菩薩投身飴餓虎起塔因緣經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha journeyed to the great city of Vaisravana-Pala in the kingdom of Gandhavati and stayed in a cave on the Northern Mountain. There he taught the Dharma, instructing and liberating countless beings—from the king, officials, and common people to devas, nagas, the eight classes of beings, humans, and nonhumans.

When the Buddha had finished teaching, he smiled, and fragrant rays of light streamed from his mouth. The light was of nine colors and illuminated all the lands; its fragrance likewise pervaded everywhere. When the assembly saw the light and smelled the fragrance, they were all filled with joy. The light then returned, circled the Buddha seven times, and reentered his mouth.

At that time, Venerable Ananda adjusted his robes, knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“Today the World-Honored One has manifested this rare and auspicious sign. There must surely be a cause and condition that will bring many benefits to beings who hope to receive them. I beseech the World-Honored One to explain the reason for this.”

The Buddha said to Ananda:

“As you have said, whenever Buddhas manifest the sign of smiling, there is always a great cause and condition. Do you wish to hear it?”

Ananda replied:

“Yes, indeed, O Deva among Devas.”

The Buddha said to Ananda:

“Ananda, nine kalpas ago in the past, when there was no Buddha in the world, there was a great kingdom named Gandhamati. Its king was named Gandhasri, his queen was named Samamukha, and the crown prince was named Candanamati. The kingdom was vast and populous, prosperous, peaceful, and joyful, and the human lifespan was fifteen hundred years.

Through the crown prince’s merit and virtue, the realm was at peace. There were no bandits, and the people lived harmoniously without opposing one another. The crown prince was benevolent, intelligent, and wise.

He thoroughly understood all books and the ninety-six kinds of religious arts, and his bearing was dignified. From childhood until maturity, he always delighted in giving. He had not the slightest attachment to either his life or his possessions.

His loving-kindness in rescuing beings surpassed even a parent’s care for a newborn child, and his great compassion, impartial and nondual, embraced every kind of being. He served his parents with filial devotion and fulfilled every observance of propriety.

“At that time, his royal father established a park for the crown prince not far from the city. The park extended for eight yojanas and contained every kind of flower and fruit, as well as rare animals and birds. It was splendidly adorned. Streams flowed throughout the park, and there were bathing pools in which blue, yellow, red, and white lotuses always grew. Red and white lotuses also blossomed intermingled with one another. Peacocks, geese, joyous birds, mandarin ducks, and other birds flew and played throughout the park. Its fragrance was pure, fresh, and exquisitely subtle.

“One day, the crown prince, accompanied by his ministers, officials, consorts, and palace maidens, went in succession to enjoy the park. After seventeen days, they returned to the royal palace. At that time, poor, solitary, aged, infirm, and sick people throughout the kingdom heard that the crown prince was returning.

They came and sat beside the road, stretching out their hands toward him. Seeing them, the crown prince gave away his jeweled necklaces and personal ornaments, as well as gold and silver coins, carts, horses, and elephants, to those in distress. By the time he reached the city gate, he had nothing left.

Yet he grieved that many poor people remained and that he had not enough to give them. After returning to the palace, he kept thinking of them. His heart was troubled, and he had no desire to eat or drink.

“The king asked the crown prince:

“‘What grieves you?’

“The crown prince replied:

“‘Royal Father, near the place where I went sightseeing, I saw poor people sitting beside the road and begging. I gave them everything I had upon my person, yet it was still insufficient. For this reason, I am sorrowful. I now wish to ask Royal Father for the wealth in the treasury so that I may distribute it among everyone. I do not know whether Royal Father will consent to grant my wish.’

“The king said:

“‘The national treasury is reserved for times of need and should not be used for private purposes.’

“His wish unfulfilled, the crown prince’s sorrow doubled. An attendant of the crown prince named Jaya saw that he had stopped eating and was despondent and distressed. He came, knelt, and said:

“‘I possess ten thousand gold coins, which I offer to the crown prince to use as he wishes. Please do not grieve over the poor, but resume eating and drinking. If the gold coins are insufficient, I shall sell my own body to provide for the crown prince.’

