ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 11.6

11.6

and manifest arhatship.’

“So it is, monks, now that I myself have become the very equal of the totally and completely awakened Buddha Kāśyapa—equal in strength, equal in deeds, and equal in skillful means—that by fleeing marriage and going forth she has pleased me, not displeased me, cast away all afflictive emotions, and manifested arhatship.

“The one who was betrothed to her then is none other than this monk. At that time he prayed, ‘When I again become your husband, entrusting myself to you completely may I please and not displease Uttara, the young brahmin prophesied by the totally and completely awakened Buddha Kāśyapa to be the next blessed buddha. Going forth in his doctrine alone may I cast away all afflictive emotions, and manifest arhatship.’

“So it is that he has now trusted in her completely, pleased me, not displeased me, gone forth in my very doctrine alone, and manifested arhatship.”

The Second “Betrothal of the Bride” Story

When the Blessed One was in Śrāvastī, King Prasenajit had two chief ministers there named Mṛgāra and Dinna. The two ministers were very close friends. When the time came for them to marry each minister took a wife and enjoyed himself with her and coupled.

One day when the two saw each other again, Dinna said, “My friend, we should make it so that come what may, our friendship is not severed, nor even a little strained, for as long as we live.”

“How could we do that?” asked Mṛgāra.

“We have to become kin,” replied Dinna.

“Do you have a son or daughter?” wondered Mṛgāra.

“No, I don’t,” said Dinna.