The Sūtra on King Ajātaśatru’s Questions on the Five Heinous Crimes (Asheshi Wang Wen Wu Ni Jing) 阿闍世王問五逆經

Translated by Fa Ju

Colophon

第 14 冊　No. 0508 阿闍世王問五逆經 西晉 法炬譯 共 1 卷 Volume 14, No. 508; The Sūtra on King Ajātaśatru’s Questions on the Five Heinous Crimes (Asheshi Wang Wen Wu Ni Jing); Translated by Fa Ju in the Western Jin in 1 scroll

Notes

Date 290-307 from Lancaster (Lancaster 2004, 'K 791')

English Translations

Shaku, Shingan 2022, The King Ajātaśatru Sūtra: A Translation of the Ajātaśatrukaukṛtyavinodana Sūtra from the Chinese of Lokakṣema Together with Three Short Sūtras on Ajātaśatru. Raleigh, North Carolina: lulu.com.

Summary

This text recounts a conversation between King Ajatasattu and the Buddha regarding the consequences of the five rebellious acts, particularly the king's own patricide. Devadatta attempts to reassure the king that he won't suffer for his actions, but the Buddha clarifies that Ajatasattu will initially fall into hell but will eventually progress through realms and ultimately become a Pratyekabuddha. The Buddha emphasizes the importance of intent and its impact on one's karmic journey. Finally, Jivaka, a prince, confirms the Buddha's words, but the king remains skeptical about visiting the Buddha until he is sure that the Buddha is truly all-knowing. (AI generated)

Primary Source

Fa Ju, 《阿闍世王問五逆經》 'Asheshi Wang Wen Wu Ni Jing,' in Taishō shinshū Daizōkyō 《大正新脩大藏經》, in Takakusu Junjiro, ed., (Tokyo: Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō Kankōkai, 1988), Vol. 14, No. 508, Accessed 2016-09-18, http://tripitaka.cbeta.org/T14n0508.

References

  1. Lancaster, L.R. 2004, The Korean Buddhist Canon: A Descriptive Catalogue, http://www.acmuller.net/descriptive_catalogue.

Collection vocabulary analysis