菩薩從兜術天降神母胎說廣普經 7.29

7.29

At that time, the Bhagavat observed the thoughts in the minds of sentient beings: "They wish to know the places through which the Tathāgata has passed—that he was once born among the garuḍas and received instruction from the nāga prince, delivering immeasurable and incalculable beings. Is it only this, or is there yet more? We wish to hear its meaning." Knowing the thoughts in the minds of sentient beings, the Buddha was about to reveal the actions of body, speech, and mind that he had previously cultivated: "Sons and daughters of good family! Listen to what I say. In the past, there was a Śakra, king of the gods. Countless kalpas have passed since his demise, yet his celestial blessings were spontaneous, and among all the Śakras throughout the trichiliocosm, he was supreme and foremost. The asura king Rāhula fathered a daughter who was upright and graceful, fully endowed with the sixty-four arts of womanhood. In walking and standing still, she never violated deportment; her face was like the colour of peach blossoms, the breath from her mouth was like the fragrance of the utpala lotus, and her body gave off the scent of gośīrṣa sandalwood. Neither too tall nor too short, neither too pale nor too dark, neither too fat nor too thin, she was fully endowed with the ways of womanhood. Then Śakra Devānām Indra thought to himself: 'Now in this palace of mine there are many goddesses, and their beauty surpasses all other gods; yet they do not equal that asura maiden. I would do best to assemble my armies and do battle with him, so that I may take his daughter to serve me.' Having thought this, he immediately summoned the gods to deliberate on waging war. The gods addressed Śakra: 'In waging war, the gods will surely not equal him. You may expediently send the gods of music, holding in their hands the lapis lazuli ninety-nine-stringed lute and the single-stringed lute, to sing praises of our heaven’s enjoyment of blessings and delight, and of its immeasurable merits.' The gods praised this: 'These words are sound and may be followed.' He then ordered Pañcaśikha, son of the gods and master of music, and others to prepare their musical instruments. Instantly they disappeared from heaven, and in the time it takes a strong man to bend or stretch his arm, they were already standing before Baha, king of the asuras. Plucking the lute, they produced music and spoke this verse: