Sutta 13: The Sutra of King (Sahetan)

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

sà hé tán wáng jīng

sa he tan wang jing

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007a24] "In the past, there was a king named 薩和檀 [sa he tan] (Sahetan), which means 'all-giving.' He never refused anyone's request for anything. His generosity was such that his name spread throughout the eight directions, and everyone knew of him. At that time, 文殊師利 [wen shu shi li] (Wenshushili) wished to test him. He transformed into a young 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) and came from a distant country to the palace gate. He told the gatekeeper: 'I have come from afar and wish to see the great King.' The gatekeeper immediately reported this. The King was very pleased and went out to welcome him, as a son would greet his father. He bowed to him and invited him to sit. He asked: 'Where do you come from, venerable one? Are you not weary from your long journey?' The 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) replied with sincerity: 'I heard of the King's merits in another country, so I came to see you, and now I wish to beg for something.' The King said: 'Excellent! Do not hesitate to ask for whatever you desire. My name is 'All-Giving' now. What do you wish for?' The 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) said: 'I want nothing else. I wish to have your body to be my slave, and your wife to be my maidservant. If you can do this, then I will take you with me.' The King was greatly rejoiced and replied: 'Excellent! My body can certainly be given; I wish to be a servant to the venerable one and serve him. As for my wife, she is the daughter of a great king, so I must go and ask her.'

[0007a24] “xī zhě guó wáng hào sà hé tán, jiě yuē yī qiè shī yě, yǒu suǒ qiú suǒ bù nì rén yì. bù shī rú shì, qí wáng míng zì liú wén bā fāng, mò bù wén zhī. shí, wén shū shī lì yù wǎng shì zhī, huà zuò nián shǎo pó luó mén, cóng yì guó lái yì wáng gōng mén, yǔ shǒu mén zhě: ‘wǒ cóng yuǎn lái, yù jiàn dà wáng.’ shí shǒu mén zhě jí bái rú cǐ. wáng shén huān xǐ, jí chū fèng yíng, rú zi jiàn fù, qián wèi zuò lǐ, biàn qǐng lìng zuò. wèn xùn: ‘dào rén suǒ cóng lái yé? mào shè tú lù dé wú pí juàn?’ shì xīn yán: ‘wǒ zài tā guó wén wáng gōng dé, gù lái xiāng jiàn, jīn yù qǐ gài.’ wáng yán: ‘dà shàn! suǒ yù dé zhě, mò zì yí nán. jīn wǒ míng wèi yī qiè zhī shī, yù qiú hé děng?’ pó luó mén yán: ‘wǒ bù yòng yú, yù dé wáng shēn yǔ wǒ zuò nú, jí wáng fū rén wèi wǒ zuò bì. ruò néng ěr zhě, biàn suí wǒ qù.’ wáng shén huān yuè, bào yán: ‘dà shàn! jīn wǒ shēn zhě, dìng zì kě dé, yuàn shǔ dào rén gōng gěi shǐ lìng. qí fū rén zhě, dà guó wáng nǚ, dāng wǎng wèn zhī.’

[0007a24] "xi zhe guo wang hao sa he tan, jie yue yi qie shi ye, you suo qiu suo bu ni ren yi. bu shi ru shi, qi wang ming zi liu wen ba fang, mo bu wen zhi. shi, wen shu shi li yu wang shi zhi, hua zuo nian shao po luo men, cong yi guo lai yi wang gong men, yu shou men zhe: 'wo cong yuan lai, yu jian da wang.' shi shou men zhe ji bai ru ci. wang shen huan xi, ji chu feng ying, ru zi jian fu, qian wei zuo li, bian qing ling zuo. wen xun: 'dao ren suo cong lai ye? mao she tu lu de wu pi juan?' shi xin yan: 'wo zai ta guo wen wang gong de, gu lai xiang jian, jin yu qi gai.' wang yan: 'da shan! suo yu de zhe, mo zi yi nan. jin wo ming wei yi qie zhi shi, yu qiu he deng?' po luo men yan: 'wo bu yong yu, yu de wang shen yu wo zuo nu, ji wang fu ren wei wo zuo bi. ruo neng er zhe, bian sui wo qu.' wang shen huan yue, bao yan: 'da shan! jin wo shen zhe, ding zi ke de, yuan shu dao ren gong gei shi ling. qi fu ren zhe, da guo wang nu, dang wang wen zhi.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007b10] "At that time, the King entered and told his wife: 'Now there is a young and handsome 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) who has come from afar and wishes to beg for my body to be his slave. He also wants to take you as his maidservant. What should we do?' His wife said: 'What did the King reply?' The King said: 'I have already promised to be his slave, but I have not yet promised you.' Then the wife said: 'The King has abandoned me and is only thinking of himself, not intending to save me.' At that time, the wife followed the King out and said to the 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen): 'I wish to offer myself to serve the venerable one.'