“The attendant Jaya presented ten thousand gold coins to the crown prince. The crown prince ordered that the money be distributed among the poor. All ten thousand gold coins were exhausted, yet they were still insufficient. His servants returned and reported this to the crown prince. The gold was gone, but many poor people remained. The crown prince then ordered his attendant to search his private treasury. Another ten thousand gold coins were found and distributed among the poor, but they were still insufficient.

“The crown prince thought, ‘The sufferings of human beings all arise from poverty. To seek and not obtain is truly painful. I should now sell this cherished body of mine to relieve everyone’s suffering and bring them peace and happiness.’ Having thought this, the crown prince removed his precious robes, put on an old and ordinary garment, quietly left the capital, and went directly to another kingdom named Vaidisa. There he sold himself to a brahmin for one thousand gold coins. The crown prince distributed this money among the poor.

“The brahmin ordered the crown prince to take a cart into the forest, cut firewood, and sell it at the market. After gathering firewood for a long time, the crown prince found in the mountains a piece of ox-head sandalwood weighing one hundred catties. At that time, the king of that country had long suffered from leprosy. No medicine or incantation could alleviate his illness. In anger, the king said:

“‘What use are medicines? For all the hundred diseases afflicting people, there are medicines that can cure them. Why can this one illness not be cured? Take the physicians to the marketplace and behead them!’

“A physician bowed his head and addressed the king:

“‘There is only one medicine that can cure Your Majesty’s illness, but it is exceedingly difficult to find in this world. Although I have heard its name, I have never seen it.’

“The king asked:

“‘What is the name of that medicine?’

“He replied:

“‘Great King, it is called ox-head sandalwood.’

“The king said:

“‘The deeds people perform differ in merit and transgression. If one possesses merit, this medicine will be found.’

“The king proclaimed everywhere: ‘Whoever possesses this medicine shall receive half my kingdom in exchange for it.’

“The brahmin summoned his servant and said:

“‘Since the day you came here and began selling firewood for me, there has been some profit, but it has amounted to very little. It cannot compare with the wealth and honor now available. The king is ill and will exchange half his kingdom for the medicine called ox-head sandalwood. You can seek out this sandalwood medicine and present it to the great king. You will surely obtain your wish, and both you and I will benefit.’

“The servant then presented the ox-head sandalwood to the king. The king obtained the medicine, ground it, and rubbed it over his body. His leprosy was immediately cured. The king was overjoyed, and all the people throughout the kingdom rejoiced in the blessing.

“The king assembled his ministers, held a great gathering of giving, released prisoners, and made donations to the poor and needy, so that everyone attained peace and happiness. He ordered a great minister to divide half the palace and directed the people of the kingdom to divide into two portions the gold, silver, jewels, money, grain, fabrics, male and female servants, vehicles, elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, and all other possessions.

They adorned hundreds of precious carriages and prepared a thousand riding horses, with music, dancing, singing, fragrant flowers, banners, canopies, and foods and drinks of a hundred flavors, to escort the servant back to his country. The king invited the servant to sit with him upon a precious seat and arranged a banquet with food, drink, music, singing, dancing, and entertainment. The king asked the servant:

“‘I see that you possess a majestic appearance and merit and virtue surpassing those of ordinary people. Why do you occupy so lowly a station? Please tell me.’

“The servant replied:

“‘Excellent! If you wish to hear, I shall tell you. As you suspected, I was never truly a hired servant. Have you heard that the king of Gandhamati has a crown prince named Candanamati who delights in giving?’

“The king replied:

“‘I have heard of him, but I have never met him.’

“The crown prince said:

“‘I am that very Crown Prince Candanamati.’

“When the king heard the crown prince’s words, his respect for him increased manyfold. He immediately asked:

“‘For what reason have you come to such a condition?’

“The crown prince replied:

“‘I delight in giving. Even after the king’s wealth was exhausted, it was still insufficient, for many poor and suffering people remained. Because my wish could not be fulfilled, I abandoned my kingdom, departed, and sold my own body.’

“The king said:

“‘All people receive the results of their former actions according to their karma. Those who cultivate virtue attain happiness, while those who do evil undergo suffering. This was not something you ought to have done. Without your parents’ command, why did you abandon your country and great renown to venture through perilous places? Such a thing is rarely seen in the world. You must surely have some other intention. Please tell me.’

