言。長老當聽。過去世時有一獵師多殺群鹿。於大林中有一泉水。時此獵師張施羅網。以其繩羂取置於水邊。日日之中多殺諸鹿。是時佛未出世。有一緣覺於水邊食。食竟澡洗還樹下坐。時彼群鹿聞緣覺香不往水邊。時獵師至不見鹿來。即尋其跡往辟支佛所。見已作是念言坐是人故令鹿不來。即便以刀殺辟支佛。長老當知。昔獵師者而今即是毘多輸柯。以其日日多殺諸鹿。是故今者多諸病苦。復以昔殺辟支佛故。以此業緣於無數年常在地獄受諸苦報。於五百世在人道中。生生之處常為他殺。今是最後果報雖得羅漢猶為他害。諸比丘復問優波笈多。此人云何復生大姓又得阿羅漢果。優波笈多答言。先於迦葉佛法出家樂行布施。常教檀越種種飲食供養眾僧。有一佛髮爪塔。以香華幡蓋種種伎樂而供養之。以是業報生於大姓。十萬年中常修梵行復發正願。以是業緣得阿羅漢。
阿育王經卷第三