Chapter 20, 21

Chapter 20: Speaking about the methods of ruling a kingdom    

At this time, the great earth goddess, among the assembly, stands up, bows down to the feer of the Blessed One, holds the palms together respectfully and say, Blessed One, in all kingdoms, regarding those who act as kings, if they do not have a righteous set of laws (Dharma), they will be unable to rule and manage their kingdom, or nourish its citizens, and their position on the throne is not guaranteed to last long. Pray the Tathagata please show us compassion and sympathy, please teach us about the methods of ruling a kingdom, and the essence of managing a nation, so that the kings, after they have heard about this, will practice accordingly (just as they are taught), and the kings will bring this righteous Dharma to teach and convert their people. As a result, the throne will be secured, and the people will enjoy peace and benefits. At this time, in the assembly, the Tathagata says to the Earth goddess, you should listen carefully. In the past, there was a king called Power of the Venerable Garland (Lực tôn tràng). That king had a prince called Gentle Garland. When the prince rose to the position of king, his father said to him: there is a righteous Dharma called the Methods taught by the devas. In the past, when I was a king, my father, the past Might of Wisdom the Venerable Garland, had taught me about that method. I followed according to his teaching and skillfully managed the kingdom in 20000 years, I remember that I had not given rise to even one thought of transgressing the laws. Now, you should also follow accordingly. Do not use unrighteousness to rule the kingdom. What does The Righteous methods (guides to) for ruling a nation for kings mean? You should listen carefully; I will now speak to you. After that, the king Power of the Venerable Garland then speak to his son, using these verses

I will now speak of the methods of ruling a kingdom,

Which benefit many sentient beings

To eliminate all doubts

And eliminate all misdeeds

All heavenly lords, together with the human kings

Should rejoice, and hold the palms together

To listen to what I am about to say

In the past, the devas was assembling

In the Vajra mountain

When the 4 great Heavenly kings stood up

May I now ask the great Brahma king

The Supreme great Brahma king

The one who is most free among the deva worlds

Pray be compassionate and think of us

And help us eliminate all doubts

For what reason is one called deva

Among mankind

And for what reason,

Is one called deva’s son

Why does one become a king

After being born on earth?

And for what reason

Does one become Indra in Heaven

When the protectors of the world

Have asked the great Brahma king

The great Brahma king then replied to all:

The protectors of the world

For the benefits of all beings

Have now asked of the methods

Of ruling a kingdom

I will now speak to you, so listen

It is due to past virtuous deeds

That one is born in the deva’s world

And become Indra

Also become the king, ruling

Among the human

The devas together offer protection

When that person enters the mother’s womb

While inside the mother’s womb

The devas still give him protection

Though born among mankind

That person is superior, as such

He is called deva

Since that person is protected by the devas

He is called deva’s son

The lord of the heaven of 33

Renders parts of his help to the king

And all devas

Still help him become free and independent

Eliminate all unrighteousness

Not giving rise to wickedness

Teaching others to practice virtues

So that they will be born among the devas

Human and Asura

Gandarva etc.

Together with Raksa, Candala

Also come to offer half of the help

His parents will offer the other half  

So that person will abandon wickedness,

And practice virtues

The devas strengthen their aids

And show him the results (fruit)

If one commits wicked acts

Right in the present

The devas will not offer help

And show him the wicked results

When the people commit wickedness

And the king does nothing to stop

That is following unrighteousness

Not the methods to prevent wickedness

When one sees wickedness, yet does not stop

As a result, wickedness will grow

In the kingdom, deceit will thrive

When the king sees his people

Do wicked deeds, yet (he) does not stop them

The devas of the heaven of 33

All become frustrated

As a consequence, the rulers will suffer harms;

Deceit and lies will become rampant

And that country will be invaded

By foreign forces

Which destroy the whole kingdom

Houses together with furniture

And all properties will be lost

Flatters and Insolence will appear

In various forms

Embezzlement and theft causing mutual harms

One becomes king because of Dharma (by laws)

Yet if one does not follow the Dharma (laws)

The people will fall apart

Just like an elephant stepping into a lotus pond

Fierce winds will arise constantly

Violent rains will fall in unusual time

Various kinds of demons will arise

Solar and lunar eclipse will cover

The 5 kinds of cereals and flowers

Together with fruit will be all spoiled

The kingdom suffers from starvation

All because the king abandons righteousness

When the king abandons the Dharma

And follows unrighteousness

Misleading the people

The devas will despair

In their individual palaces

All such heavenly kings

Will say together:

If the king does wickedness

And wicked sectarians unite (to cause havoc)

Then the king’s position will become unstable

And the devas will be furious

When the devas are furious

That nation will run to the ground

When the people is educated with unrighteousness

And this practice becomes prevalent

Then deceit and conflicts

Will abound

And epidemics will spread wide 

The lord of the devas will not offer protection

Other devas will also abandon

And that nation will be destroyed

The king will suffer greatly

His parents, wife, children

Brothers and sisters

Will be separated, and tormented

Even losing one’s life

Various kinds of strange falling stars

As hot as 2 suns

And foreign invaders will arrive

The people will be desolated

The ministers whom the whole country reveres

Will all perish in anguish

Even elephants and horses, etc.

