:: 6. Conversion of Pasenjit. ::
1. Then King Pasenjit, hearing that the Lord had come, went in his royal equippage to the Jetavana Vihara. Saluting him with clasped hands, he said:
2. " Blessed is my unworthy and obscure kingdom that it has met with so great a fortune. For how can calamities and dangers befall it in the presence of Lord of the World, the Dharma Raja, the King of Truth.
3. " Now that I have seen your sacred features, let me partake of the refreshing waters of your teachings.
4. "Worldly profit is fleeting and perishable, but religious profit is eternal and inexhaustible. A worldly man, though a king, is full of trouble, but even a common man who is holy has peace of mind."
5. Knowing the tendency of the king's heart, weighed down by avarice and love of pleasure, the Blessed One seized the opportunity and said :
6. " Even those who, have been born in low degree, when they see a virtuous man, feel reverence for him, how much more must an independent king, who by his previous conditions of life has acquired much merit, feel ?
7. " And now as I briefly expound the law, let the Maharaja listen and weigh my words, and hold fast to what I say.
8. " Our good or evil deeds follow us continually like shadows.
9. " That which is most needed is a loving heart !
10. " Regard your people as we do an only son. Do not oppress them, do not destroy them ; keep in due check every member of your body, forsake unrighteous doctrines and walk in the straight path; do not exalt yourself by trampling down others. Give comfort and befriend the sufferer.
11. "Neither ponder much on kingly dignity, nor listen to the smooth words of flatterers.
12. "There is no profit in vexing oneself by austerities, but meditate on Dhamma and weigh the righteous law. 13. " We are enclosed on all sides by the rocks of sorrow and ill and only by considering the true law can we escape from this sorrow-filled mountain.
14, " What profit, then, in practising inequity ?
15. " All who are wise spurn the pleasures of the body. They loathe lust and seek to promote their spiritual existence.
16. " When a tree is burning with fierce flames, how can the birds congregate therein ? Truth cannot dwell where passion lives. Without a knowledge of this, the learned man, though he may be praised as a sage, is ignorant.
17. "On him who has this knowledge true wisdom dawns. To acquire this wisdom is the one aim needed. To neglect it implies the failure of life.
18. " The teachings of all schools should centre here, for without it there is no reason. 19. "This truth is not for the hermit alone ; it concerns every human being, priest and layman alike. There is no distinction between the monk who has taken the vows, and the man of the world living with his family. There are hermits who fall into perdition, and there are humble householders who mount to the rank of rishis.
20. " The tide of lust is a danger common to all ; it carries away the world. He who is involved in its eddies finds no escape. But wisdom is the handy boat, reflection is the rudder. The slogan of religion calls you to the rescue of your self from the assaults of Mara, the enemy.
21. " Since it is impossible to escape the result of our deeds, let us practise good works.
22. " Let us inspect our thoughts that we do no evil, for as we sow so shall we reap.
23. " There are ways from light into darkness and from darkness into light. There are ways, also, from gloom into deeper darkness, and from the dawn into brighter light. The wise man will use the light as he has to receive more light. He will constantly advance to the knowledge of the truth.
24. " Exhibit true superiority by virtuous conduct and the exercise of reason; meditate deeply on the vanity of earthly things, and understand the fickleness of life.
25. " Elevate the mind, and seek sincere faith with firm purpose; transgress not the rules of kingly conduct, and let your happiness depend, not upon external things but upon your own mind. Thus you will lay up a good name for distant ages.
26. The king listened with reverence and remembered all the words of the Blessed One in his heart and promised to become his lay disciple.
1. Then King Pasenjit, hearing that the Lord had come, went in his royal equippage to the Jetavana Vihara. Saluting him with clasped hands, he said:
2. " Blessed is my unworthy and obscure kingdom that it has met with so great a fortune. For how can calamities and dangers befall it in the presence of Lord of the World, the Dharma Raja, the King of Truth.
3. " Now that I have seen your sacred features, let me partake of the refreshing waters of your teachings.
4. "Worldly profit is fleeting and perishable, but religious profit is eternal and inexhaustible. A worldly man, though a king, is full of trouble, but even a common man who is holy has peace of mind."
5. Knowing the tendency of the king's heart, weighed down by avarice and love of pleasure, the Blessed One seized the opportunity and said :
6. " Even those who, have been born in low degree, when they see a virtuous man, feel reverence for him, how much more must an independent king, who by his previous conditions of life has acquired much merit, feel ?
7. " And now as I briefly expound the law, let the Maharaja listen and weigh my words, and hold fast to what I say.
8. " Our good or evil deeds follow us continually like shadows.
9. " That which is most needed is a loving heart !
10. " Regard your people as we do an only son. Do not oppress them, do not destroy them ; keep in due check every member of your body, forsake unrighteous doctrines and walk in the straight path; do not exalt yourself by trampling down others. Give comfort and befriend the sufferer.
11. "Neither ponder much on kingly dignity, nor listen to the smooth words of flatterers.
12. "There is no profit in vexing oneself by austerities, but meditate on Dhamma and weigh the righteous law. 13. " We are enclosed on all sides by the rocks of sorrow and ill and only by considering the true law can we escape from this sorrow-filled mountain.
14, " What profit, then, in practising inequity ?
15. " All who are wise spurn the pleasures of the body. They loathe lust and seek to promote their spiritual existence.
16. " When a tree is burning with fierce flames, how can the birds congregate therein ? Truth cannot dwell where passion lives. Without a knowledge of this, the learned man, though he may be praised as a sage, is ignorant.
17. "On him who has this knowledge true wisdom dawns. To acquire this wisdom is the one aim needed. To neglect it implies the failure of life.
18. " The teachings of all schools should centre here, for without it there is no reason. 19. "This truth is not for the hermit alone ; it concerns every human being, priest and layman alike. There is no distinction between the monk who has taken the vows, and the man of the world living with his family. There are hermits who fall into perdition, and there are humble householders who mount to the rank of rishis.
20. " The tide of lust is a danger common to all ; it carries away the world. He who is involved in its eddies finds no escape. But wisdom is the handy boat, reflection is the rudder. The slogan of religion calls you to the rescue of your self from the assaults of Mara, the enemy.
21. " Since it is impossible to escape the result of our deeds, let us practise good works.
22. " Let us inspect our thoughts that we do no evil, for as we sow so shall we reap.
23. " There are ways from light into darkness and from darkness into light. There are ways, also, from gloom into deeper darkness, and from the dawn into brighter light. The wise man will use the light as he has to receive more light. He will constantly advance to the knowledge of the truth.
24. " Exhibit true superiority by virtuous conduct and the exercise of reason; meditate deeply on the vanity of earthly things, and understand the fickleness of life.
25. " Elevate the mind, and seek sincere faith with firm purpose; transgress not the rules of kingly conduct, and let your happiness depend, not upon external things but upon your own mind. Thus you will lay up a good name for distant ages.
26. The king listened with reverence and remembered all the words of the Blessed One in his heart and promised to become his lay disciple.
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