法苑珠林 91.65

91.65

Also, according to Wang Xuance's *Xiguo xingzhuan*: When the king came to know the villainy of his secondary wife, he swallowed his anger in fury and subjected her to corporal punishment. At that time, her accomplices and ministers were all banished to the barren and saline wasteland northeast of the Snow Mountains. At the Mahābodhi Temple, there was a holy monk named Yansha (Yaśas), a great arhat. Hearing of his lofty virtue, the king took his blind son and fully reported the preceding events, begging for compassion so that his eyes might see again. Accepting the king's invitation, the monk announced to all the people of the kingdom, “Tomorrow morning I shall expound the profound Dharma; let everyone bring a vessel to hold their tears.” On that day, clerics and laypeople rushed from afar to attend. When they heard him preach the twelve links of dependent origination, the assembly was so overcome with grief that they wept tears of blood. The tears were collected and placed together in a golden basin. The master made a vow, saying, “If the principles of the Dharma just expounded are true, may the eyes of the prince be washed with these tears of the assembly and regain their sight! If the principles are not true, let his eyes remain blind as before.” Thereupon, washing his eyes with the tears, they were completely restored. At that time, the king and his son were overjoyed beyond measure. The assembly was universally delighted and all proclaimed, “Sadhu! Such is holy power!” That prince was King Kuṇāla; his stūpa still stands today.