釋迦譜 1.451

1.451

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.