ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 32.24

32.24

The Blessed One had a thought about the world: “It would be good for the great king Vaiśravaṇa to come see me with the yakṣa Maheśākhya!” No sooner had the Blessed One had this thought than the great king Vaiśravaṇa and the yakṣa Maheśākhya came to see the Blessed One. Upon their arrival they touched their heads to the Blessed One’s feet and took a seat at one side.

The horde of piśācas, terrified that the great king Vaiśravaṇa and the yakṣa Maheśākhya would do them harm, began to run all about. The Blessed One emanated flames all about them in order to tame them. The piśācas saw there were great flames all about them and that they could not run away, and that it was only peaceful at the feet of the Blessed One. In search of refuge they went to the Blessed One and upon their arrival sat in a circle around him.

“My friends,” the Blessed One said to the piśācas, “you have taken birth in the lower realms, as piśācas, because of your past sins and nonvirtuous actions. Even now you are doing harm to many. When you die and transmigrate, what will be the state of your rebirth? Where will you go?”

“What advice can you grant us?” they asked.

“From this day forth,” the Blessed One instructed them, “give up sinful actions, go for refuge, and maintain the fundamental precepts.”

“As you wish, Blessed One,” the piśācas replied. Then the piśācas went for refuge, took the fundamental precepts, and gave up sinful actions.

The Blessed One taught them the Dharma that was appropriate for them,