法苑珠林 11.7

11.7

As the Dharmaguptaka-vinaya states: At that time, the Bodhisattva wandered on step by step, going from the borders of Magadha to the city of Rājagṛha, and stayed there overnight. The next morning, he entered the city to beg for food. His countenance was dignified and upright; bending and stretching, looking down and up, his deportment was composed, and he looked straight ahead as he advanced, not glancing to the left or right. Donning his robes and carrying his bowl, he entered Rājagṛha to beg for food. At that time, the King of Magadha was on a high terrace, surrounded before and behind by his ministers. Seeing the Bodhisattva from afar entering the city to beg for food with composed steps, he praised him in verse to his ministers. The king then dispatched a messenger to ask: "Where does the bhikṣu wish to go?" The Bodhisattva answered him: "The mountain is named Pāṇḍava; I shall stay there overnight." The messenger returned swiftly and reported this matter to the king. Hearing the messenger's words, the king immediately adorned a fine elephant mount, and followed by the multitude, he went to pay homage to the Bodhisattva. The king then said to the prince: "You may dwell here now. I offer you everything in my entire kingdom, and I will take off this jewelled crown; you may ascend the royal throne and govern, and I will serve as your minister." The Bodhisattva replied: "I have renounced the position of a cakravartin to leave household life and study the Way; how could I remain in secular life on the royal throne of this frontier country? O King, you should know now: it is like someone who, having seen the great ocean, afterwards sees water in a cow's footprint; how could he produce a mind of attachment to it? It is just the same here: how could I abandon the throne of a cakravartin to adopt the position of a petty, millet-scattered king? This cannot be." Then the king stepped forward and said: "If you attain the unexcelled Way, come first to Rājagṛha to meet with me." The Bodhisattva replied: "So be it." Thereupon the king paid homage at the Bodhisattva's feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed.