38.10 （一〇）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, King Prasenajit said to his charioteer, "Prepare a chariot with feathered jewels. I wish to go out and enjoy the scenery."

At that time, the man received the king's order, immediately prepared the chariot with feathered jewels, and said to the king, "The chariot with feathered jewels is ready. The king should know the time."

King Prasenajit took this man and left the city of Shravasti. He arrived at the garden and observed the trees. They were all silent and there were no people. It was quiet and empty. Having seen this, he remembered the Buddha's teachings on the origin of all phenomena. At that time, the man was behind the king, holding a fan to fan the king. "These fruit trees in the garden are all silent and there are no people. It is quiet and empty. I now wish to invite the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Enlightened One to come here to teach. However, I do not know where the Tathāgata is now. I wish to go and pay homage to him."

The attendant replied, "There is a village of the Sakya clan called Deer Park. The Tathāgata is teaching there."

King Prasenajit asked, "How far is Deer Park from here?"

The attendant informed the king, "The Tathāgata's dwelling is not far from here. It is three yojanas away."

At that time, King Prasenajit said, "Quickly prepare a chariot adorned with feathers and jewels. I wish to see the Tathāgata now."

At that time, the man received the king's order and immediately prepared the chariot. He then informed the king, "The chariot is now ready. The king may know the time." The king then rode in the chariot and went to that village.

At that time, the group of bhikṣus were walking in the open air. The king then alighted from his carriage and went to where the many bhikṣus were. Having arrived, he bowed his head to their feet and stood to one side. The king then said to the bhikṣus, "Where is the Tathāgata? I wish to see him."

The many bhikṣus replied, "The World-Honored One is staying in the lecture hall. You may go and see him, do not find it difficult. When the king wishes to leave, raise your foot slowly, do not make a sound." At that time, King Prasenajit looked back at his attendant. The attendant then thought, "The king is now alone with the World-Honored One. I should stay here."

At that time, the king went alone to where the World-Honored One was. At that time, the World-Honored One used his divine eye to see King Prasenajit standing outside the door. At that time, the World-Honored One immediately rose from his seat and opened the door for the king. The king saw the World-Honored One and bowed his head to his feet, proclaiming his name, "I am King Prasenajit." He proclaimed his name three times.

The World-Honored One said, "You are now a king, and I am a Śākya who has left home to study the path."

At that time, the king said to the Buddha, "I only wish that the World-Honored One would prolong his life without end, so that the devas and humans may find peace."

The World-Honored One said, "May the great king prolong his life without end, govern with the Dharma, and not with unrighteousness. Those who govern with the Dharma will all be reborn in the heavens and good places. After their lives end, their reputations will not be forgotten. The people will say, 'In the past, there was a king who governed with the Dharma, and there was never any injustice.' If there are people living within this king's realm who praise the king's virtues and remember them without forgetting, the king's body in the heavens will increase six kinds of meritorious virtues. What are the six? First, heavenly lifespan, second, heavenly appearance, third, heavenly bliss, fourth, heavenly supernatural powers, fifth, heavenly nobility, and sixth, heavenly radiance. Therefore, great king! You should govern with the Dharma, and not with unrighteousness. I have these meritorious virtues in my body today, and I should be respected and worshipped by people."

The king said to the Buddha, "The Tathāgata's meritorious virtues should be respected and worshipped by people."

The World-Honored One said, "How can you say that the Tathāgata should be respected and worshipped by people?"

The king said to the Buddha, "The Tathāgata has six meritorious virtues that should be respected and worshipped by people. What are the six? The Tathāgata's true Dharma is very harmonious and elegant, practiced by the wise. This is called the Tathāgata's first meritorious virtue, which is worthy of service and respect.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata's noble assembly is extremely harmonious, accomplished in the Dharma, accomplished in precepts, accomplished in wisdom, accomplished in liberation, and accomplished in the vision and wisdom of liberation. The noble assembly refers to the four pairs and eight groups. This is the Tathāgata's noble assembly, worthy of respect and reverence, the great field of merit in the world. This is called the Tathāgata's second meritorious virtue.

Furthermore, the Tathāgata has four groups of followers who practice the Dharma taught by him, without further disturbing the Tathāgata. This is called the Tathāgata's third meritorious virtue.

Furthermore, World-Honored One! I see that the kṣatriya, brāhmaṇa, householder, and śramaṇa classes, who are highly talented and renowned, all come together to discuss: 'We should go ask the Tathāgata about this matter. If that śramaṇa Gautama does not answer this matter, then he will be at fault; if he can answer, then we should praise him.' At that time, the four classes came to where the World-Honored One was and asked about this matter, but some were silent. At that time, the World-Honored One spoke the Dharma for them. Having heard the Dharma, they no longer asked about matters, let alone wanted to discuss them. They all became disciples of the Tathāgata. This is the fourth meritorious virtue.

Furthermore, the sixty-two views deceive the world, not understanding the true Dharma, leading to ignorance. However, the Tathāgata is able to eliminate these wrong views and cultivate right views. This is called the Tathāgata's fifth meritorious virtue.

Furthermore, sentient beings who engage in evil actions of body, speech, and mind, if they recall the Tathāgata's merits at the time of death, will be freed from the three evil destinies and be reborn in the heavens. Even the most evil person can be reborn in the heavens. This is called the Tathāgata's sixth meritorious virtue.

The World-Honored One said, "Excellent! Excellent! Great King! You are able to roar like a lion before the Tathāgata and expound the Tathāgata's merits. Therefore, Great King! You should always give rise to a mind directed towards the Tathāgata. Thus, Great King! You should train in this way."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke subtle and wonderful Dharma to King Prasenajit, causing him to rejoice. When the great king had heard the Buddha's Dharma, he immediately rose from his seat, bowed at the feet of the World-Honored One, and then departed.

Not long after, the Buddha told the bhikṣus, "You should uphold and venerate this Dharma, recite and contemplate it well. Because this was spoken by King Prasenajit. You should also widely expound its meaning to the fourfold assembly. Thus, bhikṣus! You should train in this way."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.