三寶感應要略錄 1.9

1.9

The Buddha was in the Bamboo Grove. At that time, in Jambudvīpa, there were two great cities: one was called Kusumpura (Huazi), and the second was called Roruka (Shengyin). These two cities alternated in decline and prosperity. At that time, the city of Roruka was rich and prosperous in population. Its king was named Rudrāyaṇa (Xiandao). He ruled the country by the True Dharma, without enmities, illnesses, or suffering, and the five grains matured well. His principal queen was named Śikhī (Dingji). He had two great ministers: one was named Benefitting (Liyi), and the second was named Removing Affliction (Chuhuan). At that time, the king of Rājagṛha was named Bimbisāra. His principal queen was named Vaidehī (Shengshen), the crown prince was named Ajātaśatru (Weishengyuan), and the great minister was named Varṣākāra (Xingyu). At that time, the great king Rudrāyaṇa held a great morning assembly and said to the multitude, "Is there any other country whose abundance and happiness resemble our country?" Then a merchant from the kingdom of Magadha addressed the king, "To the east there is the city of Rājagṛha; that country is similar to your majesty's realm." When Rudrāyaṇa heard this, he gave rise to feelings of affection toward Bimbisāra. He asked his ministers, "What is that country lacking?" They replied, saying, "That place lacks jewels." The king filled a golden casket with wondrous jewels and, together with an imperial letter, dispatched an envoy to send them to King Bimbisāra. When the king read the letter and heard of the state gift, he rejoiced greatly and said, "What is that country lacking?" The people replied, "They lack fine cotton cloth." The king then filled chests and caskets with great cotton cloth produced in his country, and, following what had been done before, sent a reply to King Rudrāyaṇa together with a letter. At that time, King Rudrāyaṇa of Roruka saw it, rejoiced, and asked the envoy, "What is that king's appearance like?" [The envoy] replied, "His form is tall and large, just like your majesty. His character is heroic and fierce, and he personally engages in battle." The king then made a fine suit of armor with five virtues according to [Bimbisāra's] measurements, and ordered an envoy to deliver it: first, when worn in sweltering heat, it is cool and cold; second, swords striking it cannot cut through; third, arrows shot at it cannot pierce; fourth, it wards off all poisons; fifth, it can emit bright light. When the armor was completed, the king drafted an imperial letter and sent the envoy to present it to Bimbisāra. When the king read the letter and looked at the armor, he thought it extraordinary, estimating its value at ten hundred million gold coins. It caused him to worry and ponder, "My country lacks something like this; how can I repay it?" At that time, the great minister Varṣākāra saw that the king bore a worried expression and asked the reason. The king answered in full. The minister said, "That king only presented a single suit of precious armor, but within your majesty's kingdom there is the Buddha, a wondrous jewel among humans, with whom none are equal throughout the ten directions." The king said, "This is truly so, but what should be done?" The minister said, "You should paint the image of the World-Honoured One on cotton cloth and dispatch an envoy to speed and deliver it." The king said, "If so, I will tell the Buddha." The king then informed the Buddha of the matter. The Buddha said, "Excellent, an exquisite thought! You may paint one panel of the Buddha's image and send it to that king. As for the method of painting the image: after first painting the image, write the Three Refuges beneath the image; next, write the five courses of study—namely, the five precepts; next, write the twelvefold conditioned arising in its revolving and its cessation. On the upper edge, write two verses." The verse said: