CONTEMPLATION SUTRA

　　THE SUTRA ON CONTEMPLATION

　　OF AMITAYUS

　　觀無量壽經

　　delivered by Shakyamuni Buddha

　　Translated into Chinese during the Liu-Sung dynasty

　　劉宋西域叁藏法師畺良耶舍 譯

　　by the Tripitaka Master Kalayashas from Central Asia

　　translated from Chinese by Hisao Inagaki

　　Preface

　　[1] Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying on the Vulture Peak in Rajagriha [341a] with a large assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks. He was also accompanied by thirty-two thousand bodhisattvas led by Manjushri, the Dharma Prince.

　　[1] 如是我聞。一時佛在王舍城耆阇崛山中。與大比丘衆千二百五十人俱。菩薩叁萬二千。文殊師利法王子。而爲上首。

　　King Bimbisara imprisoned by his son Ajatashatru

　　[2] At that time, in the great city of Rajagriha, there was a prince named Ajatashatru. Instigated by his wicked friend, Devadatta, he seized his father, King Bimbisara, confined him in a room with seven-fold walls, and forbade all the court officials to visit the king.

　　Vaidehi, the king”s consort, was devoted to him. After having bathed and cleansed herself, she spread over her body ghee and honey mixed to a paste with wheat flour, filled her ornaments with grape juice and secretly offered this food and drink to the king. He ate the flour paste and drank the juice and then asked for water. Having rinsed his mouth, he joined his palms in reverence and, facing the Vulture Peak, worshipped the World-Honored One from afar, said, "Mahamaudgalyayana is my close friend. I beseech you to have pity on me and send him here to give me the eight precepts."

　　Then Mahamaudgalyayana flew as swift as a hawk to the king. Day after day he came like this to give him the eight precepts. The World-Honored One also sent the Venerable Purna likewise to the palace to expound the Dharma to the king. Three weeks passed in this way. Because he had eaten the flour-paste and heard the Dharma, he appeared peaceful and contented.

　　[2] 爾時王舍大城有一太子。名阿阇世。隨順調達惡友之教。收執父王頻婆娑羅。幽閉置于七重室內。製諸群臣一不得往。國大夫人名韋提希。恭敬大王。澡浴清淨。以酥蜜和糗用塗其身。諸璎珞中盛葡萄漿密以上王。爾時大王。食糗飲漿。求水漱口。漱口畢已。合掌恭敬。向耆阇崛山遙禮世尊。而作是言。大目乾連是吾親友。願興慈悲授我八戒。時目乾連如鷹隼飛疾至王所。日日如是授王八戒。世尊亦遣尊者富樓那。爲王說法。如是時間經叁七日。王食糗蜜得聞法故。顔色和悅。

　　Queen Vaidehi”s imprisonment

　　[3] Then Ajatashatru asked the guard, "Is my father still alive

　　"

　　The guard replied, "Great king, his consort spreads flour paste over her body and fills her ornaments with grape juice and offers these to the king. The monks Mahamaudgalyayana and Purna come here through the air to expound the Dharma to him. It is impossible to stop them."

　　Hearing this, Ajatashatru became furious with his mother and said, "Because you are an accomplice to that enemy, mother, you too are an enemy. Those monks are evil, for with their delusive magic they have kept this wicked king alive for many days." So saying, he drew his sharp sword, intending to kill her.

　　At that time the king had a minister named Candraprabha who was intelligent and wise. Together with Jivaka he made obeisances to the king and said, "Great King, according to a certain Vedic scripture, since the beginning of this cosmic period, there have been eighteen thousand wicked kings who have killed their fathers out of their desire to usurp the throne, but we have never heard of anyone who has committed the outrage of killing his mother. Your Majesty, if you commit such an outrage, you will bring disgrace upon the ksatriya class. As your ministers, we cannot bear to hear what people will say. As this would be the act of an outcaste, we could no longer remain here."

　　Having spoken these words, the two ministers grasped their swords and stepped back. Agitated and frightened, Ajatashatru said to Jivaka, "Are you not on my side

　　"

　　Jivaka replied, "Your Majesty, please restrain yourself and do not kill your mother."

　　Hearing this, the king repented and begged their forgiveness. [341b] Having thrown away his sword, he stopped …

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