大方便佛報恩經 5.14

5.14

The Buddha said: “Listen well! Long ago, countless asaṃkhyeya kalpas in the past, there was a kingdom named Vārāṇasī. The king of that Vārāṇasī was named Mahāprabhāsa (Great Radiance). King Mahāprabhāsa ruled over sixty lesser realms and eight hundred settlements. That king constantly harboured a benevolent heart, giving generously to all and never going against anyone’s wishes. At that time there was the king of a petty border realm who constantly harboured evil and defiance. At that time King Mahāprabhāsa, on every fasting day of every month, would use five hundred great elephants to carry precious jewels, money and wealth, clothing, bedding, and food and drink, placing them in the great market and outside the four city gates to give generously to all. When hostile enemy states heard that King Mahāprabhāsa gave generously to all without thwarting anyone’s wishes, whoever needed clothing, food and drink, gold, silver, or precious jewels would take them at will and depart.