འཕགས་པ་དཔལ་སྦས་ཞས་བྱ་བའ་མད 28

28

“The brahmin then recited this verse to Dharmakāma:

“ ‘Where one seeks mantras there is happiness;
Where there is happiness one seeks mantras.⁸
In order to find mantras, give up happiness.
Give up happiness in order to find mantras.’

“Dharmakāma answered the brahmin with the following verse:

“ ‘Where one seeks awakening there is happiness.
One seeks awakening where there is happiness.
In order to find awakening, give up happiness.
Give up happiness in order to find awakening.’

“Then Dharmakāma said to the brahmin, ‘Master, please share an eloquent expression with me. In any case, I will do as you instruct.’

“Once they learned that the brahmin boy Dharmakāma intended to sacrifice himself in pursuit of an eloquent expression, the brahmins and householders came to where Dharmakāma lived, all of them weeping, with tears streaming down their faces. Upon arriving, they said to the brahmin boy Dharmakāma, ‘Dharmakāma, do not sacrifice yourself. Dharmakāma, you can practice generosity and make merit while living as a householder.’

“The brahmin boy Dharmakāma replied to the brahmins and householders, ‘Gentlemen, do not say that. I will fulfill the wishes of my master.’

“Then the brahmin boy Dharmakāma had a tall sacrificial post erected, and had a deep pit dug in front of it. He had the pit filled with a flameless and smokeless fire, and said to the brahmin, ‘Master, please share an eloquent expression with me.’

“The brahmin then taught the brahmin boy Dharmakāma verses such as this one:

“ ‘Always take joy in generosity;
Always practice perfect moral conduct;
Always apply supreme diligence—
With wisdom, attain the supreme and holy Dharma.’

“When the brahmin boy Dharmakāma had memorized this verse from the brahmin, a large crowd of people gathered.