ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 19.16

19.16

shall I lead to ripen their roots of virtue? Whom, having already ripened their roots of virtue, shall I slice open with the blade of wisdom? For whom shall I cause this world, adorned with a buddha’s presence, to be fruitful?”

The ocean, home of creatures fierce,
Could fail to send its tides on time.
But when the time has come to tame
Their offspring, buddhas never fail.

The Blessed One thought, “The time has come to tame young Good Compassion.” He disappeared from the banks of Markaṭahrada and set out toward¹⁴⁴ young Good Compassion. Young Good Compassion saw the Blessed One from a distance. Drawing close, he bowed down at the feet of the Blessed One and implored the Blessed One, “Please undertake the difficult task of saving my precious life!”

“Young man,” the Blessed One told him, “don’t be afraid. Your life will not be lost.” Then the Blessed One spoke to the people of Vaiśālī, saying, “My friends, what is the use of killing this young man? Release him.”

“Lord,” the people of Vaiśālī replied, “if he goes forth, we shall release him.”

So the Blessed One led him to go forth as a novice, conferred on him full ordination, and instructed him. Casting away all afflictive emotions through diligence, practice, and effort, he manifested arhatship.

“Lord,” the monks requested the Blessed One, “tell us why the people of Vaiśālī sentenced young Good Compassion to death because he could not be satisfied, prompting the Blessed One to rescue him and established him in the unsurpassed, supreme welfare of nirvāṇa.”

“Not only now,” the Blessed One explained, “but in times past as well, and in the same way, he could not be satisfied,