Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
This is the Chinese Buddhist Canon known as the Taisho, or more specifically the “Taisho Revised Tripitaka” (Takakusu Junjiro 1988). The collection consists of thousands of scrolls including foundational texts such as Agamas, Mahayana Sutras, Vinaya, Abhidharma, Tantras, Jatakas and Avadanas (former birth stoeries), commentaries, histories, catalog...
Sutta 67: The Sutra on Sacrificing One's Body to Save Merchants
[full title]: Collection of the Six Perfections, Scroll 6 (nr. 67)
[full title]: Sutra of the Collection of the Six Perfections; 六度集經 [liù dù jí jīng] (liu du ji jing)
[parallels]: Date 251 from Lancaster (2004, 'K 206')
[parallels]: English from Pali: Fausboll, V, and T. W. Rhys Davids. 1880. Buddhist Birth Stories: Or, Jataka Tales. London: Trubner and Co.
[parallels]: English Translations: Shyu, C.M. 2008, A Few Good Women: A Study of the Liu Du Ji Jing (A scripture on the Collection of the Six Perfections) from literary, Artistic, and Gender Perspectives (Doctoral dissertation, Cornell University). Partial (Stories 18, 21, 22, 28, 32, 47, 59, 60, 63, 67, 72, 79, 85, and 90).
[primary source]: Kang Seng Hui, translator, 《六度集經》 'Liu Du Ji Jing,' in Taishō shinshū Daizōkyō 《大正新脩大藏經》, in Takakusu Junjiro, ed., (Tokyo: Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō Kankōkai, 1988), Vol. 3, No. 152
[colophon]: 六度集經 吳 康僧會譯 共 8 卷 Scripture on the Collection of the Six Perfections (Liu Du Ji Jing), Translated by Kang Seng Hui in the Wu in 8 scrolls
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
殺身濟賈人經
shā shēn jì jiǎ rén jīng
sha shen ji jia ren jing
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0036b01] "Once, the Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]), along with five hundred merchants, entered the great sea (巨海 [ju hai]) to collect various treasures. After several months at sea, the treasures they had acquired heavily laden their ship. As they were about to return to their homeland, they encountered a fierce storm. Thunder and lightning shook the earth, and water spirits (水神 [shui shen]) gathered, surrounding them like a city, fire coming out of their eyes, and waves surging and crashing against the mountains. Everyone cried out: 'We are going to die!' Their faces changed in terror, and they looked up to Heaven (天 [tian]) begging for mercy. The Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) was sorrowful and thought: 'My quest for Buddhahood (佛 [fu]) is only for the sake of sentient beings (眾生 [zhong sheng]). The sea spirits (海神 [hai shen]) detest corpses above all else. To risk one's life to save the multitude, this is indeed the noble profession of a Bodhisattva (開士 [kai shi]). If I do not pour my blood into the sea, the sea spirits (海神 [hai shen]) will be displeased, and I believe the sailors will never reach the shore.' He said to everyone: 'All of you, hold hands and support each other, and help me with my body.' Everyone complied. The Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) immediately drew his knife and slashed himself. The sea spirits (海神 [hai shen]) were displeased by this, and the boat was carried to shore, and everyone was saved.
[0036b01] “昔者菩薩,與五百商人,俱入巨海欲採眾寶.入海數月,其所獲寶,重載盈舟.將旋本土,道逢飄風,雷電震地,水神雲集,四周若城,眼中出火,波涌灌山,眾人嚾啼曰: ‘吾等死矣! ’ 恐怖易色,仰天求哀.菩薩愴然,心生計曰: ‘吾之求佛,但為眾生耳.海神所惡,死屍為甚.危命濟眾,斯乃開士之尚業矣.吾不以身血注海,海神惡之,意者船人終不渡岸.’ 謂眾人曰: ‘爾等屬手相持并援吾身.’ 眾人承命,菩薩即引刀自[利-禾+玄].海神惡焉,漂舟上岸,眾人普濟.