“The crown prince replied:

“‘Long ago, I aroused the resolve and vowed to liberate all beings. I practice the paramitas in pursuit of the fruit of awakening.’

“The king immediately praised him:

“‘Excellent! I rejoice and praise you exceedingly.’

“The crown prince told the king:

“‘I shall now return the kingdom to you. I ask only one thing and hope that you will not oppose my wish.’

“The king asked:

“‘What does the crown prince desire?’

“The crown prince replied:

“‘I wish to distribute the wealth and money in the royal treasury among all who are impoverished, aged, solitary, afflicted by the hundred illnesses, frail, or weak. Allow me to give freely for fifty days. You and I shall share the merit of this deed.’

“The king immediately said:

“‘Excellent! You may distribute the money and possessions as you wish. I have already awarded half my realm in return for your service, so how would I dare accept it back?’

“The crown prince said:

“‘Excellent! You give me your wealth, and I return the kingdom to you. I delight in giving, while your delight lies in governing the country. The dispositions of people and the nature of material things differ, and therefore their desires are not the same.’

“The king said:

“‘The crown prince’s vows and conduct are truly vast and profound; I cannot compare with you. When you attain the Way, please liberate me.’

“The crown prince ordered a proclamation to be made throughout the kingdom: ‘All who are destitute, aged, infirm, or solitary should come here.’

“The crown prince then ordered the treasuries opened and the wealth transported to a level open space. For fifty full days he distributed it among the poor. The poor became prosperous, and everyone rejoiced.

“Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Gandhamati, after the crown prince’s departure, the ministers were terrified. Weeping, they reported to the king:

“‘Last night the crown prince suddenly disappeared. We do not know where he has gone!’

“When the king heard this report, he fell unconscious from his throne. Everyone in the palace—the royal consorts, palace maidens, ministers, and people—was shocked, sorrowful, and distressed. They cried aloud and ran in every direction searching for the crown prince. The king’s queen, fearing that the crown prince was lost, became distraught as if insane. Together with the royal consorts, she hastily threw on her garments, ran out of the royal city, and searched east and west for the crown prince. The king feared that the queen, overcome by grief for her son, might take her own life. He therefore prepared a carriage with his ministers, left the royal city, and went in search of both the queen and news of the crown prince.

“Ten miles beyond the kingdom, in a desolate wilderness, the king saw the queen and the palace women who accompanied her beating their breasts and crying aloud. Their hair was disheveled, their faces swollen, and they searched among every tree and blade of grass for the crown prince. Seeing this, the king’s heart became even more anguished. He approached, took the queen’s hand as tears streamed down his face, and consoled her:

“‘Our son is compassionate, meritorious, and virtuous. He delights in giving and has given away all his possessions. He bears no enmity toward anyone. Though he gave all his material wealth to others, it was insufficient, and so he has always been tormented by having nothing more to give. Now that our son has secretly departed, he must have gone to another country to seek wealth for giving, or perhaps he has sold his body to provide for all who are poor and needy. Please return to the palace, my queen, and do not grieve. I shall send envoys to other kingdoms to inquire after him, and the crown prince will certainly be found and brought home.’

“The queen reproached him:

“‘It was because the king was miserly and reluctant to part with wealth, without loving concern for our son. Can you now use your money and possessions to replace him?’

“The king said:

“‘Through my error, I have lost our son. What use is regret now? Please return to the royal palace. The crown prince is surely not lost. I shall personally search everywhere and bring him home.’

“The queen said through her tears:

“‘Now that my son is lost, how can I live? I would rather die here than ever return. When I think of my son, I no longer know hunger or thirst; even if illness and suffering befall me, I do not consider them calamities. If I return to the royal palace now, upon whom could I rely?’

“The crown prince’s consorts, their hair disheveled, called upon earth and heaven and searched everywhere without finding him. They could only swallow their tears, bow their heads to the ground, and cry to heaven:

“‘Heaven and earth, sun and moon, parents and divine spirits! Whatever offenses we may have committed, we now repent of them all. May we soon see our husband again.’

“The king then forcibly helped the queen and the crown prince’s consorts into the carriage and returned to the palace.

“At that time, in that distant foreign kingdom, the crown prince’s eyes, hands, and feet twitched three times. His heart became sorrowful and afraid, as though he had forgotten something. He therefore bade farewell to that king and set out for his native country. The king ordered his attendants to adorn one hundred precious carriages and prepare one thousand horses, ten thousand gold coins, and one hundred thousand silver coins. The king’s five hundred great ministers also brought ten thousand gold coins and one hundred thousand silver coins as gifts for the crown prince. The king and his countless ministers escorted the crown prince to the frontier, where they arranged a great banquet, joyfully bade one another farewell, and parted.

“The crown prince thought, ‘From childhood until now, my feet have never twitched and my eyes have never quivered. Yet recently I departed without bidding farewell to my parents. Surely my parents and everyone in the kingdom fear that they have lost me and are therefore sorrowful and distressed. I must now hurry so that I may learn how they fare.’ He then thought again, ‘The road is long and distant, and I cannot arrive quickly. I fear only that my parents, overwhelmed by worry, may become gravely ill or die. By what means can I send word swiftly to inform them?’

“At that time, there was a crow skilled in human speech. It said to the crown prince:

“‘Your virtue is lofty and profound, and your benevolence extends everywhere. Why worry that there is no means? Whatever you wish to accomplish, I shall help you.’

“The crown prince replied:

“‘There is something for which I need your help at once.’

“The crow said:

“‘I shall obey your command.’

“The crown prince said:

“‘Please carry this letter to my royal father.’

“The crow said:

“‘This is indeed the proper time. You should write it quickly.’

“When the crown prince had finished writing the letter, he gave it to the crow. Holding the letter in its beak, the crow flew directly to the kingdom of Gandhamati and placed it before the king. The king opened and read the letter. Learning news of the crown prince, he was overjoyed and immediately entered the palace to tell the queen:

“‘I bring you word that the crown prince is not lost. In no more than a few days, you will certainly see our son.’

“On hearing this, the queen was like one restored to life from death. She clapped her hands and offered blessings that everyone might be peaceful and joyful, fulfill their wishes, and enjoy long life.

“When the ministers of the kingdom and all the royal clan, great and small, heard that the crown prince was returning, they all cried, ‘Ten thousand years!’ The king and countless thousands of ministers prepared to set out and welcome the crown prince. They met midway. When the crown prince saw his royal father, he descended from the precious carriage, approached, prostrated himself upon the ground, and said:

“‘In my unfilial conduct as a son, I have caused the honored ones distress and disturbed the kingdom. I earnestly hope that everyone will forgive me.’

“The king said:

“‘Excellent!’

“Father and son rejoiced through their tears upon meeting again. Together with everyone, they turned their carriages and returned to the royal palace. All the people throughout the kingdom were filled with joy. When poor beggars from distant countries heard that the crown prince had returned with abundant wealth, they came to ask him for aid.

“The crown prince ordered people to carry the money and place it upon a level open space beside the main road, where he distributed it among the poor.

“For an entire year, he gave without interruption every day. All who came from everywhere to ask received according to their wishes.

“His royal father and the ministers then said to the crown prince:

“‘From now on, use the jewels and wealth in the national treasuries as you please, without hesitation. Through the virtue of giving, you are honored by those near and far. When enemies and evildoers hear of the crown prince’s merit, they will naturally begin to cultivate virtue.’

“At that time, there was a seer named Valiant who had attained the five superknowledges. Together with five hundred disciples, he practiced meditation and cultivated the Way in a great stone cave upon this mountain, earnestly seeking awakening and release from all suffering. They taught people and caused them to cultivate wholesome karma. Crown Prince Candanamati brought a hundred kinds of food and drink up the mountain as offerings to these practitioners.

“The seer pronounced blessings and taught the Dharma to the crown prince. The crown prince joyfully aroused the resolve for liberation and no longer wished to return to the kingdom. Looking back upon the palace apartments, he perceived them as a hell; he saw wives, children, and relatives as fetters, and regarded the five sensual pleasures as a hell. Having reflected in this way, the crown prince removed his jeweled necklaces, robes, and ornaments. He entrusted his horses, carriages, and retinue to his attendants and ordered them to return to the kingdom. From then on, the crown prince wore a deerskin robe and dwelt in the mountains, following his teacher in study of the Way and diligently investigating methods of cultivation.

