The Lotus Sūtra 5.18

5.18

「文殊師利！譬如強力轉輪聖王，欲以威勢降伏諸國，而諸小王不順其命，時轉輪王起種種兵而往討罰。王見兵眾戰有功者，即大歡喜，隨功賞賜，或與田宅、聚落、城邑；或與衣服、嚴身之具；或與種種珍寶：金、銀、琉璃、車𤦲、馬腦、珊瑚、虎珀，象馬車乘，奴婢人民。唯髻中明珠，不以與之。所以者何？獨王頂上有此一珠，若以與之，王諸眷屬必大驚怪。

"Mañjuśrī, it is like a powerful wheel-turning sage king who wishes to subdue other countries with his majesty and power, but the lesser kings do not obey his commands; the wheel-turning king then raises various armies and goes to punish them. Seeing that those among the troops have achieved merit in battle, the king is greatly rejoiced and confers rewards according to their merit: he may give them fields and houses, villages, and towns; or give them clothing and body ornaments; or give them various precious treasures—gold, silver, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, agate, coral, amber—elephants, horses, carriages, male and female slaves, and people. Only the bright pearl in his topknot he does not give them. Why is this? It is because this single pearl is only upon the king's crown; if he were to give it away, the king's attendants would surely be greatly astonished and alarmed.