[0036b01] “xī zhě pú sà, yǔ wǔ bǎi shāng rén, jù rù jù hǎi yù cǎi zhòng bǎo. rù hǎi shù yuè, qí suǒ huò bǎo, zhòng zài yíng zhōu. jiāng xuán běn tǔ, dào féng piāo fēng, léi diàn zhèn de, shuǐ shén yún jí, sì zhōu ruò chéng, yǎn zhōng chū huǒ, bō yǒng guàn shān, zhòng rén huān tí yuē: ‘wú děng sǐ yǐ! ’ kǒng bù yì sè, yǎng tiān qiú āi. pú sà chuàng rán, xīn shēng jì yuē: ‘wú zhī qiú fú, dàn wèi zhòng shēng ěr. hǎi shén suǒ è, sǐ shī wèi shén. wēi mìng jì zhòng, sī nǎi kāi shì zhī shàng yè yǐ. wú bù yǐ shēn xuè zhù hǎi, hǎi shén è zhī, yì zhě chuán rén zhōng bù dù àn.’ wèi zhòng rén yuē: ‘ěr děng shǔ shǒu xiāng chí bìng yuán wú shēn.’ zhòng rén chéng mìng, pú sà jí yǐn dāo zì [lì-hé+xuán]. hǎi shén è yān, piào zhōu shàng àn, zhòng rén pǔ jì.
[0036b01] "xi zhe pu sa, yu wu bai shang ren, ju ru ju hai yu cai zhong bao. ru hai shu yue, qi suo huo bao, zhong zai ying zhou. jiang xuan ben tu, dao feng piao feng, lei dian zhen de, shui shen yun ji, si zhou ruo cheng, yan zhong chu huo, bo yong guan shan, zhong ren huan ti yue: 'wu deng si yi! ' kong bu yi se, yang tian qiu ai. pu sa chuang ran, xin sheng ji yue: 'wu zhi qiu fu, dan wei zhong sheng er. hai shen suo e, si shi wei shen. wei ming ji zhong, si nai kai shi zhi shang ye yi. wu bu yi shen xue zhu hai, hai shen e zhi, yi zhe chuan ren zhong bu du an.' wei zhong ren yue: 'er deng shu shou xiang chi bing yuan wu shen.' zhong ren cheng ming, pu sa ji yin dao zi [li-he+xuan]. hai shen e yan, piao zhou shang an, zhong ren pu ji.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0036b12] "The sailors embraced the corpse and cried out to Heaven (天 [tian]), saying: 'This must be a Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]), not an ordinary person.' They prostrated themselves, crying out to Heaven (天 [tian]): 'It would be better for us to perish here than for such a virtuous person to die!' Their words were sincere and moved all the devas (諸天 [zhu tian]) above. The God Śakra (天帝釋 [tian di shi]) saw the Bodhisattva's (菩薩 [pu sa]) boundless compassion, which was rare in the world. Śakra (帝釋 [di shi]) descended and said: 'This Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) of utmost virtue will become a Great Sage (聖雄 [sheng xiong]). I will now revive him.' He poured divine medicine (天神藥 [tian shen yao]) into his mouth and smeared it all over the corpse. The Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) immediately revived, suddenly sat up, and greeted everyone. Śakra (帝釋 [di shi]) filled their boat with precious jewels, a thousand times more than before. They immediately returned to their homeland, and all their relatives rejoiced. They helped the poor and needy, bestowed kindness upon all sentient beings (眾生 [zhong sheng]), expounded the Buddhist scriptures (佛經 [fu jing]), and enlightened the ignorant. The king (國王 [guo wang]) of that country (國 [guo]) admired the Bodhisattva's (菩薩 [pu sa]) virtue and went to receive his pure teachings. The ruler was benevolent, the ministers loyal, and the entire land observed the precepts. Every family had filial children, the country (國 [guo]) was prosperous, and poisons vanished. The common people (黎庶 [li shu]) rejoiced, lived long lives, and were reborn in Heaven (天 [tian]), eternally free from all suffering. The Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) diligently practiced without ceasing for countless kalpas, eventually attaining Buddhahood (佛 [fu])."
[0036b12] “船人抱屍號天而哭曰: ‘斯必菩薩非凡庸之徒.’ 躃踊呼天: ‘寧令吾等命殞于茲,無喪上德之士矣.’ 其言真誠,上感諸天,天帝釋覩菩薩之弘慈覩世希有,帝釋身下,曰: ‘斯至德菩薩將為聖雄,今自活之.’ 以天神藥灌其口中,并通塗屍,菩薩即蘇,忽然起坐與眾相勞.帝釋以名寶滿其舟中,千倍于前,即還本土,九親相見靡不歡悅,賙窮濟乏,惠逮眾生,敷宣佛經,開化愚冥.其國王服菩薩德,詣稟清化,君仁臣忠,率土持戒,家有孝子,國豐毒歇,黎庶欣欣,壽終生天,長離眾苦.菩薩累劫精進不休,遂至得佛.”
