福力太子因緣經

At that time, the Blessed One rose from his seat, went to the Andha Grove, and sat beneath the foot of a tree. He remained there the whole day, dwelling serenely in meditative repose.

At that time, the assembly of bhikṣus gathered in the grove came together in a certain dwelling and sat in order. They were the Venerable Ānanda, the Venerable Śroṇa-koṭīviṃśa, the Venerable Aniruddha, the Venerable Śāriputra...

When this assembly of bhikṣus had fully gathered, they began to say to one another:

"By cultivating what do people in the world attain the most benefit?"

The Venerable Ānanda said:

"If a person cultivates the practice of physical form and beauty, he will attain much benefit."

The Venerable Śroṇa-koṭīviṃśa said:

"If a person cultivates the practice of diligence, he will attain much benefit."

The Venerable Aniruddha said:

"If a person cultivates skillful means, he will attain much benefit."

The Venerable Śāriputra said:

"If a person cultivates the practice of wisdom, he will attain benefit."

When they had spoken thus, the venerable ones reflected: "We have put forward differing opinions that are not the same, yet each of these opinions is established as supreme. If we bring these matters and inquire of the Blessed One, he will surely expound them for us, and we shall uphold and practice according to his teaching. Why is this?

Because the Blessed One is the Teacher who can cut off all our doubts and perplexities; therefore he is the One of Great Compassion. Just as the light of the sun dispels the gloom of darkness, so he uses Omniscience to break through doubt and perplexity, to release the net of suffering, and to deliver sentient beings, causing all to return to the right path. The Buddha regards all beings as his only child.

In all dharmas he is sovereign and free, and with all dharmas he brings benefit (to the multitude of beings). The revered Great Muni is able to put an end to doubt and perplexity for all. He always dissolves all our doubts.

Therefore we should go and inquire of him."

When the bhikṣus had discussed this together, they wished to go and see the Buddha. At that time the Blessed One, who was in the grove, with his pure divine ear surpassing that of all people, heard the bhikṣus gathered together discussing such matters. He arose from meditation and went to where the bhikṣus were. The bhikṣus came forward to welcome the Blessed One, prepared a seat, and respectfully invited the Buddha to be seated. He said to the bhikṣus:

"Bhikṣus, just now I heard you discussing together: 'By cultivating what do people in the world attain the most benefit?' First, Ānanda said that cultivating physical form and beauty would attain much benefit; Śroṇa-koṭīviṃśa said that cultivating diligence would attain much benefit; Aniruddha said that cultivating skillful means would attain much benefit; Śāriputra said that cultivating wisdom would attain much benefit. When you had spoken thus, you bhikṣus further reflected: 'We have put forward differing opinions that are not the same, yet each of these opinions is established as supreme. If we bring these matters and inquire of the Blessed One, he will surely expound them for us, and we shall practice according to his teaching.' Is this matter so, or not?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha:

"Blessed One, it is truly so. We gathered together to discuss this matter. We humbly pray that you will open up and explain it, resolving our doubt for us."

Then the Blessed One, on account of this arising cause and condition, spoke a verse:

Form and beauty, skillful craft, and diligence—

Among these, wisdom is supreme;

Yet if sentient beings cultivate the cause of merit,

They will attain the fruit of merit, vast beyond measure.

Having spoken this verse, the Buddha said to the bhikṣus:

"Bhikṣus, suppose there is a person who, with respect to form and beauty... cultivates accordingly: it is not the case that in all circumstances and at all times he attains much benefit. But whoever cultivates the power of merit attains much benefit in every circumstance and at all times.

"Bhikṣus, apart from this power of merit, I do not see a single dharma by which sentient beings, cultivating accordingly, attain much benefit. Why is this? Bhikṣus, I recall that in a past age there was a king named Eye-Power (Cakṣur-bala), who dwelt in the royal city, governed his realm skillfully, possessed vast majestic power, was peaceful and prosperous, and whose people flourished. The king had a queen named Vast-Radiance (Vipula-prabhā), of incomparably beautiful appearance, so that everyone delighted to gaze upon her.

