Translated in the Qifu Qin Dynasty by the Śramaṇa Shi Shengjian
Heard like this.
At one time, the Buddha was in Śrāvastī, at Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Monastery, together with one thousand two hundred and fifty great bhikṣus.
At that time, there was a man who had not married. He went to Śrāvastī, took a woman of Śrāvastī as his wife, and had two sons. The elder son was seven years old, and the younger son was still in his mother’s arms. The woman was again pregnant at that time and was close to giving birth. According to the custom of Sindhu, when a woman was about to give birth, she was to return to the country of her parents. At that time, the husband and wife rode in a cart, carrying their two children. When they were about to arrive in Śrāvastī, they stopped along the way to rest, eat, and release the ox. At that time, a poisonous snake coiled around the ox’s leg. The ox then tried to break free from the snake, but the snake coiled around the ox even more tightly, and the ox was killed by the poisonous snake. The snake then left the ox, coiled around the man, and killed him as well. From afar, the wife saw this scene and trembled in fear. She wept and called out to heaven, but no one came to rescue or protect her.
At that time, the sun was about to set. Not far from that place, there was a stream. At the water mill, there were households where people lived. The mother was pressed by the setting of the sun and feared being robbed by thieves. She left the ox cart behind and took her two sons to the bank of the water. The mother left the elder son at the water’s edge, and she herself carried the younger son across the water. Just when she had reached the middle depth of the water, a wolf came running to eat her elder son. The elder son called out to his mother. The mother turned her head to look and saw that the elder son was being eaten by the wolf. In alarm and fear, she lost her grip and dropped the younger son she was holding into the river. The younger son sank and disappeared with the current. The mother became even more distressed. In a dazed and confused state, with her mind unclear, she suddenly fell into the water and miscarried.
The woman then crossed the river. She asked a passerby, “Are my parents at home well?”
The passerby answered, “Yesterday your family’s home caught fire, and everything was burned. Your parents were also burned completely, with nothing remaining.”
She again asked the passerby, “Are my parents-in-law well?”
The passerby answered, “Yesterday, very fierce thieves harmed their household. Your parents-in-law both died, and not one person survived.”
After the woman heard these reports, she was afflicted with sorrow and fear. She became bewildered and confused, with her consciousness unclear, and she did not even recognize things. The woman took off her clothes, naked, and ran about wildly with her mind unclear. When travelers on the road saw her, they were greatly astonished. They all said that she had been possessed by evil and disturbed by ghosts. Some said that sorrow had made her mind unclear. Some spat upon her, despised her, and walked around her. Others pitied and grieved for her.
At that time, the Buddha was in Śrāvastī, at Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Monastery. The woman ran swiftly toward that place. She passed through Jetavana and happened upon the World-Honored One teaching the Dharma in the great assembly. The four assemblies of disciples, the devas, nāgas, and spirits, as well as all beings of the ten directions, were all listening to the scripture. The Dharma of all Buddhas can cause the blind to open their eyes and be able to see the Buddha. It can cause the deaf to be able to hear. It can cause the mute to speak. It can cause illnesses to be removed and cured. It can cause those who are timid and weak to become strong and healthy. It can cause those injured by poison so that the poison does not circulate within their bodies. It can cause those whose minds are disturbed to become settled.
At that time, when the woman saw the Buddha, her thoughts immediately became settled, and she was no longer sorrowful. Seeing that she was naked, she felt ashamed and lay prostrate on the ground. The Buddha called to Ānanda, “Bring clothing for the woman.” Ānanda accepted the instruction and brought clothing for the woman. After the woman put on the clothing, she bowed her head to the Buddha’s feet, withdrew, and sat to one side. The Buddha immediately gave instruction on the retribution of offenses and the retribution of blessings, and taught the scripture for her: “Human life is impermanent and changes. After meeting, there is separation. After birth, there is death. There is not one thing that, after appearing, does not eventually come to an end. All things are empty by nature. The karma that worldly people themselves create arises and ceases, turning in the five destinies, like a cartwheel. If one understands the meaning of emptiness, one will no longer undergo future existence.”
After the woman heard the Buddha’s instruction, her mind opened in understanding, and she aroused the aspiration for the Unsurpassed and Perfect Enlightenment. She immediately stood on the ground of non-retrogression, and her sorrow was removed and cured, like the sky containing only the sun, with no clouds to cover it.
When the Buddha spoke these teachings, the four assemblies rejoiced. The devas, nāgas, and spirits bowed their heads and withdrew.
Dharma Torch 