經律異相 24.27

24.27

In an ancient era, human lifespan was immeasurable. There was a king named Supratiṣṭhita. At that time, while serving as crown prince handling governance and upon ascending the royal throne, the king spent eighty-four thousand years in each stage. At that time, a fleshy vesicle grew upon the crown of the king's head. The vesicle was soft, fine and supple like tūla cotton or karpāsa. It gradually grew larger without causing any harm. When the full ten months were complete, the vesicle split open, giving birth to a boy. His features were upright, foremost among men. The father king was overjoyed and named him Mūrdhata (Crown-Born). King Supratiṣṭhita then entrusted state affairs to him, abandoned his wife and children, and entered the mountains to train in the Path, completing eighty-four thousand years. At that time, on the fifteenth day, King Mūrdhata was bathing and observing the precepts on a high tower. Thereupon, from the eastern direction, the treasure of the golden wheel arrived. The wheel had a thousand spokes, complete with hub and rim; it was not fashioned by any artisan, but came into being naturally to respond to him. The king reflected: 'I once heard a five-superknowledges rṣi explain that if a kṣatriya king, on the fifteenth day, upon a high tower, bathes and observes the precepts, and if a golden wheel comes to respond to him, one should know that he will become a wheel-turning sage emperor.' He then tested it by raising it with his left hand, holding an incense burner with his right, placing his right knee upon the ground, and making an oath, saying: 'If this golden-wheel treasure is truly not false, it should act just as the wheel of the past wheel-turning sage kings did.' It immediately flew up into the void, circled through the ten directions, and returned to the king's left hand. The king knew in his heart that he was a wheel-turning sage king. Not long thereafter, there was also the elephant treasure, white as a lotus blossom, with seven limbs touching the ground. The king thought: 'This too is as the ṛṣi said.' On the fifteenth day, while upon the high tower bathing and observing the precepts, the king tested it by raising the incense burner, placing his right knee on the ground, and making an oath: 'If this white elephant treasure is truly not false, it should act just as the elephants of the past wheel-turning sage kings did.' From morning to evening it immediately traveled all around the eight directions, reaching the limits of the great ocean, and returned to stay in its original place. The king was exceedingly joyful and again said: 'I am now definitely a wheel-turning sage king.' Not long thereafter, the horse treasure followed, and the king again tested it as before. Then there was the woman treasure, her appearance upright and exquisitely foremost; when her hand touched the king's clothes, she immediately knew whether the king's body was in suffering or pleasure, and also knew that to which the king's mind was directed. Spontaneously there appeared a maṇi jewel, like pure blue vaidūrya, as large as a cartwheel, illuminating one yojana. If heaven sent down rain, pouring like carriage axles, the power of this jewel could form a great canopy covering one yojana, warding off this heavy rain and not letting it fall through. The king tested it as before. Next, the storehouse-treasurer minister appeared spontaneously, possessing vast wealth and treasures with nothing lacking; his eyes could see hidden storehouses, and whatever the king wished, he was capable of providing. They then boarded a boat together and entered the great ocean. The king told the treasurer minister: 'I now desire to obtain rare and extraordinary treasures.' Having heard this, the minister stirred the ocean water with both hands. Thereupon, from his ten fingertips, ten precious treasures emerged, which he offered to the sage king, saying to the king: 'Great King, use whatever you require as you please; whatever remains shall sink back into the great ocean.' The king was exceedingly joyful. Next, the army-commanding minister appeared spontaneously, valiant, brave, and supreme in strategic planning, skilled in understanding the fourfold army, capable of crushing and subduing [enemies], and possessing the strength to protect those already subdued. The king told his ministers: 'You should know that this Jambudvīpa is peaceful, abundant, and joyful. I am now endowed with the seven treasures and complete with a thousand sons; what more is there to be done?' The ministers answered: 'Indeed, Great King, Pūrvavideha in the east, Godānīya in the west, and Uttarakuru in the north have not yet submitted to your virtue. The king should now go there.' At that time, the king, together with the seven treasures and all his retinue, flew through the air to go there, and the people of the four directions joyfully submitted to his virtue. He again told his ministers: 'My four continents are peaceful, abundant, and joyful, and the people are thriving and have all converted; what more is there to be done?' The ministers replied: 'Indeed, Sage King, the gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven have long lifespans and are peaceful and happy; relying on their own heavenly merit, they have not yet come to submit. You should now go to campaign against them and make them yield.' The king again flew through the void and ascended to the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. He saw a tree whose color was blue-green, and immediately asked his ministers: 'What color is this?' The ministers replied: 'This is the Pārijāta tree. Beneath it, the gods of Trāyastriṃśa always enjoy themselves and experience pleasure during the three months of summer.' He also saw a white color, resembling white clouds, and again asked his ministers: 'What color is this?' The ministers answered: 'This is the Sudharmā Hall. The gods of Trāyastriṃśa always assemble within it to discuss affairs of humans and gods.' Thereupon the lord of heaven, Śakra Devānām Indra, knowing that the king was outside, went out to welcome him. Seeing him, he took him by the hand, ascended the Sudharmā Hall, and shared his seat with him. At that time, the appearances and countenances of the two kings were equal without any distinction, differing only in the blinking of the eyes. (The Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish says that in a previous life he scattered beans upon Puṣya Buddha; four grains fell into the bowl, so he ruled over the four continents, and one grain landed on the Buddha's crown, so he enjoyed happiness in two heavens.) The king said: 'May I now dwell here and be the heavenly king?' At that time, Heavenly King Śakra had received, kept, recited, and proclaimed to others the Mahāyāna scriptures, though he had not yet fully mastered the profound meaning. The king then gave rise to an evil thought toward Śakra; immediately he fell back down to Jambudvīpa. Separated from the humans and gods whom he loved and cherished, he suffered great affliction. He further contracted an illness and immediately passed away. Śakra was Kāśyapa Buddha, and the wheel-turning sage king was none other than myself.' (Extracted from the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, fascicle 11)