དཔལ་གྱ་སྡའ་རྟགས་པ་བརྗད་པ 6

6

He accomplishes the wishes of all beings.
Through the encouragement of this king
Everyone is inspired to pursue higher rebirths.

“ ‘Because of the influence
Of this great, intelligent king
No one will be born in hell,
In the preta realm, or the animal realm.

“ ‘This king’s resplendent radiance
Illuminates their migrations.
They take joy in giving and discipline,
And they play joyfully in Nandanavana.

“ ‘Those who follow Śrīsena
Are respectful and live
In pleasurable divine worlds,
Where they shine with joy.’

“When the gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three heard these words, their minds were overjoyed, and they celebrated. With such joy in their minds, they exclaimed, ‘This king aspires to fulfill his wish to give away his major and minor body parts—this is marvelous! Yet it is difficult to give away one’s major and minor body parts. Since there is no one as dear as oneself, he will not be able to give away his major and minor body parts without concern for his own suffering. This act of giving is not something that one can simply infer.’¹²

“ ‘Friends,’ replied Śakra, ‘do not say these things! This king is powerful. He has magical powers and intense compassion. This is why he can give away even his own flesh. There is nothing that he cannot relinquish.’

“Shortly thereafter, on another occasion, Śrīsena’s queen, Jayaprabhā, went to sleep on her large mattress, and just before dawn she dreamt four dreams. First, she dreamt that Śrīsena carried her down off the mattress and then lifted her back onto it. Then he gouged out his own eyes, but they were later restored. He chopped off his right arm, which fell to the ground, but it was also restored. Finally, she dreamt of a nonhuman that resembled a stone grinder, made from silver. It suddenly pulled off King Śrīsena’s left arm. After it was thus stolen, however, that too was restored. Then she woke up. Filled with fear, she gasped and the hairs on her body stood on end. She thought, ‘Either the lord or I