月光菩薩經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was dwelling at the Veṇuvana Vihāra in the city of Rājagṛha, expounding the Dharma to the great assembly of bhikṣus. At that time the Venerable Śāriputra and Mahāmaudgalyāyana came before the Buddha, prostrated themselves with their five limbs touching the ground in homage at his feet, and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One, today we cannot bear to behold your parinirvāṇa; therefore we now beg leave to enter cessation before you."

At that moment, among the assembly there was a bhikṣu who, joining his palms toward the Buddha, said:

"World-Honored One, for what reason do the two Venerables Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana come today to beg of you that they may enter cessation first? We pray that the World-Honored One will resolve our doubts."

The World-Honored One said to the bhikṣu:

"Listen attentively, and I will explain to you the reason for this. The two, Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana, have extinguished the defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion. What was to be done has been done; the holy life has been established; they will receive no further existence. It is not only today that these two wish to enter cessation; in a past age it was likewise so.

"To the north of the land of India there was a great city named Bhadraśila, twenty yojanas in length and likewise in breadth... The king of that land was named Candraprabha, whose life span reached forty thousand years, who possessed the divine eye and the knowledge of former lives. The king was of upright and dignified appearance, fully endowed with all the marks, radiant and resplendent as the light of the full moon.

The place where the king dwelt had no need of the light of sun, moon, lamp, or torch, and for this reason he was titled Candraprabha (Moonlight). King Candraprabha governed sixty-eight thousand realms throughout the four continents; his land was at peace and harmony and his people dwelt in joy; there was abundant gold, silver, jewels, garments, food, and all manner of elephant-carriages and horse-carriages... At the four gates of the city there were towers, and the windows and great doors were adorned with jewels; the thoroughfares were swept clean, and there were set up banners, pennants, jeweled canopies, and strings of pearls.

Moreover, there were all manner of fragrances and the scented powder of sandalwood; when a gentle breeze blew, it bore that fragrance abroad throughout the whole land. Those who traveled by carriage or horse smelled no foul odor; everywhere there were trees bearing flowers and fruit, such as the tamāla tree, the karṇikāra tree, the aśoka tree, the bodhi tree, the sāla tree, the tilaka tree, the dragon-flower tree, the bakula tree, the atimuktaka tree, and the pāṭala tree.

These trees bore very many flowers and fruits. The parrots, the śāri birds, the kalaviṅka birds, the kokila birds... among the rows of trees sang sweetly with wondrous and subtle sounds. Within the city and beyond its walls there were ponds, lakes, and gushing springs, where there grew ever such beautiful flowers as the utpala flower, the kumuda flower, and the puṇḍarīka flower...

All such prosperity was thus fully and majestically complete."

The Buddha said to the bhikṣu:

"At that time King Candraprabha, in the marketplaces, the thoroughfares, and at the four gates of the city, heaped up all manner of fine things, such as gold, silver, jewels, treasures, elephant-carriages, horse-carriages, freight-carts, food, garments, mattresses and cushions, and medicines. Then the king beat the golden drum and proclaimed to all the people: 'The Heavenly Prince Candraprabha bestows all these goods in charity upon all people; he will provide according to the wish and desire of every person.'

"All the sentient beings of the continent of Jambudvīpa came to the royal city to beg for the gifts of charity. Every one of them was fully satisfied and made wealthy, and not a single one returned in poverty or want.

"King Candraprabha further reflected: 'Although these sentient beings are none of them poor or in want, yet in their possessions they are still not equal to me.' So the king again took the finest garments and the most precious jewels, crowns set with gem-strings, mattresses, cushions, and food... and bestowed them in charity upon the sentient beings, so that they became wealthy and splendid, all equal to King Candraprabha; their palaces, cities, towers, pavilions, gardens, and groves... all were adorned and beautiful as the Trāyastriṃśa heaven.

"There were seventy-two hundred thousand nayutas of people commonly dwelling within the city of Bhadraśila. That city had two thousand five hundred great ministers, among whom were two vice-commanders. One was named Mahācandra and the other was named Dharaṇidhara; both were of upright and proper appearance, of pure and generous merit and virtue, of profound wisdom, and of high talent and broad understanding. They constantly taught and transformed sentient beings by means of the Dharma of the Ten Wholesome Deeds.

"One day, the vice-commander Mahācandra, at midnight, dreamed that the crown worn upon the king's head suddenly turned the color of black smoke. Furthermore, a ghost came and stood above the king's head, seized his crown, and departed. Mahācandra awoke, greatly alarmed and afraid that there would surely be some ill-omened event. The vice-commander reflected: 'Our king is compassionate, bestowing upon all sentient beings, and never going against the wishes of those who come to beg. Surely there will be some evil person who comes to beg for the king's head.' Having reflected thus, the vice-commander then fashioned a head out of the seven treasures: 'If anyone comes to beg, I will offer this head in substitution.'

