ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 37.5

37.5

It is he who set this plague upon us.”

When the people heard this, they were desperate and did not know what to do. King Prasenajit thought, “No one can tame him. I shall have to implore the Blessed One right now to do so.” He approached the Blessed One, touched his head to the Blessed One’s feet, and took a seat at one side.

Once he had taken a seat at one side, King Prasenajit implored the Blessed One, “Lord, the Blessed One has tamed vicious nāgas like Nanda, Upananda, and others besides. You have tamed even the vicious yakṣa lord Aṭavika, and others besides. How wonderful it would be if, out of compassion, the Blessed One could tame this vicious yakṣa as well.” The Blessed One assented by his silence. King Prasenajit then praised this assurance from the Blessed One, rejoiced, touched his head to the Blessed One’s feet, and took leave of the Blessed One.

By means of a miracle the Blessed One set the yakṣa down near the garden of Prince Jeta, and to tame him he emanated a great fire. The yakṣa saw the great fire surrounding him on every side, and that it was peaceful only at the feet of the Blessed One. Afraid for his life, the vicious yakṣa approached the Blessed One, and the Blessed One said to him, “My friend, you were executed by King Prasenajit for a previous nonvirtuous action.