[0007b10] “shí, wáng jí rù yǔ fū rén yán: ‘jīn yǒu dào rén, nián shǎo duān zhèng, cóng yuǎn fāng lái, yù qǐ wǒ shēn chí yòng zuò nú, jīn fù bìng yù suǒ qīng zuò bì, dāng rú zhī hé?’ qí fū rén yán: ‘wáng bào yún hé?’ wáng yán: ‘wǒ yǐ xǔ zhī zuò nú, wèi xǔ qīng ěr.’ shí fū rén yán: ‘wáng wèi xiāng qì, dú zì dé biàn, bù niàn dù wǒ.’ shì shí fū rén jí suí wáng chū, bái dào rén yán: ‘yuàn dé yǐ shēn gōng dào rén shǐ.’

[0007b10] "shi, wang ji ru yu fu ren yan: 'jin you dao ren, nian shao duan zheng, cong yuan fang lai, yu qi wo shen chi yong zuo nu, jin fu bing yu suo qing zuo bi, dang ru zhi he?' qi fu ren yan: 'wang bao yun he?' wang yan: 'wo yi xu zhi zuo nu, wei xu qing er.' shi fu ren yan: 'wang wei xiang qi, du zi de bian, bu nian du wo.' shi shi fu ren ji sui wang chu, bai dao ren yan: 'yuan de yi shen gong dao ren shi.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007b16] "Then the 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) said to the King again: 'Is this truly so? I want to leave now.' The King said to the 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen): 'I have never regretted giving alms in my life. I will follow the venerable one.' The 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) said: 'You must follow me, both barefoot, without wearing shoes. You must act like slaves and not hide anything.' The King and his wife both said: 'Yes, we obey. We dare not disobey the master's instructions.' At that time, the 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) led the slaves and maidservants away along the path. 文殊師利 [wen shu shi li] (Wenshushili) then used his transformation power to replace the King and his wife, managing the affairs of the country as before.

[0007b16] “shí pó luó mén fù yǔ wáng yán: ‘shěn shí ěr bù? wú jīn yù qù.’ wáng bái dào rén: ‘wǒ shēng bù shī, wèi céng yǒu huǐ, cóng dào rén ěr.’ shì xīn yuē: ‘rǔ dāng suí wǒ, jiē xī tú xiǎn, bù dé zhe lǚ, dāng rú nú fǎ, mò dé bù yǎn.’ wáng yǔ fū rén, jiē yán: ‘wéi nuò. cóng dà jiā jiào, bù gǎn wéi mìng.’ shí, pó luó mén biàn jiāng nú bì shè dào ér qù. wén shū shī lì jí yǐ huà rén, dài qí wáng chù jí fū rén shēn, lǐng lǐ guó shì lìng qí rú gù.

[0007b16] "shi po luo men fu yu wang yan: 'shen shi er bu? wu jin yu qu.' wang bai dao ren: 'wo sheng bu shi, wei ceng you hui, cong dao ren er.' shi xin yue: 'ru dang sui wo, jie xi tu xian, bu de zhe lu, dang ru nu fa, mo de bu yan.' wang yu fu ren, jie yan: 'wei nuo. cong da jia jiao, bu gan wei ming.' shi, po luo men bian jiang nu bi she dao er qu. wen shu shi li ji yi hua ren, dai qi wang chu ji fu ren shen, ling li guo shi ling qi ru gu.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007b23] "The King's wife, originally the daughter of a great king, was uncommonly beautiful, with soft hands and feet, having grown up in the inner palace and never experiencing cold or hardship. Moreover, she was heavily pregnant for several months. Walking barefoot with their master, her whole body ached, her soles were broken and she could not go on, exhausted, she fell behind. At that time, the 婆羅門 [po luo men] (Poluomen) looked back and scolded her, saying: 'You are a maidservant now, you must act like a maidservant, you cannot keep your former demeanor.' The wife knelt down and said: 'I dare not! I am just a little tired and stopping to rest.' [口 [kou]*戒 [jie]] (Jie) said: 'Come quickly, hurry and follow me.' They arrived at the city market and sold the slaves and maidservants separately, each to a different master several li apart.

