ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 21.15

21.15

went forth in the doctrine of the Blessed One, cast away all afflictive emotions, and manifested arhatship?”

“Monks,” the Blessed One recounted, “in times gone by, in the city of Vārāṇasī, King Brahmadatta reigned in Kāśi, and King Videha reigned in Videha. The two did not get along with each other, and from time to time a great many people were killed.

“So it was that one day the king of Videha arrayed the four divisions of his army and advanced to wage war with King Brahmadatta. King Brahmadatta of Kāśi, upon hearing that the king of Videha had arrayed the four divisions of his army and advanced to wage war, likewise arrayed the four divisions of his army and advanced on the king of Videha to wage war.

“He was defeated by the king of Videha, however, and was forced to flee. Only the king was spared, and he fled into the forest. His body was tired and aching, so he dismounted from his horse, removed his helmet, pulled off his cloak, spread it out, and sat down on it.

“Not far off was a peacock surrounded by peahens. The peacock and peahens enjoyed themselves and coupled, and when he saw them, he was envious. ‘This peacock indulges his desires,’ he thought, ‘and no one does him harm. Such a life is beautiful.’

“Now in times when a blessed one has not arisen in the world, the solitary buddhas appear. So it was that a solitary buddha was leaning up against a tree directly in front of the king. To catch the king’s attention, the solitary buddha made a sound like he was clearing his throat. When the king heard it, he leapt up in terror, thinking, ‘Has my opponent’s army come here?’