"One day, the queen and the king met together in joyful pleasure and play, and thereby a son was born, of beautiful form and figure whom everyone delighted to behold. Because he possessed perfect beauty, surpassing that of others, complete with the marks of beauty of the heavenly realm—for life after life this prince had planted the causes and conditions of beauty, and therefore was endowed with perfect, exquisite form and beauty—he was given the name Form-Power (Rūpa-bala).

"Subsequently, in the time that followed, the queen gave birth to three sons: the first was endowed with the practice of diligence; the second was endowed with skillfulness; the third was endowed with wisdom.

"Furthermore, bhikṣus, at last Queen Vast-Radiance conceived another child. On that day, in the royal palace there suddenly appeared all kinds of precious treasures falling from the heavens. There also appeared, all at once, canopies of jewels, adorned and wondrously subtle, covering above the king and queen.

"When King Eye-Power saw such a rare and marvelous event, he was greatly astonished in his heart, and at once summoned the physiognomists and asked them:

"'What is the meaning of these extraordinary, rare signs?'

"The physiognomist replied:

"'Great King, you should know that the queen has conceived a child who is a sage. This child possesses great merit, and is endowed with majestic virtue and a good name.'

"When the king heard this, he was exceedingly delighted. Thereafter Queen Vast-Radiance reflected and said:

"'How excellent! Now I wish to sit upon a most sublime lion throne, with a white canopy spread above and a precious whisk.'

"The queen presented this wish to the king, and the king's mind gave rise to joy. He commanded everyone within and without the palace and city, everywhere, to make all adorned and pure according to the queen's wish, and all was carried out accordingly.

"Again one day the queen reflected and said:

"'Now let me go to a place of much gold, silver, and jewels, and upon it take freely whatever I please, choosing gold and silver myself to give in charity to all people, so that they may be fully provided with wealth and treasures, and none may suffer want.'

"When the king heard of this, he complied with the queen's wish.

"One day the queen again reflected and said:

"'How blissful! Now I wish to release all who are bound and imprisoned.'

"When the king heard of this, he complied with the queen's wish, and gave the order to release, within and without, all who were bound and imprisoned.

"One day the queen reflected and said:

"'How joyful! Now I wish to stroll in the garden grove.'

"When the king heard of this, he yielded to the queen's wish, and gave the order to clear and tidy the garden grove so that the queen might stroll and view it.

"One day the queen reflected and said:

"'How joyful! Now let me stand before all the people in this palace.'

"On account of this thought, the queen uttered words of truth:

"'If I truly possess the recompense of merit, I humbly pray that the gods and humans may swiftly grant me a most excellent lion throne, adorned and wondrously subtle. If I may sit upon this throne, I shall proclaim the essentials of the Dharma to all people.'

"When the queen had spoken thus, suddenly the gods manifested rare and marvelous signs.

"Then King Eye-Power, who was within the palace, heard of this matter and at once commanded that the whole interior and exterior of the royal city be made clean and adorned. All the people put on clean garments and beautiful ornaments, and each one brought flower garlands and precious incense, gathering at the royal palace. Queen Vast-Radiance adorned herself with the finest, most excellent, and wondrously subtle things, and surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting and kinfolk in attendance, she came forth before all the people, her excellent marks and adornments resembling those of a heavenly maiden. All the people came to gaze upon her and gave rise to joy.

"Then the queen, giving rise to a mind of loving-kindness toward sentient beings, gazed up into the empty sky and, by the power of that true resolve, spoke a verse:

Lord of the gods, lord of humans, and liberation—

These are the three powers of merit, most supreme.

Now, by this true power of merit,

I pray the heavens may swiftly grant the lion throne.

"When the queen had spoken the verse, the heavens suddenly sent down an excellent and wondrous lion throne and scattered beautiful flowers. The gods in the sky rejoiced greatly. When the people saw this most extraordinary and rare event, they all gave rise to delight and joy, and together they praised it, speaking a verse:

How rare—great merit and great power!