"At that time the vice-commander Dharaṇidhara also had a dream. He saw the body of King Candraprabha divided and scattered into four parts, and so he summoned a brāhmaṇa to interpret the dream as to whether it boded well or ill. The brāhmaṇa said:

"'This dream is most ill; surely there will be someone from a distant land who comes to beg for the king's head.'

"When Dharaṇidhara heard this, he wept with pity and grief: 'Why should our king meet with this great calamity?'

"At that time the thirteen thousand five hundred close and intimate great officials all had evil dreams, such as: banners and pennants hanging upside down toward the ground, the golden drum struck without sounding, loved ones parted and separated, weeping and crying in grief and pity... Such dreams as these they discussed among themselves: 'If the king should meet with misfortune, who then will rescue and aid all sentient beings? How shall we obtain peace and security?'

"King Candraprabha said to the great ministers:

"'My life span has come to its end; the bestowing of charity upon sentient beings must not be interrupted.'

"At that time in the Gandhamādana mountains there was a great brāhmaṇa named Evil Eye, of much wisdom and intelligence, exceedingly skilled in the arts; he knew that King Candraprabha had opened a great almsgiving assembly at the four gates of the city, that the king beat the drum and proclaimed it throughout all four directions, and that whatever anyone needed he would fully provide. 'Now I will go there and beg of the king his head.' Having said this, Evil Eye descended from the Gandhamādana mountains. The devas and humans within the mountains, learning that this brāhmaṇa was going to beg the king for his head, lamented in utmost anguish:

"'Alas, alas! The king has a heart of compassion and ever brings benefit and joy to the multitude of beings. If he should pass away, the world will indeed be bereft of merit.'

"As the devas and humans lamented thus, heaven and earth became dark and gloomy; the sun and moon did not appear; the cascading streams dried up; a furious wind came blowing, casting down rocks and scattering sand; trees broke and toppled; the earth quaked and trembled; and very many such anomalous phenomena occurred.

"Not far from the city there was a seer who had attained the five supernatural powers, named Īśvaramitra, who together with five hundred kinsmen ever harbored a heart of compassion that shielded sentient beings. When he saw such evil phenomena occur, he was greatly anxious and grieved, and said to the Māṇavakas:

"'Surely some calamity is coming upon the king. What can we do to help him?'

"The devas, the humans, and the kiṃnaras in empty space all let their tears fall like rain. All the people embraced fear within their hearts.

"When the brāhmaṇa Evil Eye was about to reach the city, the deva who guarded the city came and said to King Candraprabha:

"'Today there is one who has come here from the Gandhamādana mountains harboring a murderous heart, wishing to beg for the king's head. Your Majesty must not heed him; you should cherish your own body and keep your sacred person safe and at peace.'

"When the king heard this, he gave rise to a joyful heart and praised:

"'Excellent! I shall be able to perfect my charity.'

"At that time the brāhmaṇa Evil Eye then entered the royal city; the deva who guarded the gate, seeing that this brāhmaṇa was wicked, evil, cunning, and crafty, then barred him outside the gate and would not let him enter.

"King Candraprabha, knowing that the brāhmaṇa had arrived but was not being allowed to enter the city, then said to the vice-commander Mahācandra:

"'There is a brāhmaṇa who has come here from the Gandhamādana mountains wishing to see me; you are to give the order to open the gate and let him enter, and do not hinder him.' Mahācandra obeyed, and said to the deva who guarded the gate, 'Let this brāhmaṇa enter.'

"Mahācandra asked the brāhmaṇa:

"'For what matter have you come to make request?'

"The brāhmaṇa answered:

"'I have heard that King Candraprabha pities all kinds of beings and so has opened a great almsgiving assembly. If anyone harbors a wish or request, the king grants them all. Now I have come here wishing to beg for the king's head.'

"Mahācandra said:

"'O brāhmaṇa, the king's head is formed from the union of blood and matter, and in the end it too will disintegrate and decay. If now you should obtain it, what would you use it for? I have a head made of the seven treasures, and moreover I have much gold, silver, and jewels; I will provide you fully, whereby your descendants will be wealthy and noble forever.'

"The brāhmaṇa said:

"'I beg only for the head; I do not beg for jewels.'

"At that time the two great ministers wept and cried like rain, sorrowful and grieved:

"'How shall we escape from this calamity?'

"The brāhmaṇa went to where the king was, bowed in homage, then stood to one side, joined his palms, and said:

"'I have heard that Your Majesty has a heart of compassion, bestowing charity everywhere upon all kinds of beings. Today I have come here only to beg for the king's head; I pray that you will not go against your heart of loving-kindness and compassion, but will joyfully bestow it upon me.

The bodhisattva, resolved to seek unsurpassed wisdom,

Abides in the supreme, victorious, and pure Dharma.

I pray that you, in compassion, will quickly relinquish your head,

And attain the perfection of the practice of giving.'

