雜譬喻經 1.6

1.6

Formerly, there was a cakravartin who had first fathered nine hundred and ninety-nine sons. They all grew up to be upright, extraordinary, clever, and wise, and possessed bodily strength. Some possessed twenty-eight marks, some possessed thirty marks, and some possessed thirty-one marks. The very last son had only just entered the mother's womb, dwelling amidst foul impurities. At that time, powerful spirits and deities of the eight classes of beings played drums, instruments, and sang, guarding his mother. The king also issued orders to his attendants to prepare offerings and various decorations, three times more than usual. People of the time addressed the king: "Your earlier sons, O King, have now all grown up; their wisdom is penetrating, and their bodily marks are extraordinary. Your Majesty's mind was ordinary and you never rejoiced. Now, when this single son has only just entered his mother's womb, what is so exceptional that you provide extraordinary offerings?" The king replied: "Although my elder sons possess talent and beauty surpassing ordinary men, none are qualified to ascend to the great throne. If this last son of mine is born and grows up, he will surely be qualified to succeed to the great throne." The wheel-turning king is a metaphor for the Buddha; the elder sons are a metaphor for the lower two vehicles; the unborn son is a metaphor for the bodhisattva. This means that although a bodhisattva may be mixed with dust and defilement, as long as he is able to arouse the great intention, he will surely be mindful of by all Buddhas, and devas, nāgas, ghosts, and deities will all give rise to reverence and love for him.