All the people now make offerings.

What humans seek, the heavens accomplish;

Only the power of heavenly merit is supreme.

"Then Queen Vast-Radiance, giving rise to a mind of joy, ascended the lion throne. When the queen mounted the throne, the earth quaked in six ways. That lion throne sprang up from the earth and stood in the empty sky, at a height of about seven men. Again, there were precious treasures, adorned, excellent, and wondrously subtle, with curtains hung covering above the throne. When the people saw this excellent and good sign of the power of merit, they gave rise to joy in their hearts. Each one brought flower garlands and precious incense, reverently joining their palms and offering them up to the queen. Their hearts grew yet more benefited and gladdened, and they sat down before the throne, listening and upholding the teaching the queen proclaimed.

"When King Eye-Power saw such an event, he greatly rejoiced. Together with his close ministers, reverently joining their palms, he sat in order. Queen Vast-Radiance spoke a verse:

One should cultivate the causes of merit;

Practicing thus, do not let it be interrupted.

Giving in charity according to its benefit,

Through the treasury of merit one attains wondrous bliss.

"When the queen had finished speaking the verse, in the empty sky there spontaneously arose a voice of praise:

"'You have now spoken well, well spoken these lofty words.'

"In the empty sky there resounded delightful and wondrously subtle music. As King Eye-Power and all the people heard the verse spoken, the heavens then spontaneously let fall garments and adorned articles, which descended upon the body of each person. The king and the people took these fine garments and offered them up to the queen, and all together uttered words of praise:

"'Well spoken, well spoken!'

"At that very moment, the queen, from the lion throne in the sky, slowly descended and rested peacefully upon the earth. The heavenly music ceased to play, and then human music was performed. The king and the people gave rise to reverence, made full offerings, and rejoiced greatly. Then Queen Vast-Radiance returned within the palace! After the queen entered the palace, that lion throne vanished into the sky. The people, having clearly seen such auspicious signs, rejoiced and praised:

"'How wondrous—the power of merit is complete, the majestic virtue is great! How wondrous—the power of merit is a sweet and delicious fruit!'

"Then the queen, within the palace, put an end to all deluded thoughts and reflections, until, when the ten months were complete and dawn had just appeared, she gave birth to a prince. The prince was of upright and dignified form and beauty, whom everyone delighted to behold. At that time the earth quaked in six ways, and in the royal palace, spontaneously from the empty sky, the heavens rained down the seven kinds of precious treasures. Within and without the royal city, and everywhere in all places, there rained down all kinds of fine heavenly garments; the heavens rained flowers exceedingly beautiful and pleasing. Trees everywhere bore fruit and put forth blossoms; auspicious rain drifted gently, sprinkling down place after place, and a soft breeze blew throughout every region.

"As soon as the prince was born and laid to rest upon the earth, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, by their majestic spiritual power, caused the earth to split open, and a lion throne made of fine and adorned precious things sprang up to support the prince. The Lord of the Gods, Śakra, with a wondrously subtle heavenly canopy and a rain of precious whisks, covered above the prince. The gods of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven either scattered fine heavenly garments and jeweled curtains, or rained down all kinds of precious treasures, or adorned garments, or beautiful ornaments, or fresh and excellent heavenly blue flowers, or flower garlands and powdered incense and unguent incense, or heavenly music issuing forth clear and melodious songs.

"The god Viśvakarman, by his heavenly spiritual power, caused everywhere within and without the city to be free of thorns, brambles, stones, and gravel, but instead spread with embroidered silk, adorned with strings of gems and pearls, set up with precious and wondrously subtle banners and pennants. Everywhere was sprinkled with the pure perfumed water of sandalwood, vases of the finest flowers were placed all around in a circle, all kinds of flowers were scattered, and indeed everything that delights the heart of people was set in adornment.

