釋迦譜 1.19

1.19

At that time, living beings were filled with distress and wept bitterly, each demarcating fields and residences to divide their boundaries. Afterward, beings hid their own rice and stole the field grain of others, and there was no one to judge [disputes]. They conferred and decided to establish a Lord of Equality to properly protect the people, reward good, and punish evil, each contributing a share [of their harvest] to support him. At that time, among the multitude there was a person whose stature was tall and large, whose appearance was upright and dignified, and who possessed great majesty and virtue; they asked him to be their lord. Thereupon, the name 'Mahāsammata' (Chosen by the People) first arose. The *Dharmaguptaka Vinaya* says: 'In antiquity there was a king who first appeared in the world named Great Man (Mahāpuruṣa), chosen by the multitude.' The *Loutan jing* says: 'At that time among the multitude there was a person, the most honorable and upright, whose spiritual majesty was majestic. The people said to him: "You shall be our governing lord, act as our ruler and chief, and be called King." Taking taxes according to the Dharma, he was therefore named kṣatriya.' At that time the land of Jambudvīpa was wealthy, joyful, flourishing, and peaceful; green grass grew, colored like a peacock's tail. There were eighty thousand commanderies and kingdoms; the people's settlements were so close that the crowing of roosters could be heard from one to the next. In all under heaven there was no sickness, nor excessive heat or cold. The Great King governed the state according to the Dharma, practiced the ten good actions, and had compassion for the people, loving them as parents love their children. The people revered the king as children revere their father. Human lifespans were very long. Later there were other kings who were not equal to the former king, and lifespans subsequently decreased, falling to a hundred thousand years, gradually decreasing to ten thousand years, until today when lifespans are barely one hundred years.