68. Mahāsudassana （六八）大善见王经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was wandering in the city of Kuśinagara, staying in the Śāla Grove of the Subhadra Park.

At that time, when the World-Honored One was about to enter parinirvāṇa for the last time, he said, "Ānanda! Go to the twin śāla trees and prepare a bed for the Tathāgata with his head to the north. The Tathāgata will enter parinirvāṇa in the middle of the night."

Venerable Ānanda received the Tathāgata's instruction and went to the twin śāla trees. Between the twin śāla trees, he prepared a bed for the Tathāgata with his head to the north. After preparing the bed, he returned to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! I have prepared a bed for the Tathāgata between the twin śāla trees with his head to the north. May the World-Honored One know the time himself." Thereupon, the World-Honored One, together with Venerable Ānanda, went to the twin śāla trees. He spread his uttarāsanga robe four times on the bed, folded his saṃghāṭī robe as a pillow, lay down on his right side, with one foot on top of the other, about to enter parinirvāṇa for the last time.

At that time, Venerable Ānanda was holding a whisk and attending to the Buddha. Venerable Ānanda joined his palms towards the Buddha and said, "World-Honored One! There are other great cities, namely Campā, Sāvatthī, Vaiśālī, Rājagṛha, Pāṭaligāma, and Kapilavastu. The World-Honored One did not enter parinirvāṇa in those places. Why is it that you are entering parinirvāṇa in this small city, which is the lowest among all the cities?"

At that time, the World-Honored One said, "Ānanda! Do not say that this is a small city, the lowest among all cities. Why is that? In the past, this Kuśinagara was called Kuśinagara, extremely prosperous and joyful, with many people. Ānanda! Kuśinagara was twelve yojanas long and seven yojanas wide. Ānanda! The watchtowers were built as high as one person, or two, three, four, up to seven people. Ānanda! Kuśinagara was surrounded by seven moats outside, which were built with bricks of four treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The bottom was covered with sand of four kinds of treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Ānanda! Kuśinagara was surrounded by seven layers of walls outside, which were also built with bricks of four treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Ānanda! Kuśinagara was surrounded by seven layers of trees of four treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The golden trees had silver leaves, flowers, and fruits. The silver trees had golden leaves, flowers, and fruits. The lapis lazuli trees had crystal leaves, flowers, and fruits. The crystal trees had lapis lazuli leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Ānanda! Between those trees were various flower ponds, with blue lotus ponds, red lotus, pink lotus, and white lotus ponds. Ānanda! The banks of those flower ponds were built with bricks of four treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The bottom was covered with sand of four kinds of treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Ānanda! Those ponds had staircases of four treasures - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The golden stairs had silver steps, the silver stairs had golden steps, the lapis lazuli stairs had crystal steps, and the crystal stairs had lapis lazuli steps.

Ānanda! In those ponds were planted various water flowers, blue lotuses, red lotuses, pink lotuses, and white lotuses. They were always in bloom, without anyone tending to them, and open to all people. Ānanda! On the banks of those ponds were planted various land flowers, such as sumana flowers, vāsanti flowers, jasmine flowers, suketu flowers, madhuka flowers, ati-mudgara flowers, and pāṭala flowers.

Ānanda! On the banks of those flower ponds were many women, with radiant and lustrous bodies, bright and pure, with beauty surpassing that of humans, but slightly less than that of the gods. Their appearance was upright and beautiful, pleasing to behold. They were adorned with various precious necklaces and ornaments. They practiced giving, providing whatever was needed - food and drink, clothing and vehicles, houses, beds, blankets, servants, and lamps.

Ānanda! When the leaves of the tāla trees were blown by the wind, there was an extremely wonderful and melodious sound, like the music of the five kinds of musicians, with the most wonderful and harmonious sounds. Ānanda! When the leaves of the tāla trees were blown by the wind, it was also like this. Ānanda! In the city of Kuśinagara, even the most inferior and evil people, if they wished for the music of the five kinds of instruments, would go together to the grove of tāla trees and all be able to indulge in their desires and enjoy themselves to the utmost. Ānanda! In the royal city of Kuśinagara there were always twelve kinds of sounds that were never interrupted - the sounds of elephants, horses, chariots, infantry, conch shells, drums, bherī drums, musical drums, singing, dancing, eating and drinking, and giving.

