Translated by Zhi Qian, Upāsaka from Yuezhi in Wu Kingdom
The Buddha said: “In the past, there was a Bodhisattva who manifested in the world as a deer with nine colors. The deer’s fur bore nine distinct hues. Its antlers were pure white like snow. This deer often dwelled along the banks of the Ganges River, drinking water and eating grass, and was accompanied by a crow as its companion.
“At that time, a person appeared in the river, drowning and being swept downstream by the current. This person occasionally struggled to surface, but was then submerged again by the rushing waters. Fortunately, he encountered a tree, clung to it, and looked up toward the sky, crying out: ‘Mountain gods! Tree gods! All celestials! Nāgas! Why do you not show me mercy?’ Upon hearing this person’s cries, the deer immediately rushed to the water’s edge and said to the drowning man: ‘Do not be afraid. You may ride upon my back and hold on to my antlers. I shall carry you out of the current and bring you to the shore.’
“The deer exerted all its strength and, completely exhausted, rescued the drowning man and brought him ashore. The man dismounted from the deer, circumambulated it three times, prostrated in homage, and pleaded with the Nine-Colored Deer, requesting to become its servant, to gather water and grass in order to make offerings. The deer said: ‘That will not be necessary, sir. Let us now part ways and return to our respective paths. If you truly wish to repay this kindness, then do not speak to anyone about my being here. Humans covet my skin and antlers; if they know, they will surely come to kill me.’ Thus the drowning man accepted the deer’s exhortation and left.
“At that time, the king’s consort had a dream during the night of the Nine-Colored Deer, and she thus developed a strong desire to obtain its hide and antlers. She feigned illness and would not rise from bed. The king asked her: ‘Why will you not get up?’
“The consort replied: ‘Last night, I dreamed of an extraordinary deer. This deer had fur in nine colors, and its antlers were pure white like snow. I wish to make a garment from its hide and a fly-whisk handle from its antlers. Your Majesty must obtain this deer hide and antlers for me. If you cannot obtain them, I shall surely die.’
“The king told the consort: ‘Please rise. I am the king of this land—what could I possibly fail to obtain?’
“Thus the king ordered heralds to announce throughout the land: ‘Whoever can obtain the Nine-Colored Deer shall be given half the kingdom to govern, along with a golden bowl filled with silver millet and a silver bowl filled with golden millet.’
“When the drowning man heard of the king’s generous reward, an evil thought arose in his heart: ‘If I reveal the whereabouts of the deer, I can obtain wealth and status. A deer is just a beast—what difference does it make if it lives or dies?’ So he told the recruiters: ‘I know where the Nine-Colored Deer is.’
“The recruiters brought him before the king and said: ‘This man knows where the Nine-Colored Deer is.’
“When the king heard this, he was overjoyed and said: ‘Once you obtain that deer’s hide and antlers, bring them to me, and I will grant you half the kingdom.’
“As they spoke, sores immediately broke out upon the drowning man’s face. The man said: ‘Although this deer is a beast, it possesses great miraculous power. Your Majesty should dispatch many soldiers and men if you hope to capture it.’
“The king immediately dispatched a large force to the banks of the Ganges. The crow, perched in a tree, saw from afar that the king and his men were approaching and suspected they had come to kill the Nine-Colored Deer. He immediately called out to the deer: ‘Get up! The king has sent people to capture you!’ The deer, being in a deep sleep, did not hear. The crow called again: ‘Get up, good friend! The king’s soldiers are almost upon you!’ Still, the deer did not awaken. So the crow flew down from the tree, stood upon the deer’s head, pecked at its ears, and cried: ‘Get up, good friend! The king’s soldiers have already surrounded you completely!’
“The deer was suddenly startled awake and, looking around, saw there was no escape. It then walked toward the king’s chariot. A man beside the king drew his bow, preparing to shoot. But the king ordered: ‘Do not shoot this deer. This deer is extraordinary—could it be a celestial deity?’ The deer then spoke: ‘Do not shoot me. Please grant me a moment, for I once did a great service to this very kingdom.’ The king asked: ‘What service did you render?’ The deer replied: ‘I once saved the life of a subject of Your Majesty’s kingdom.’ Then the deer knelt for a long time before speaking again to the king: ‘Who revealed my whereabouts?’ The king said: ‘It was the man by the chariot with sores upon his face.’
“The deer looked up at the man and could not hold back its tears. ‘Your Majesty, this man was once drowning in the river, swept away by the current. He struggled to surface, but was repeatedly submerged, until he was fortunate enough to find a tree to cling to. He looked up to the sky and cried out: “Mountain gods! Tree gods! All celestials! Nāgas! Why do you not show me mercy?” At that moment, I saw him. Without regard for my own life, I leaped into the river and saved him. This man once vowed never to return and see me again. Human beings are fickle and inconstant—worse than drifting wood in the water!’
“When the king heard the words of the Nine-Colored Deer, his face showed shame and remorse. He said: ‘The people of my kingdom lack righteousness.’ The king then admonished his followers three times: ‘How can this be? How can this be? To receive kindness and then seek to kill the benefactor!’ The king immediately released the Nine-Colored Deer and issued an edict: ‘Any citizen who drives away this deer shall be executed along with five generations of their clan.’ The king then returned to the palace, and the deer also returned to its dwelling.
“At that time, several thousand of deer came to rely upon the Nine-Colored Deer and were no longer harmed. They drank water and grazed on grass together and did not damage the crops or grains planted by the people. From then on, the winds and rains came in due season, the five grains flourished, and the people were free from illness. In that time, the world was at peace. Living beings each reached the end of their lives and departed through transformation.”
The Buddha told his disciples: “Though the Bodhisattva was then a beast, he did not abandon the mind of compassion. Humans and beasts alike must be saved together.
“At that time, the king’s consort was the former body of Sundarī. The crow of that time was the former body of Ānanda. The drowning man was the former body of Devadatta. And the Nine-Colored Deer was my former body. Devadatta has harbored hatred toward me through countless lifetimes. Ānanda, with a vast aspiration, seeks to attain the true path.”
A Bodhisattva must diligently undergo the hardships of cultivating the Pāramitās and must practice forbearance in this very way.
Dharma Torch 