《宋吏国》【《罗刹》】
Sòng History’s Country [(On) Rākṣasas]
宋有一国,与罗刹相近。
[In the] Sòng [Dynasty, there] was one country, [that was] with rākṣasas close to each another.
[Note 1: Some sources say this occurred in the Sòng of the Southern Dynasties (南朝宋), while some say there is a similar case in India in the Buddha’s time.]
罗刹数入境,食人无度。
[When a] number [of] rākṣasas entered [the] country, [they] ate people without knowing [any] limits.
[Note 2: Rākṣasas are potentially violent ghosts who eat human flesh.]
王与罗刹约言:「自今已后,国中人家,各专一日,当分送往。勿复枉杀。」
[The] King with [the] rākṣasas [made a] promise, saying, ‘From today onwards, households within [my] country, each exclusively, [on each] one day, will assign [a person to be] sent [to] go [to you. Do [not] unjustly kill.’
[Note 3: This agreement was reluctantly made to reduce killings, while preparing those about to be killed.]
有奉佛家,惟有一子,始年十岁,次当充行。
[There] was [a] family [that] revered [the] Buddha, [that] only had one child, [a] youth [of] ten years [old, who was] next to serve [and] depart.
[Note 4: The child was probably chosen despite being young by drawing lots.]
舍别之际,父母哀号,便至心念佛,以佛威神力故,大鬼不得近。
[When] at the time [of] leaving [and] farewell, [the] father [and] mother [were] pitifully crying, then [telling their child to be with the] sincere mind, [to be] mindful [of] Buddha, [as] with [the] Buddha’s majestic supernormal [power] thus, great ghosts cannot [come] near.
[Note 5: Although naturally fearful, the parents already had Faith in the power of mindfulness of Buddha. When there is mindfulness of Buddha, there will be protective light extending for more than 33 metres, according to an account. (See ‘Related Case’ below.]
明日,见子尚在,欢喜同归。
[The] next day, seeing [their] child [was] still alive, [they] joyfully returned together.
于兹遂绝,国人赖焉。出《幽明录》【刘义庆撰】
From this [moment], thereupon, [disturbances] disappeared, [as the] people of the country depended on this [practice]. From ‘Record [Of The] Hidden [And] Visible’ [or ‘Darkness And Light’] [By Liú Yìqìng compiled]
[Note 6: If all in the country practised mindfulness of Buddha, with many overlapping radiuses of protection created, thus protecting one another, the people naturally became safe from malevolent ghosts.]
《太平广记》
Extensive Records [Of The] Tàipíng [Era]
宋 · 李昉等人编
Compiled [by] Sòng [Dynasty’s] Lǐ Fǎng, et al
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关公案
Related Case:
念佛者不受恶鬼与猛兽所害
Mindfulness Of Āmítuófó Protects From Evil Ghosts & Ferocious Beasts
https://purelanders.com/2021/01/04/how-are-those-mindful-of-amituofo-protected-from-evil-ghosts-and-ferocious-beasts