“The crown prince’s attendant returned to the kingdom and reported to the king:

“‘The crown prince went up the mountain to make offerings to the seers and has remained there to study the Way, refusing to return to the palace. When he has thoroughly mastered the scriptures and incantations, he will return.’

“The king said:

“‘How painful! People in the world who have children attain supreme joy, depend upon them in old age, and receive their help in protecting the country and eliminating calamities. Yet because I have this son, my heart is constantly burdened with anxiety and pain. He desires neither wealth and honor nor closeness to his relatives. I do not know what path this troubling child will follow.’

“The king summoned his ministers to discuss the matter. The officials said:

“‘The crown prince delights in studying the Way, does not covet worldly glory, and rejoices in liberation; thus he does not return to the kingdom. We do not know what can be done. The great king should send someone to inquire into the crown prince’s intention. If he is firmly resolved not to return, we should allow him to follow his wish.’

“The king sent an envoy bearing a letter to the crown prince: ‘I await you as a thirsty man longs for drink. What is your intention in remaining in the mountains and not returning? Your mother and consorts weep and yearn for you; in their grief, they no longer know what they are doing. A son’s duty is to bring joy to his parents. You should not oppose and afflict them in this way. Return with the envoy.’ The envoy obeyed the command and delivered the message to the crown prince. The crown prince said to him:

“‘All things are impermanent, and this body will not endure for long. Even the happiness of family life is subject to the suffering of separation. Life is governed by conditions and is not under one’s own control. Once impermanence arrives, even father and son cannot save one another. I now seek liberation so that I may escape all suffering. On the day I attain the Way, I shall first liberate my mother and father. I am staying not far from here and may sometimes return to visit them. My resolve is fixed. The great king should find someone else to succeed him. Return and report all these words fully to my royal father.’

“The king assembled the ministers to appoint another crown prince. At that time, the royal queen, the crown prince’s consorts, palace maidens, and attendants took the crown prince’s ornaments and garments, as well as exquisite foods and drinks, incense, flowers, and music, and went in procession up the mountain. Arriving where the crown prince dwelt, they offered a meal to the assembly of seers and sought to escort the crown prince home.

“The queen said:

“‘People plant rice and grain in preparation for hunger, dig wells in anticipation of thirst, build walls to ward off enemies, and raise children to rely upon in old age. If you do not now return to the kingdom, my life will be difficult to preserve.’

“The crown prince knelt and addressed the queen:

“‘I have left my family and come to dwell in the mountains, changing both my appearance and way of life. It is like food spat from the mouth, which is not consumed again. A practitioner lives in seclusion and takes no part in affairs of state. My resolve is fixed and cannot be altered. I would rather have my body destroyed here than ever return. When Mother returns, please cultivate in this same way.’

“The queen and the crown prince’s consorts saw that his resolve was firm and that he had no intention of returning to the palace. Grieving and wiping away their tears, they departed.

“The king had relied solely upon the queen to persuade their son to return and was waiting outside with the ministers. Yet he saw only the queen and the crown prince’s consorts returning beside the carriage, their hair disheveled, beating their breasts, and crying aloud. The king’s sorrow deepened. The ministers and everyone else wept, and they turned their carriages back toward the palace. The king explained to the queen and the crown prince’s consorts:

“‘Our son delights in the path of the Way, which is truly rare in the world. He spreads loving-kindness, and everyone receives his benevolence. He is indeed an extraordinary and able person, a treasure of this kingdom. Now the crown prince rejoices in living amid the mountain forests, devoting himself to cultivation, and he is safe. We can see him from time to time. Moreover, we and the crown prince are not very far apart. We can bring him food and receive news of him, and thus find some comfort.’

“After hearing the king’s consolation, the queen’s anxiety and sorrow diminished. From then on, she frequently sent people into the mountains with food and precious, delicious fruits as offerings to the crown prince. Many years passed in this way. The crown prince also often descended from the mountain to inquire after his parents’ health and then returned to the mountain to cultivate.