[0007b23] “wáng fū rén zhě, běn dà guó wáng nǚ, duān zhèng wú shuāng, shǒu zú róu ruǎn, shēng zhǎng shēn gōng bù gèng hán kǔ. yòu fù zhòng shēn huái rèn shù yuè, bù suí dà jiā jǔ shēn jiē tòng, zú dǐ pò shāng bù néng fù qián, pí jí zài hòu. shí, pó luó mén hái gù mà yán: ‘rǔ jīn zuò bì, dāng rú bì fǎ, bù kě yǐ rǔ běn shí zhī tài.’ fū rén zhǎng guì bái yán: ‘bù gǎn! dàn xiǎo pí jí zhù zhǐ xī ěr.’ [kǒu*jiè] yán: ‘jí lái, cù suí wǒ hòu.’ qián dào guó shì bié mài nú bì, gè yǔ yī zhǔ xiāng qù shù lǐ.

[0007b23] "wang fu ren zhe, ben da guo wang nu, duan zheng wu shuang, shou zu rou ruan, sheng zhang shen gong bu geng han ku. you fu zhong shen huai ren shu yue, bu sui da jia ju shen jie tong, zu di po shang bu neng fu qian, pi ji zai hou. shi, po luo men hai gu ma yan: 'ru jin zuo bi, dang ru bi fa, bu ke yi ru ben shi zhi tai.' fu ren zhang gui bai yan: 'bu gan! dan xiao pi ji zhu zhi xi er.' [kou*jie] yan: 'ji lai, cu sui wo hou.' qian dao guo shi bie mai nu bi, ge yu yi zhu xiang qu shu li.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007c01] "At that time, a rich man bought this slave and made him guard his house, ordering him to collect taxes from all who buried their dead and not to move without permission. At that time, the maidservant's mistress was very jealous and made her work tirelessly day and night. A few days later, the maidservant gave birth to a son. The mistress angrily said: 'You are a maidservant, how can you have this child?' She immediately ordered to kill it. Following her mistress's instruction, she immediately killed her child and carried it to bury it. She went to where the slave was, and they met. She said: 'I gave birth to a son, who died today. I don't have money; can I bury him for free now?' The slave replied: 'The master is very strict! If he hears of this, my punishment will not be small. You hurry and take it away, find another place; you don't need to stay here.' Although the King and his wife met, they did not speak of their hardships, and neither harbored any resentment.

[0007c01] “shí, yǒu zhǎng zhě mǎi dé cǐ nú, shǐ shǒu sī shě, zhū yǒu mái zhě lìng shōu qí shuì bù dé wàng dòng. shì shí bì zhě, suǒ shǔ dà jiā fū rén shén dù, chén yè lìng zuò chū bù xiè xī. qí hòu shù rì shí bì miǎn shēn suǒ shēng nán ér, fū rén huì yán: ‘rǔ wèi bì shǐ, nà dé cǐ ér?’ cù qǔ shā zhī. suí dà jiā jiào, jí shā qí ér, chí xíng mái zhī. wǎng dào nú suǒ, dé gòng xiāng jiàn, yán: ‘shēng yī nán ér, jīn rì yǐ sǐ. bù chí qián lái, jīn níng kě dé táng mái zhī bù?’ qí nú bào yuē: ‘dà jiā shén jí! bèi wén cǐ zhě, zuì wǒ bù xiǎo. qīng cù chí qù, gèng suǒ yú chù, bù xū zhù cǐ.’ wáng yǔ fū rén suī dé xiāng jiàn, bù shuō qín kǔ, gè wú yuàn xīn.

