ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 28.17

28.17

would take them from the sky into his lap and place them in their seats, and after contenting them with many good, wholesome foods he would sit before them to listen to the Dharma.

“One day King Brahmadatta’s subjects who lived out in the mountains began to revolt. He arrayed the four divisions of his army and set out, telling his daughter, ‘When the two sages come you should serve and respect them in just the same way that I do.’ Having spoken thus the king departed.

“Soon after, the sage Son of Fire sent the sage Tongue of Fire on an errand to the royal palace. He traveled through the sky to the royal palace, and upon the sage’s arrival the young woman received him, taking him from the sky into her lap, embracing him, and placing him in his seat.

“A woman’s touch is a dangerous thing. No sooner had the woman touched the sage Tongue of Fire than his miraculous powers began to dwindle. The young woman, noting that the sage was well proportioned, pleasing to the eye, and beautiful, became very attached to him, and the two went off to an isolated place and slept together. When the retinue of queens heard of this, they thought, ‘If we say even a word to the sage, it’s possible the sage would use his great miracles and great power to curse us.’ Afraid, they were unable to say anything. The sage remained at the royal palace, not daring to travel by foot out of embarrassment.

“Eventually King Brahmadatta returned from his victory over the mountain folk, arrived at the royal palace, and he heard that the sage Tongue of Fire had come there. The king hurried to see him and offered him many good, wholesome foods. His daughter came along, also bearing food and drink for the sage. As soon as the sage saw her he was overcome with desire. His desire for her intoxicated him, and before the king’s very eyes