“Near the mountain where the crown prince lived was a very deep ravine. At its bottom was a tigress that had recently given birth to seven cubs. Heavy snow had fallen, and for many days the tigress had remained curled around her cubs, unable to search for food. Fearing that her cubs would freeze to death, she endured hunger while embracing them. The snow continued without ceasing, and the tigress and her cubs were starving and near death. Tormented by the fire of hunger, the tigress turned and was about to devour her cubs. When the seers practicing on the mountain saw this, they said to one another:

“‘If anyone can relinquish his body to save living beings, now is truly the time.’

“The crown prince said:

“‘Excellent! I vow to do this.’

“The crown prince went to the mountainside, lowered his head, and looked into the deep ravine. Seeing the tigress embracing her cubs, all covered with snow, he aroused great compassion and stood silently above the ravine. He then went to the mountain summit and quietly entered samadhi, immediately attaining the pure patience regarding the non-arising of dharmas and perceiving events throughout countless kalpas of the past and future. He returned and told his teacher and five hundred fellow students:

“‘I shall now relinquish this body. May you all rejoice in my deed.’

“His teacher replied:

“‘You have only recently begun studying the Way, and your knowledge and vision are not yet broad. Why are you so eager to abandon this precious body?’

“The crown prince said:

“‘Teacher, long ago I vowed to relinquish one thousand bodies. Until now, I have already relinquished nine hundred and ninety-nine bodies. By relinquishing this body today, I shall complete the thousand. I ask my teacher to rejoice in my deed.’

“His teacher replied:

“‘Your aspiration is so lofty that none can equal it. Surely you will soon attain the Way and never again return to the cycle of birth and death.’

“The crown prince bade farewell to his teacher and departed.

“His teacher and the five hundred fellow practitioners, all seers possessing spiritual powers, their eyes filled with tears, escorted the crown prince to the edge of the mountain summit. At that time, the elder Purna and five hundred people were bringing food up the mountain as offerings. Seeing that the crown prince was about to relinquish his body, they wept in grief and followed him up the mountain.

“Before everyone, the crown prince made this great vow:

“‘I now relinquish my body to save the lives of living beings. Through the merit of this deed, may I swiftly attain awakening and acquire the vajra body and the unconditioned Dharma body, endowed with permanence, bliss, self, and purity. May I liberate all who have not yet been liberated, awaken all who have not yet awakened, and bring peace to all who have not yet attained peace.

This present body is impermanent and painful, a repository in which poisons accumulate. This impure body, with its nine apertures continually flowing with filth, is bitten and pecked by the venom of the poisonous serpents of the four great elements and pursued and harmed by the five bands of thieves. This body can never be recovered.

If it is nourished with delicacies and the five sensual pleasures, after death there will be no wholesome result; instead, one will fall into hell and undergo boundless suffering. Thus this body contains only suffering and affords no peace or happiness.’

“After denouncing the countless faults of the body, the crown prince made another vow:

“‘I now offer my blood and flesh to save that starving tigress. The bone relics that remain will surely be enshrined in stupas built by my parents. When beings afflicted by all kinds of illness and suffering—whose diseases, owing to the causes and conditions of former offenses, cannot be cured by medicine, acupuncture, or cauterization—come to my stupas and make offerings with utmost sincerity, their diseases, whether severe or slight, shall be eliminated within no more than one hundred days. If my vow is true and not false, may the devas rain down fragrant flowers.’

“In response, the devas immediately rained down mandarava flowers, and the earth trembled. The crown prince removed his deerskin robe, covered his head and face with it, joined his palms, and cast his body before the tigress. The tigress ate the bodhisattva’s flesh, and both she and her cubs survived. The people standing silently at the mouth of the ravine looked down and saw the crown prince being devoured by the tiger, his flesh and bones scattered about. Their cries resounded throughout the mountains and forests. Some beat their breasts and rolled upon the ground; some entered meditation and contemplation; and some bowed their heads to the earth and repented before the crown prince.

“At that time, the devas of the Suddhavasa heavens, together with Sakra, Lord of the Devas, the Four Heavenly Kings, the devas of the sun and moon, and countless thousands of others, all aroused the resolve for unsurpassed bodhi. They played celestial music, burned incense, scattered mandarava flowers as offerings to the crown prince, and proclaimed:

“‘Excellent, Great Bodhisattva! Before long, you shall sit at the seat of awakening.’