Ānanda! In the city of Kuśinagara there was a king named Mahāsudarśana, a wheel-turning king, wise and intelligent, with a well-disciplined army ruling the world, self-reliant, a righteous Dharma king who had attained the seven treasures and the four kinds of human supernormal powers. How did he attain the seven treasures and the four kinds of human supernormal powers? As previously described, the seven treasures and the four kinds of human supernormal powers. Ānanda! Then the brahmins and householders of the royal city of Kuśinagara took many precious jewels and gold coins, loaded them onto carts, and went to King Mahāsudarśana, saying: 'Your Majesty! These many precious jewels and gold coins, please accept them out of compassion.' King Mahāsudarśana told the brahmins and householders: 'You have sent them as offerings, but I do not need them. I also have them myself.'

Ānanda! Furthermore, eighty-four thousand minor kings went to King Mahāsudarśana and said: 'Your Majesty! We wish to build a palace for the Heavenly King.' King Mahāsudarśana told the minor kings: 'You wish to build a proper palace for me, but I do not need it. I already have a proper palace.' The eighty-four thousand minor kings joined their palms, bowed three times, and said: 'Your Majesty! We wish to build a palace for the Heavenly King. We wish to build a palace for the Heavenly King.' Then King Mahāsudarśana, for the sake of the eighty-four thousand minor kings, silently consented. At that time, the eighty-four thousand minor kings, knowing that King Mahāsudarśana had silently consented, bowed, took leave, circumambulated three times, and departed, each returning to their own country. They loaded eighty-four thousand carts with gold and silver, and with each precious jeweled pillar, they went to the city of Kuśinagara. Not far from the city, they built a great proper palace.

Ānanda! That great proper palace is one yojana long and one yojana wide. Ānanda! That great proper palace is built with four kinds of precious bricks - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Ānanda! That great proper palace has four kinds of precious staircases - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold staircase has silver steps, the silver staircase has gold steps, the lapis lazuli staircase has crystal steps, and the crystal staircase has lapis lazuli steps. Ānanda! The great proper palace has eighty-four thousand pillars made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold pillars have silver capitals and bases, the silver pillars have gold capitals and bases, the lapis lazuli pillars have crystal capitals and bases, and the crystal pillars have lapis lazuli capitals and bases. Ānanda! Inside the great proper palace, eighty-four thousand towers are built, made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold towers are covered with silver, the silver towers are covered with gold, the lapis lazuli towers are covered with crystal, and the crystal towers are covered with lapis lazuli.

Ānanda! Inside the great proper palace, eighty-four thousand thrones are set up, also made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold towers have silver thrones, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering cloth, two pillows at both ends, and a canopy of fine silk. The silver towers have gold thrones, the lapis lazuli towers have crystal thrones, and the crystal towers have lapis lazuli thrones, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering cloth, two pillows at both ends, and a canopy of fine silk. Ānanda! Around the great proper palace, there are four kinds of precious railings - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold railings have silver hooks, the silver railings have gold hooks, the lapis lazuli railings have crystal hooks, and the crystal railings have lapis lazuli hooks. Ānanda! The great proper palace is covered with a net, with bells hanging in between. Those bells are made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold bells have silver tongues, the silver bells have gold tongues, the lapis lazuli bells have crystal tongues, and the crystal bells have lapis lazuli tongues.

Ānanda! After the great proper palace was completed, the eighty-four thousand minor kings built a large flower pond not far from the palace. Ānanda! That large flower pond is one yojana long and one yojana wide. Ānanda! That large flower pond is built with four kinds of precious bricks - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The bottom is covered with sand of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. Ānanda! That large flower pond has four kinds of precious staircases - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold staircase has silver steps, the silver staircase has gold steps, the lapis lazuli staircase has crystal steps, and the crystal staircase has lapis lazuli steps.

Ānanda! Around the large flower pond, there are four kinds of precious railings - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold railings have silver hooks, the silver railings have gold hooks, the lapis lazuli railings have crystal hooks, and the crystal railings have lapis lazuli hooks. Ānanda! The large flower pond is covered with a net, with bells hanging in between. Those bells are made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The gold bells have silver tongues, the silver bells have gold tongues, the lapis lazuli bells have crystal tongues, and the crystal bells have lapis lazuli tongues.

Ānanda! In that large flower pond, there are various water flowers - blue lotuses, red lotuses, pink lotuses, and white lotuses. The water is always there, and the flowers are always blooming. There is a guard who does not allow everyone to enter. Ānanda! On the banks of that large flower pond, there are various land flowers - sumana flowers, vāsanti flowers, jasmine flowers, śuṇḍa flowers, mahāśuṇḍa flowers, ati-mudgara flowers, and pāṭalā flowers.

Ānanda! When the great palace and the large flower pond were completed, the eighty-four thousand minor kings built a Tārā garden not far from the palace. Ānanda! The Tārā garden was one yojana long and one yojana wide. Ānanda! In the Tārā garden, eighty-four thousand Tārā trees were planted, made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The golden Tārā trees had silver leaves, flowers, and fruits. The silver Tārā trees had golden leaves, flowers, and fruits. The lapis lazuli Tārā trees had crystal leaves, flowers, and fruits. The crystal Tārā trees had lapis lazuli leaves, flowers, and fruits. Ānanda! Around the Tārā garden, there were four kinds of precious railings - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The golden railings had silver hooks, the silver railings had golden hooks, the lapis lazuli railings had crystal hooks, and the crystal railings had lapis lazuli hooks. Ānanda! The Tārā garden was covered with a net, with bells hanging in between. Those bells were made of four kinds of precious materials - gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and crystal. The golden bells had silver tongues, the silver bells had golden tongues, the lapis lazuli bells had crystal tongues, and the crystal bells had lapis lazuli tongues.

Ānanda! When the great palace, flower pond, and Tārā garden were completed, the eighty-four thousand minor kings went together to King Mahāsudarśana and said, 'Your Majesty! Please know that the great palace, flower pond, and Tārā garden are all complete. We only wish that Your Majesty will do as you please.' Ānanda! At that time, King Mahāsudarśana had this thought: 'I should not ascend this great palace first. If there are any superior śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who rely on this Kuśinagara city to live, I should invite them all to gather and sit in this great palace, provide them with the finest and most delicious food and drink, abundant and delicious to eat, and serve them with my own hands until they are all satisfied. After they have finished eating and the dishes have been removed, I will offer them water for washing and then see them off to return home.'

Ānanda! After King Mahāsudarśana had this thought, he immediately invited the superior śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who relied on that Kuśinagara city to live. They all came and gathered to ascend the great正殿. After they were all seated, he personally offered them water for washing. Then he provided them with the finest and most delicious food and drink, abundant and delicious to eat, and served them with his own hands until they were all satisfied. After they had finished eating and the dishes were removed, he offered them water for washing. After they had received the blessings, he saw them off to return home.

Ānanda! King Mahāsudarśana then had this thought: 'Now I should not engage in desire in the great正殿. I should rather ascend the great palace alone with a single attendant.' Ānanda! King Mahāsudarśana then, at a later time, ascended the great正殿 with a single attendant. He then entered the golden pavilion and sat on the silver throne, which was covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he was free from desire and evil and unwholesome dharmas, with initial and sustained thought, joy and bliss born of seclusion, and attained the first dhyāna, accomplishing and dwelling in it. He left the golden pavilion and next entered the silver pavilion, sitting on the golden throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he was free from desire and evil and unwholesome dharmas, with initial and sustained thought, joy and bliss born of seclusion, and attained the first dhyāna, accomplishing and dwelling in it. He left the silver pavilion and entered the crystal pavilion, sitting on the crystal throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he was free from desire and evil and unwholesome dharmas, with initial and sustained thought, joy and bliss born of seclusion, and attained the first dhyāna, accomplishing and dwelling in it. He left the crystal pavilion and entered the water crystal pavilion, sitting on the crystal throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he was free from desire and evil and unwholesome dharmas, with initial and sustained thought, joy and bliss born of seclusion, and attained the first dhyāna, accomplishing and dwelling in it.