"King Candraprabha joined his palms and spoke a verse:

This impure body, born of father and mother—

To one who begs for my head, I joyfully give.

May my original vow now be brought to perfection,

Causing me swiftly to reach the fruit of bodhi.

"King Candraprabha said to the brāhmaṇa:

"'You will not be pleased with my head, for it is formed from bone, marrow, blood, skin, and flesh joined together and is unclean; yet I bestow it upon you in charity so that you may obtain your wish.'

"The brāhmaṇa was exceedingly joyful within his heart. The king, wishing to sever his head, removed his crown. At that moment the crowns of all the people throughout the continent of Jambudvīpa likewise fell to the ground, and everyone was struck with terror. The two vice-commanders could not bear to see the king relinquish his body and life, and so they went to another place and took their own lives; by the power of their roots of goodness, they were reborn in the palace of Mahābrahmā.

"A bhūma-yakṣa in empty space cried out in a loud voice:

"'Alas, Heavenly Prince! Now your life is about to end.'

"Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of koṭis of people hastened to the king's palace, weeping bitterly and grieving at this scene of parting. The king expounded the Dharma to console them, causing them to give rise to the aspiration for the Way.

"The brāhmaṇa said:

"'If the king is to relinquish his head, he should go to a pure place.'

"The king answered:

"'I have a flower garden named Maṇi-ratna-garbha (Jewel Treasury), where flowers and fruits flourish in abundance, springs flow and there are bathing ponds... all is majestic and perfect, foremost of its kind. I will go there and relinquish my head—what say you?'

"'Your Majesty, go there at once.'

"King Candraprabha, taking up his sword, went to the flower garden, stood beneath a campaka tree, and said to the brāhmaṇa:

"'Now I bestow my head in charity; come and sever it.'

"'Why does Your Majesty not sever your own head, but instead order me to take up the sword? That would not be the practice of giving.'

"At that time the deva who guarded the garden, seeing such an event, wept and shed tears and said to the brāhmaṇa:

"'You are a person of great evil. The Heavenly Prince Candraprabha has a heart of boundless compassion and brings benefit to all the multitude of beings. Why have you come here to harm the king's life?'

"The king said to the deva:

"'Do not speak such words as to obstruct this surpassing deed. Throughout immeasurable past lives I have been a great king of a nation, and in this very garden I have relinquished my head a thousand times; at those times the devas and humans did not hinder or obstruct me. In the past, to save a starving tigress, I gave up my body and life... surpassing Maitreya by forty kalpas; at that time too the devas and humans did not hinder me. Today you should give rise to a heart of sympathetic joy, and you will obtain surpassing benefit.'

"King Candraprabha further said to the devas, nāgas, the eight classes of beings, and all the noble sages:

"'Now I bestow my head in charity not to seek to become a Wheel-Turning King, not to seek rebirth in the heavens, not to seek to become a Māra-king, not to seek to become Śakra, not to seek to become Brahmā. I seek Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment, that those not yet liberated may turn their hearts and be liberated, that those liberated may swiftly attain release, and that those released may realize the perfect and ultimate cessation, reaching the far shore of enlightenment.

I vow that after my life ends, my relics, like white mustard seeds, shall be placed in the Maṇi-ratna-garbha garden, where a great stūpa shall be built, so that all sentient beings may worship, make offerings, behold, listen, and rejoice; and that after death they may all be reborn in the heavens, give rise to the bodhi-mind, and escape the realm of birth and death.'

"When the king had made this vow, the brāhmaṇa said:

"'That the king relinquishes his body is truly rare and wondrous. In a future age you will swiftly accomplish the Buddha-Way.'

"The king took the hair of his head and tied it to a branch of an aśoka tree, then took up the sharp sword and severed his own head.

"At that moment the trichiliocosm quaked in six ways. In empty space the devas praised:

"'Excellent! Excellent! Today the Heavenly Prince Candraprabha shall become a Buddha.'

"Heaven rained down utpala flowers, padma flowers, kumuda flowers, mandārava flowers, and all manner of scented powders and the fragrance of sandalwood... as offerings to King Candraprabha. They used fragrant sandalwood to cremate the body of King Candraprabha and gathered up his relics, and in the Maṇi garden and at the four thoroughfares they built a stūpa at each place, making offerings constantly in the present and future times. All sentient beings within this garden—walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, and before the stūpas gazing in reverence, paying homage, and making offerings—after death were reborn in the heavens of the desire realm and the Brahmā heaven."

The Buddha said to the bhikṣus:

"King Candraprabha of long ago is now myself; and the two vice-commanders, Mahācandra and Dharaṇidhara, are now Śāriputra and Mahāmaudgalyāyana. The brāhmaṇa Evil Eye is now Devadatta. It is because of this causal connection that today, before the Buddha, the two of them beg to enter cessation."

The bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, all rejoiced, and with faith received and reverently practiced it; they paid homage to the Buddha and withdrew.