釋迦譜 1.451

1.451

爾時如來作是念已。大梵天王。見於如來聖果已成。默然而住不轉法輪。心懷憂惱即自念言。世尊昔於無量億劫。為眾生故久在生死。捨國城妻子頭目髓腦。備受眾苦始於今者所願滿足。成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。云何默然而不說法。眾生長夜沈沒生死。我今當往請轉法輪。作是念已即發天宮。猶如壯士屈伸臂頃。至如來所頭面禮足。繞百千匝却住一面。胡跪合掌而白佛言。世尊往昔。為眾生故久住生死。捨身頭目以用布施。備受諸苦廣修德本。始於今者成無上道。云何默然而不說法。眾生長夜沒溺生死。墮無明暗出斯甚難。然有眾生過去世時。親近善友植諸德本。堪任聞法受於聖道。唯願世尊為斯等故。以大悲力轉妙法輪。釋提桓因乃至他化自在天。亦復如是勸請如來。為諸眾生轉大法輪。

At that time, after the Tathāgata had formed this thought, the Great Brahmā Deva King saw that the Tathāgata had completed the holy fruit yet remained silent without turning the wheel of Dharma. Harboring worry and distress in his mind, he immediately thought to himself: 'In the past, for the sake of sentient beings, the World-Honoured One was in birth and death for immeasurable hundreds of millions of kalpas. He renounced kingdoms, cities, wives, children, head, eyes, marrow, and brain, undergoing all sufferings, only now having his vow fulfilled to accomplish anuttarāsamyaksaṃbodhi. Why does he remain silent and not preach the Dharma? Sentient beings have been submerged in birth and death through the long night. I should now go and request him to turn the wheel of Dharma.' Having formed this thought, he immediately departed from the heavenly palace, as quickly as a strong man bending and extending his arm, and arrived at the Tathāgata's place. He bowed his head and face at his feet, circumambulated him hundreds of thousands of times, retreated to stand to one side, knelt on his right knee with palms joined, and said to the Buddha: 'Formerly, for the sake of sentient beings, the World-Honoured One dwelt long in birth and death, giving away his body, head, and eyes in dāna, undergoing all sufferings, and extensively cultivating the roots of virtue, only now attaining the unsurpassed path. Why do you remain silent and not preach the Dharma? Sentient beings have been submerged in birth and death through the long night, falling into the darkness of ignorance, from which it is exceedingly difficult to escape. Yet there are sentient beings who, in past lives, drew close to good spiritual friends and planted roots of virtue; they are capable of hearing the Dharma and receiving the noble path. May the World-Honoured One, for the sake of these beings, turn the wondrous wheel of Dharma by the power of great compassion!' Śakra Devānām Indra, and up to the Paranirmitavaśavartin devas, likewise urged and requested the Tathāgata to turn the great wheel of Dharma for the sake of all sentient beings.