[0036b12] “chuán rén bào shī hào tiān ér kū yuē: ‘sī bì pú sà fēi fán yōng zhī tú.’ bì yǒng hū tiān: ‘níng lìng wú děng mìng yǔn yú zī, wú sàng shàng dé zhī shì yǐ.’ qí yán zhēn chéng, shàng gǎn zhū tiān, tiān dì shì dǔ pú sà zhī hóng cí dǔ shì xī yǒu, dì shì shēn xià, yuē: ‘sī zhì dé pú sà jiāng wèi shèng xióng, jīn zì huó zhī.’ yǐ tiān shén yào guàn qí kǒu zhōng, bìng tōng tú shī, pú sà jí sū, hū rán qǐ zuò yǔ zhòng xiāng láo. dì shì yǐ míng bǎo mǎn qí zhōu zhōng, qiān bèi yú qián, jí hái běn tǔ, jiǔ qīn xiāng jiàn mí bù huān yuè, zhōu qióng jì fá, huì dǎi zhòng shēng, fū xuān fú jīng, kāi huà yú míng. qí guó wáng fú pú sà dé, yì bǐng qīng huà, jūn rén chén zhōng, lǜ tǔ chí jiè, jiā yǒu xiào zi, guó fēng dú xiē, lí shù xīn xīn, shòu zhōng shēng tiān, zhǎng lí zhòng kǔ. pú sà lèi jié jīng jìn bù xiū, suì zhì dé fú.”
[0036b12] "chuan ren bao shi hao tian er ku yue: 'si bi pu sa fei fan yong zhi tu.' bi yong hu tian: 'ning ling wu deng ming yun yu zi, wu sang shang de zhi shi yi.' qi yan zhen cheng, shang gan zhu tian, tian di shi du pu sa zhi hong ci du shi xi you, di shi shen xia, yue: 'si zhi de pu sa jiang wei sheng xiong, jin zi huo zhi.' yi tian shen yao guan qi kou zhong, bing tong tu shi, pu sa ji su, hu ran qi zuo yu zhong xiang lao. di shi yi ming bao man qi zhou zhong, qian bei yu qian, ji hai ben tu, jiu qin xiang jian mi bu huan yue, zhou qiong ji fa, hui dai zhong sheng, fu xuan fu jing, kai hua yu ming. qi guo wang fu pu sa de, yi bing qing hua, jun ren chen zhong, lu tu chi jie, jia you xiao zi, guo feng du xie, li shu xin xin, shou zhong sheng tian, zhang li zhong ku. pu sa lei jie jing jin bu xiu, sui zhi de fu."
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0036b24] The Buddha (佛 [fu]) told his bhikkhus (諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]): "The one who sacrificed his body to save the multitude was I myself. The God Śakra (天帝釋 [tian di shi]) was Maitreya (彌勒 [mi lei]). The five hundred merchants are the five hundred Arhats (應真 [ying zhen]) present in this assembly today. The Bodhisattva's (菩薩 [pu sa]) sharp resolve in the perfection of diligence is like this."
[0036b24] 佛告諸比丘: “殺身濟眾者,吾身是也.天帝釋者,彌勒是.五百商人者,今坐中五百應真是也.菩薩銳志度無極精進如是.”
[0036b24] fú gào zhū bǐ qiū: “shā shēn jì zhòng zhě, wú shēn shì yě. tiān dì shì zhě, mí lēi shì. wǔ bǎi shāng rén zhě, jīn zuò zhōng wǔ bǎi yīng zhēn shì yě. pú sà ruì zhì dù wú jí jīng jìn rú shì.”
[0036b24] fu gao zhu bi qiu: "sha shen ji zhong zhe, wu shen shi ye. tian di shi zhe, mi lei shi. wu bai shang ren zhe, jin zuo zhong wu bai ying zhen shi ye. pu sa rui zhi du wu ji jing jin ru shi."