“They proclaimed this three times and then returned to their heavenly palaces. All five hundred seers aroused the resolve for unsurpassed, right, and perfect awakening, and the great master of the seers attained the patience regarding the non-arising of dharmas.

“Early the following morning, the great king and queen sent an envoy to take food up the mountain for the crown prince. When the envoy reached the stone chamber where the crown prince usually dwelt, he saw the sleeping mat, deerskin robe, canopy, alms bowl, staff, water jar, washing basin, and other articles all inside the chamber, but the crown prince was nowhere to be seen. The envoy questioned everyone, but no one answered. He saw only a great multitude of seers facing their teacher and weeping, while the master seer sat with his face resting upon both hands, tears streaming down as he lamented.

“The envoy went around questioning everyone, but no one replied. Terrified, he offered the food to the seers and then ran back to report these events to the queen. The queen asked:

“‘You did not see my son, but did you see the seers?’

“He replied:

“‘Your Majesty, I saw only the great assembly of seers facing in one direction and weeping.’

“The queen cried out:

“‘Calamity! My son is dead!’

“Beating her breast and crying loudly, the queen ran to inform the king. On hearing the news, the king fell unconscious from his throne. Everyone gathered around him, bowed their heads to the ground, and remonstrated:

“‘We do not yet know what has truly happened to the crown prince on the mountain. Why is Your Majesty so overcome? Great King, please compose yourself.’

“Everyone—the king, queen, consorts, palace maidens, attendants, officials, and people—hastily put on their robes and rushed up the mountain. At that time, the elder Purna also came and reported to the king:

“‘Yesterday the crown prince cast his body into the deep ravine to be devoured by the tiger. Now only his bones remain, scattered upon the ground.’

“The elder then led the king to the crown prince’s scattered bones. The king, queen, consorts, palace maidens, ministers, and people all cried aloud, causing the entire mountain valley to tremble. The king and queen prostrated themselves upon the crown prince’s remains. Their hearts shattered, they were overwhelmed and senseless with grief.

“The crown prince’s chief consort lifted his head and arranged his hair. Her heart shattered, she cried out, saying:

“‘Why was my honored lord’s life so ill-fated and his death so early? Today we part forever, never to see one another again. I would rather my own body were shattered into dust and ashes than have my husband die in this way. Now that the crown prince is dead, what purpose is there in my remaining alive?’

“The officials said to the king:

“‘The crown prince practiced giving and vowed to liberate all beings, but the demon of impermanence has seized him. His remains have not yet decayed; we should conduct a ceremony of offerings.’

“The king ordered the crown prince’s remains gathered from the deep ravine and placed upon level ground. They piled fragrant sandalwood and other aromatic woods, prepared fragrant oils, banners, streamers, and beautiful jeweled canopies, and used them for the crown prince’s cremation. They collected his relics, placed them in precious bowls, and built seven jeweled stupas, adorning them with precious objects. The grounds around these stupas extended ten miles in every direction and were planted with rows of flowering and fruit-bearing trees. Streams flowed there, and bathing pools adorned the pure grounds. The king regularly ordered four ensembles of musicians to play day and night as an offering to the stupas.

“The Buddha said to Ananda:

“‘The crown prince of that time was I myself. His royal father was my present father, Suddhodana. The queen was my present mother, Maya. The crown prince’s consort is now Gopi, and the great minister Jaya is Ananda. The great master of the seers on that mountain is now Bodhisattva Maitreya. The king of Vaidisa is now Nanda, and the brahmin is Rahula. From ancient times until now, Bodhisattva Maitreya was often my teacher. Yet because I practiced giving without cherishing even my life and body and rescued living beings, I advanced nine kalpas ahead of my teacher and have now attained Buddhahood, liberating countless beings.’

“When the Buddha taught this sutra, devas, nagas, and eighty-four thousand people all aroused the resolve for unsurpassed and impartial awakening. Eight thousand bhiksus eliminated the bonds of the outflows and realized the true and right Way. The king and his ministers, together with devas, nagas, ghosts, and spirits, heard the Buddha’s teaching and were all filled with joy. They bowed their heads in homage and withdrew.