[0007c01] "shi, you zhang zhe mai de ci nu, shi shou si she, zhu you mai zhe ling shou qi shui bu de wang dong. shi shi bi zhe, suo shu da jia fu ren shen du, chen ye ling zuo chu bu xie xi. qi hou shu ri shi bi mian shen suo sheng nan er, fu ren hui yan: 'ru wei bi shi, na de ci er?' cu qu sha zhi. sui da jia jiao, ji sha qi er, chi xing mai zhi. wang dao nu suo, de gong xiang jian, yan: 'sheng yi nan er, jin ri yi si. bu chi qian lai, jin ning ke de tang mai zhi bu?' qi nu bao yue: 'da jia shen ji! bei wen ci zhe, zui wo bu xiao. qing cu chi qu, geng suo yu chu, bu xu zhu ci.' wang yu fu ren sui de xiang jian, bu shuo qin ku, ge wu yuan xin.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007c12] "After a moment of such conversation, as if in a dream, the King and his wife naturally returned to their original positions on the main hall of the inner palace, just as before. All the ministers and palace women were also as they were, and the born prince was also naturally alive. The King and his wife doubted in their hearts, wondering how this had come to be. 文殊師利 [wen shu shi li] (Wenshushili) was in the empty sky, sitting on a seven-jeweled lotus flower, manifesting his form and appearance, and praising them, saying: 'Excellent! Your generosity is truly sincere like this.' The King and his wife rejoiced greatly and immediately prostrated themselves before him. 文殊師利 [wen shu shi li] (Wenshushili) then expounded the Dharma to them, and the three thousand 剎土 [sha tu] (chatu) vibrated greatly. All the people in the country developed the supreme true aspiration for enlightenment, and the King and his wife immediately attained the dharma-endurance of non-arising."

[0007c12] “rú shì yán yǔ xū yú zhī qǐng, huǎng hū rú mèng, wáng jí fū rén zì rán hái zài běn guó zhōng gōng zhèng diàn shàng zuò, rú qián bù yì, jí zhū qún chén hòu gōng cāi nǚ, jiē xī rú gù, suǒ shēng tài zi yì zì rán huó. wáng jí fū rén xīn nèi zì yí, hé yuán zhì cǐ? wén shū shī lì zài xū kōng zhōng, zuò qī bǎo lián huá shàng, xiàn shēn sè xiāng, zàn yán: ‘shàn zāi! jīn rǔ bù shī, zhì chéng rú shì.’ wáng yǔ fū rén yǒng yuè huān xǐ, jí qián zuò lǐ. wén shū shī lì wèi shuō jīng fǎ, sān qiān shā tǔ wèi dà zhèn dòng, fù yī guó rén, jiē fā wú shàng zhèng zhēn dào yì, wáng yǔ fū rén yīng shí jí dé bù qǐ fǎ rěn.”

[0007c12] "ru shi yan yu xu yu zhi qing, huang hu ru meng, wang ji fu ren zi ran hai zai ben guo zhong gong zheng dian shang zuo, ru qian bu yi, ji zhu qun chen hou gong cai nu, jie xi ru gu, suo sheng tai zi yi zi ran huo. wang ji fu ren xin nei zi yi, he yuan zhi ci? wen shu shi li zai xu kong zhong, zuo qi bao lian hua shang, xian shen se xiang, zan yan: 'shan zai! jin ru bu shi, zhi cheng ru shi.' wang yu fu ren yong yue huan xi, ji qian zuo li. wen shu shi li wei shuo jing fa, san qian sha tu wei da zhen dong, fu yi guo ren, jie fa wu shang zheng zhen dao yi, wang yu fu ren ying shi ji de bu qi fa ren."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007c21] [Buddha] (Fo) told 阿難 [a nan] (Anan): "The King at that time was myself. The wife at that time is now 俱夷 [ju yi] (Juyi). The prince at that time is now 羅云 [luo yun] (Luoyun)."

[0007c21] fú gào ā nán: “shì shí wáng zhě, jí wǒ shēn shì. shí fū rén zhě, jīn jù yí shì. shí tài zi zhě jīn luó yún shì.”

[0007c21] fu gao a nan: "shi shi wang zhe, ji wo shen shi. shi fu ren zhe, jin ju yi shi. shi tai zi zhe jin luo yun shi."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0007c23] [Buddha] (Fo) said: "阿難 [a nan] (Anan)! In my past lives, I practiced generosity in this way, not sparing my body or life for the sake of all beings, for countless eons, without resentment or regret, without seeking glory, thereby attaining perfect enlightenment. A [Bodhisattva's] (Pusa's) practice of generosity, reaching boundless compassion and wisdom, is like this."

[0007c23] fú yán: “ā nán! wǒ sù mìng shí, bù shī rú shì, yòng yī qiè rén gù bù xī shēn mìng, zhì wú shù jié wú yǒu hèn huǐ, wú suǒ róng jì, zì zhì zhèng jué. pú sà cí huì dù wú jí xíng bù shī rú shì.”

[0007c23] fu yan: "a nan! wo su ming shi, bu shi ru shi, yong yi qie ren gu bu xi shen ming, zhi wu shu jie wu you hen hui, wu suo rong ji, zi zhi zheng jue. pu sa ci hui du wu ji xing bu shi ru shi."