ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 22.20

22.20

I have lived the holy life, I have done what was before me, and I understand that I shall know no other existence.

“Monks, in this very life the monk Kāśyapa has also exhausted the outflows. His mind, thus free of outflows, has been liberated, wisdom has been liberated, and having directly realized this though his own superknowledge, rebirth is extinguished for him. He has lived the holy life, he has done what was before him, and he understands that he will know no other existence.”

As the Blessed One, there amid hundreds of disciples, affirmed Venerable Mahā­kāśyapa’s greatness as being like his own, he made him supreme guru of the entire world with its gods.

“Lord,” the monks requested the Blessed Buddha, “tell us why the Blessed One affirmed the vast greatness of Venerable Mahā­kāśyapa as being like his own, making him guru of all the entire world with its gods.”

“Not only now,” the Blessed One explained, “but in times past as well, and in the same way, when I venerated him, he became the guru of all of the many people living in this realm. Listen well!

“Monks, in times past, during King Brahmadatta’s reign in the city of Vārāṇasī, the kingdom was prosperous, flourishing, happy, and well populated. The harvest was good. Quarreling and arguments had ceased, there was no fighting or infighting, and there were no robbers, thieves, illness, or famine. Rice, sugarcane, cattle, and buffalo were plentiful. King Brahmadatta did no harm, and he ruled the kingdom gently and mercifully, as a parent cares for a beloved only child.

“The king had as many as five hundred queens. Though they all enjoyed themselves and