English
At that time, the ministers and others deliberated and said, "This young and handsome one possesses all the signs of a king, and should be enthroned as king." So they made him king. He ruled all the lands according to Dharma and law, bringing happiness to all beings, abundant rain, and smooth seasons, so that everything flourished. At that time, that king sat on the lion throne and said to all the people, "By the ripening of the merit of my giving, I have obtained the things of this life, which are only like a flower. In the future, the great fruit of Buddhahood will arise, so who would not respect the merit of morality and giving?" He taught the Dharma in this way, leading beings onto the path of virtue. ༈ Also, in the past, there was a great merchant like Vaishravana, named Moonlight, who gave great gifts and learned all the treatises and poems from virtuous teachers, so that the light of his fame as a wise man spread everywhere. His five hundred teachers and attendants said to him, "You are very compassionate, and if someone were to ask for your life, you would give it, wouldn't you?" He said, "The beggar bestows a special benefit on the giver, so why should I not be compassionate? Of course, I am compassionate." They said, "If you give in this way, then what do you desire in terms of power and a wheel-turning king?" He said, "I do not desire the unstable happiness of samsara, but I desire unsurpassed Bodhi in order to liberate all beings." They were pleased and left. Once, that great being thought, "I have done many things for beggars, and now I will satisfy the animals with my own flesh and blood." So he took weapons, honey, and butter, and without telling his relatives, went to the cemetery at night, examined the piles of corpses, freed himself from attachment, and cut off all his limbs with sharp weapons, smeared them with honey and butter, let them drip down, and let the ants and worms eat them. Then, a fierce bird pecked out his eyes and said to him again, "Do you feel great pain from having your eyes gouged out?" The Bodhisattva said, "If someone does not