Ānanda! At that time the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure had not seen King Mahāsudarśana for a long time, and they were all longing to see him. Then the eighty-four thousand consorts went together to the female treasure and said, 'Heavenly Consort! You should know that we have not seen the Heavenly King for a long time. Heavenly Consort! We now wish to see the Heavenly King together.' The female treasure, having heard this, told the commander-in-chief, 'You should know that we have not seen the Heavenly King for a long time, and now wish to go and see him.' The commander-in-chief, having heard this, immediately escorted the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure to the great正殿. The eighty-four thousand elephants, eighty-four thousand horses, eighty-four thousand chariots, eighty-four thousand infantry, and eighty-four thousand vassal kings also accompanied them to the great正殿. When they were about to leave, their voices were loud and their sounds shook and moved. King Mahāsudarśana heard their loud voices and the shaking and moving sounds. Having heard this, he immediately asked the attendant by his side, 'Whose voices are so loud and whose sounds shake and move?' The attendant said, 'Heavenly King! It is the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure who are now all coming to the great正殿. The eighty-four thousand elephants, eighty-four thousand horses, eighty-four thousand chariots, eighty-four thousand infantry, and eighty-four thousand vassal kings are also coming to the great正殿 together. That is why their voices are so loud and their sounds shake and move.' King Mahāsudarśana, having heard this, told the attendant, 'You should quickly descend from the palace and quickly spread a golden bed on the open ground, and then return and inform me.' The attendant received the order and immediately descended from the palace. He then quickly spread a golden bed on the open ground and returned to report, 'I have already spread a golden bed for the Heavenly King on the open ground. It is up to the Heavenly King's intention.

Ānanda! King Mahāsudarśana then, together with the attendant, descended from the palace and ascended the golden bed, sitting cross-legged. Ānanda! At that time the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure all came forward to King Mahāsudarśana. Ānanda! King Mahāsudarśana, seeing the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure from afar, immediately closed his senses. Then the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure, seeing the king close his senses, had this thought: 'The Heavenly King must not need us now. Why is that? The Heavenly King just saw us and immediately closed his senses.'

Ānanda! Then the female treasure went forward to King Mahāsudarśana and said, 'Heavenly King! You should know that these eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure all belong to the Heavenly King. I only wish that the Heavenly King will always remember us until the end of our lives. The eighty-four thousand elephants, eighty-four thousand horses, eighty-four thousand chariots, eighty-four thousand infantry, and eighty-four thousand vassal kings all belong to the Heavenly King. I only wish that the Heavenly King will always remember us until the end of our lives.'

At that time King Mahāsudarśana, having heard these words, said to the female treasure, 'Sister! You have long taught me to do evil and not to practice kindness. Sister! From now on, you should teach me to practice kindness and not to do evil.' Ānanda! The eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure then stood to one side, weeping and saying, 'We are not the Heavenly King's sisters, yet the Heavenly King now calls us sisters.'

Ānanda! Those eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure each wiped away their tears with their clothes, and then went forward to King Mahāsudarśana. Having arrived, they said, 'Heavenly King! How should we teach the Heavenly King to practice kindness and not do evil?' King Mahāsudarśana replied, 'Sisters! You should speak to me like this: "Heavenly King, do you know? Human life is short and will end in the next world. One should practice the holy life. Birth is not eternal. Heavenly King, you should know that that law will surely come, which is not lovable or delightful, which destroys all the world, and is called death. Therefore, Heavenly King, if you have any attachment or desire for the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure, I only wish that the Heavenly King would completely cut it off, abandon it, and never think of it again. If you have any attachment or desire for the eighty-four thousand elephants, eighty-four thousand horses, eighty-four thousand chariots, eighty-four thousand infantry, and eighty-four thousand vassal kings, I only wish that the Heavenly King would completely cut it off, abandon it, and never think of it again." Sisters, you should teach me like this to practice kindness and not do evil.'

Ānanda! Those eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure said, 'Heavenly King! From now on, we will teach the Heavenly King to practice kindness and not do evil. Heavenly King! Human life is short and will end in the next world. That law will surely come, which is not lovable or delightful, which destroys all the world, and is called death. Therefore, Heavenly King, if you have any attachment or desire for the eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure, I only wish that the Heavenly King would completely cut it off, abandon it, and never think of it again. If you have any attachment or desire for the eighty-four thousand elephants, eighty-four thousand horses, eighty-four thousand chariots, eighty-four thousand infantry, and eighty-four thousand vassal kings, I only wish that the Heavenly King would completely cut it off, abandon it, and never think of it again.' Ānanda! King Mahāsudarśana taught the Dharma to those eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure, inspiring them with longing and bringing them to fulfillment and joy. Having taught the Dharma to them with immeasurable skillful means, inspiring them with longing and bringing them to fulfillment and joy, he dismissed them to return. Ānanda! Those eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure, knowing that King Mahāsudarśana had dismissed them, each took their leave and returned.

