止觀輔行傳弘決 3.33

3.33

As for the marks of the accomplishment of patience: take, for example, the ṛṣi Kṣānti, who was cultivating patience in a forest. At that time King Kali took his court ladies into the park to disport himself. When the food and drink were finished, the king took a short rest. The women were picking flowers in the forest when they saw this ṛṣi; with heightened reverence they bowed and stood to one side. At that time the ṛṣi praised loving-kindness and patience for the women; his words were so wondrous that the listeners forgot weariness, and after a long time forgot to leave. When the king awoke from sleep and did not see the women, he drew his sword and followed their tracks. Seeing the women standing before the ṛṣi, jealousy flared up fiercely; with angry eyes and brandishing his sword, he leveled it at the ṛṣi: "What are you doing?" The ṛṣi answered: "I am cultivating loving-kindness and patience." The king said: "I shall test you now: I shall cut off your hands and feet, as well as your ears and nose, with a sharp sword. If you do not become angry, only then will I know you cultivate patience." The ṛṣi said: "Do as you please." The king then drew his sword and severed his hands and feet, as well as his ears and nose, and asked him: "Has your mind been moved or not?" He answered: "I cultivate loving-kindness and patience; my mind has not been moved." The king said: "You are a single person here with no power. Though you say with your mouth that it has not been moved, who will believe you?" At that time the ṛṣi made a vow: "If I am truly cultivating loving-kindness and patience, let my blood turn into milk." It immediately changed into milk. The king, greatly frightened, fled, taking his court ladies away. At that time the nāgas and spirits in the forest, on behalf of this ṛṣi, rained down thunder and lightning, inflicting poisonous harm on the king, so that in the end he did not return to the palace.