Moreover, a hundred great elephants came of their own accord from the open plain into the king's palace and stood in the stables. Again, a hundred oxen came to the fields; without plowing or harrowing, of their own accord, in accordance with the seasons, all the seeds would ripen by themselves. Again, beneath the lion throne there were five great treasuries filled with jewels and treasures; the doors of the treasuries were opened and used at will, yet they were never exhausted.

"Furthermore, all the sentient beings who were enemies and adversaries, in that brief moment, all turned toward a mind of loving-kindness. At that time, the prince, by the power of his recollection of past lives, having given rise to majestic virtue and spiritual penetration, then surveyed the four directions and spoke a verse:

One should cultivate the causes of merit;

Practicing thus, do not let it be interrupted.

Delighting, according to the time, in giving charity,

Through the treasury of merit one attains wondrous bliss.

"At that time, in the empty sky there were apart a number of gods who, seeing this matter of the vast power of merit, spiritual penetration, and rare and extraordinary majestic virtue, gave rise to joy, with body and mind delighting; and therefore, arousing the majestic power of merit, they spoke a verse:

The Four Great Heavenly Kings and the gods,

The Lord of the Gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heavenly palace—

Those powers of merit are precious beyond measure.

Beholding this supreme merit, they give rise to joy.

"Then King Eye-Power, together with his ladies-in-waiting, guards, kinfolk, veteran great ministers, and others, seeing clearly such excellent auspicious signs, were all astonished and said:

"'How wondrous! The prince possesses great power of merit. How wondrous! The prince is endowed with great renown. Now, born among humans, such auspicious, vast, and excellent signs of the heavenly realm have appeared all at once.'

"The king rejoiced and loved his son dearly. He commanded the keepers of the treasury:

"'Open my treasuries and bring forth all the gold, silver, and jewels. I shall give them in charity and bestow blessings upon all people, so that they may all obtain wealth and treasures in full. Let all people, for my sake, praise the wondrously subtle good and perform deeds of merit; thereafter I vow life after life to accumulate supreme and auspicious merit. Now let me give a name to the prince.'

"The king said to his close ministers:

"'Now, what name should we give to the prince?'

"The assisting great ministers replied:

"'Great King, when the prince was born, many excellent and auspicious signs of the power of merit appeared. Therefore the prince should be named Merit-Power (Puṇya-bala).'

"The king then issued the command to name the prince Merit-Power, and entrusted the prince to eight wet-nurses: two to attend to carrying him, two to attend to nursing him, two to attend to bathing him, two to attend to playing with him. These eight wet-nurses cared for the prince in due season, nourishing him, nursing him, bathing him, and playing with him... In addition, there were fine musical instruments, all things provided, given for his full enjoyment, in the hope that the prince would swiftly grow.

"Like a pure lotus flower living in a pond or lake, the prince gradually grew up, studied the various texts, and investigated the deep and wondrously subtle meanings under the teachers of the Kṣatriya lineage, and indeed under all the learned masters; he penetrated all the branches of learning. Yet the prince was deeply faithful, virtuous and good, pure in his inner mind, and all his conduct ever held within it compassion both for his own benefit and the benefit of others. Sovereign and free with respect to the Dharma, he had compassion upon and rescued sentient beings, performing acts of charity without ever hoarding. The prince let go of everything; there was not the slightest thing that he did not relinquish.

"If there were śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, the poor and destitute and solitary, those impoverished and lacking who begged for food, or those who came to beg for the flesh and blood of his own body—then at that time the prince, toward those who came to beg, would at once give rise to a mind of loving-kindness, contemplating it as like empty space, and would reflect: 'How joyful! Now I shall satisfy those who come to beg, giving in compliance with their wish—how much more so gold, silver, jewels, food, garments, flower garlands, unguent incense, all kinds of bedding... and all needful things. I vow that all that I think of may appear, so that I may give it in charity to all who come to beg, causing my aspiration to be fulfilled and complete.'

"Because the prince was endowed with full merit and virtue, his renown spread throughout the whole of Jambudvīpa, down to the Nāga palaces, and up throughout the realm of the Brahma heavens—all heard of it."