འཕགས་པ་སྙང་རྗ་པད་མ་དཀར་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བ་ཐག་པ་ཆན་པའ་མད 170

170

choose the arrays of buddha-realm qualities, and in the presence of the Bhagavat make the aspiration that you wish. Nurture beings with the elixir of the Dharma, and perform your bodhisattva conduct with unwavering diligence. Don’t think about this over and over for a long time!’ And he took him by the hand and brought him before the Bhagavat.

“Then, noble son, the brahmin youth Mahābalavegadhārin sat before the Bhagavat and asked, ‘Bhagavat, in the future, how many sun-like sages will rise in the Bhadraka eon?’

“The Tathāgata Ratnagarbha answered, ‘Brahmin youth, in that Bhadraka eon there will rise 1,004 sun-like sages.’

“ ‘Bhadanta Bhagavat,’ declared the brahmin youth, ‘until the last of those sun-like jinas pass into parinirvāṇa in the great Bhadraka eon, after the brahmin youth named Sārabhuja²⁸⁷ has attained the complete enlightenment of perfect buddhahood and become the tathāgata named Haripatracūḍa—until then, I will for that long perform the conduct of a bodhisattva, gathering the various accumulations of observances, ascetic conduct, generosity, discipline, vows, listening, diligence, patience, rejoicing, merit, and wisdom. Immediately after each of those of the Bhadraka eon has attained complete enlightenment, may I offer them their first alms. May I make offerings to their relics when they have passed into parinirvāṇa. May I be one who upholds their good Dharma. May I make beings who do not have correct conduct enter into and maintain perfect good conduct.