Ānanda! Not long after those eighty-four thousand consorts and the female treasure had left, King Mahāsudarśana immediately returned to the great hall with his attendant, entered the golden pavilion, sat on the silver throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, with pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he contemplated thus: 'This is the last of my thoughts of desire, anger, and harm, of fighting, enmity, flattery, deceit, deception, and false speech, of the immeasurable evil and unwholesome dharmas.' His mind was filled with loving-kindness, pervading one direction, and he accomplished and dwelt in it. Thus in the second, third, and fourth directions, in the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, without enmity, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, immeasurable, well-cultivated, pervading the entire world, he accomplished and dwelt in it.

Having left the golden pavilion, he next entered the silver pavilion, sat on the golden throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, with pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he contemplated thus: 'This is the last of my thoughts of desire, anger, and harm, of fighting, enmity, flattery, deceit, deception, and false speech, of the immeasurable evil and unwholesome dharmas.' His mind was filled with compassion, pervading one direction, and he accomplished and dwelt in it. Thus in the second, third, and fourth directions, in the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, without enmity, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, immeasurable, well-cultivated, pervading the entire world, he accomplished and dwelt in it.

Having left the silver pavilion, he entered the crystal pavilion, sat on the crystal throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, with pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he contemplated thus: 'This is the last of my thoughts of desire, anger, and harm, of fighting, enmity, flattery, deceit, deception, and false speech, of the immeasurable evil and unwholesome dharmas.' His mind was filled with joy, pervading one direction, and he accomplished and dwelt in it. Thus in the second, third, and fourth directions, in the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, without enmity, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, immeasurable, well-cultivated, pervading the entire world, he accomplished and dwelt in it.

Having left the crystal pavilion, he entered the lapis lazuli pavilion, sat on the lapis lazuli throne, covered with woolen blankets, spread with brocade and gauze, with a body-covering quilt, with pillows at both ends, and a canopy and curtains. Having sat down, he contemplated thus: 'This is the last of my thoughts of desire, anger, and harm, of fighting, enmity, flattery, deceit, deception, and false speech, of the immeasurable evil and unwholesome dharmas.' His mind was filled with equanimity, pervading one direction, and he accomplished and dwelt in it. Thus in the second, third, and fourth directions, in the four intermediate directions, above and below, everywhere, without enmity, without resentment, without anger, without contention, extremely vast, immeasurable, well-cultivated, pervading the entire world, he accomplished and dwelt in it.

Ānanda! When King Mahāsudarśana was at the end of his life, he experienced a slight pain, just like a householder or householder's son who has eaten exquisite food and experiences a slight discomfort. Ānanda! When King Mahāsudarśana was at the end of his life, he experienced a slight pain in the same way. Ānanda! At that time, King Mahāsudarśana practiced the four brahma-viharas, and after abandoning desire, he passed away and was reborn in the Brahma Heaven.

Ānanda! Do you think that the King Mahāsudarśana of that time was someone else? Do not think so! You should know that it was I myself. Ānanda! At that time, I benefited myself, benefited others, benefited many people, had compassion for the world, and sought righteousness and benefit for the devas and humans, seeking peace and happiness. At that time, my teaching did not reach the ultimate, was not ultimately pure, was not ultimately the practice of purity, and was not ultimately the completion of the practice of purity. At that time, I was not free from birth, old age, sickness, death, crying, and sorrow, and I was not yet able to be free from all suffering.

Ānanda! Now I have appeared in the world as a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the Secular World, Unsurpassed Person, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Men, Buddha, Blessed One. Now I benefit myself, benefit others, benefit many people, have compassion for the world, and seek righteousness and benefit for the devas and humans, seeking peace and happiness. Now my teaching reaches the ultimate, is ultimately pure, is ultimately the practice of purity, and is ultimately the completion of the practice of purity. Now I am free from birth, old age, sickness, death, crying, and sorrow, and now I have attained freedom from all suffering.

Ānanda! From Kuśinagara, from the Śāla Grove of the Mallas, from the Nairañjanā River, from the Ajiravatī River, from the Devadaha Monastery, from the place where they prepared a bed for me, I have given up my body seven times in between. Six times I was a wheel-turning king, and now the seventh time I am a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One.

Ānanda! I no longer see in the world any deva, Māra, Brahmā, śramaṇa, or brāhmaṇa, from the devas down to humans, who will give up their body again. This is impossible. Ānanda! Now I have my last birth, last existence, last body, last form, and last self. I declare this to be the end of suffering.

The Buddha spoke thus. Venerable Ānanda and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and upheld them.