Will be dispersed, none left

Enemies attack from all sides

The people will die because of unrighteousness

And wicked demons will infiltrate

Epidemics will be widespread

The high ministers in the country

Together with their auxiliary generals

Will be full of flatters

They commit wickedness together

Seeing those who do wickedness

They love and revere

Seeing those who follow the practice of virtues

They torment and punish

Because they love the wicked

And torment the virtuous

As such, stars, winds and rains

Will not follow in time

When these three wickedness are born

The righteous Dharma will hide itself

The people will no longer be healthy and strong

The soil’s fertility will also be lost

Because one loves wickedness and despise virtues

There are also 3 more wickedness:

Fogs, hails, untimely seasons

Starvation, epidemics, all happen at the same time

Rice grains and fruit

Their good qualities will be reduced

As such, in that country,

The majority of the people will be sick

Most fruit bearing trees,

Which used to bear sweet and fresh fruit

(Their fruit) will now become diminished in qualities

Becoming sour and bitter

The garden which used to be beautiful

Together with its pleasant alleys

Will now become dry and barren

Those who see this sight will grow despaired

Rice, grains and various kinds of cereals

Their good qualities will gradually be lost

One no longer derives pleasure from eating it

How then can one be healthy?

The people will lose their health

Their beauty and strength will decline

Though they eat and drink much

They still do not have good health

In that country, all kinds of people

With different social status

Will be weak of health, and easily tired

They will not be able to work well

The people will catch many forms of sickness

Their body often in pains

Many kinds of demons will abound

And bear (in suit) the Raksa

When the king follow unrighteousness

And stay near those who are wicked

The three worlds will suffer

Countless evil phenomena will appear

In the kingdom

All these are due to the king

Not punishing those who do wickedness

One becomes a king

Thanks to the protection and sustaining might

Of the devas

Yet if one does not bring the Dharma

To protect one’s kingdom

Nevertheless, those who do virtuous deeds

Will be born as devas

And those who do wickedness

Will fall into the 3 evil ways

When they die.

When the king is lenient and uncaring

While his people do wickedness

The devas of the 33

Will be tormented

When the king does not follow

What the devas teach

And does not listen to his parents

Then that king is unrighteous

He is not even a king, and not a filial son

In his kingdom, the king should

Punish those who do wickedness

When he sees it

He does not let it go

If that is so, the devas

Will together protect and sustain that king

Since the king destroy wickedness

And follow the righteous ways

That king in his present life

Will receive great results

Since he is able to dissuade the people

From doing wicked deeds

He teaches the results of evil and virtuous deeds

As such, when he is in the position of king

The devas often give him protection

And they will all rejoice

Since the king benefits himself and others

Ruling the country using righteousness

As such, when he sees those

Who are flatters

He will punish them accordingly

Even when he (may) loses his position

Or comes face to face with a life-threatening situation

He still does not commit wicked deeds

Not ignoring wicked deeds

The most prominent cause

For the loss of one’s throne

Is flattering

As such one should punish

Flatters are deceitful

Causing the nation to fall apart

And hurting the laws of the king

Just like an elephant entering a flower garden

The heavenly lords will be furious

And so will the Asura

All is because the king

Does not rule his kingdom with the Dharma

As such the king should punish the wicked

According to the laws

Reform them using virtuous deeds

And not deeds that are against the Dharma

Rather that one may lose one’s life

One should not follow non-virtuous friends

Towards one’s relatives and strangers

One should look upon them as equal

Be a righteous Dharma king

And not showing favors, or follows any parties

If one can do that

One will be widely proclaimed

As the Dharma king

In the three realms

The devas of the 33

Joyfully declare

This king of mankind

Is indeed our son

He knows how to convert his people

To the virtuous ways

And also encourages them to practice

The Dharma

Will be reborn in my palace

The devas, and sons of devas

Together with their Asura retinues

Will all rejoice

Because the king practice the Dharma

When the devas rejoice and protect the king

Stars will follow (correctly) their due courses

The sun and moon will rise and set regularly

Winds and rains will be regular (according to their seasons)

Rice grains and various fruit will be abundant

The people will not suffer from starvation

All kinds of devas

Often hide themselves in the king’s palace

And give blessings for the king 

Praying that he will think of the Dharma

Even before himself

Respect the Jewel of the Dharma

Bring joy and peace to the people

Be close to the Jewel of Dharma

And one (the king) will decorate oneself

With great results and merits

The king’s relatives will often rejoice

And stay far from wickedness

If he uses the Dharma to teach others

He will often abide in bliss

If he encourages the whole people (citizens)

To practice the 10 virtuous deeds

The whole country will be wealthy

And the nation will be peaceful

If the King practice according to the Dharma

And convert those who are evils

He will have great reputation

Because he benefits the people

At this time, in the assembly, the various kings, having heard the Tathagata speak of the ancient kings’ methods of ruling the country, acquires a rare kind of happiness and satisfaction, they rejoice and believe, accept and follow.

Chapter 21: The Benign Born Wheel Turning king

At this time, when the Tathagata has spoken to the assembly about the methods of ruling a country, He again says, you should listen. The Tathagata will now speak to you about the methods of giving service to the righteous Dharma that the Tathagata did in the past. At this time, the Tathagata speaks the following verses.

The Tathagata in the past

When He was a wheel turning king

Buddha left behind all continents

Together with their oceans,

And Buddha respectfully offered precious substances

As full as the 4 continents

To the Tathagatas

Buddha in the past

For the sake of attaining

The Supremely pure Dharma body

Have, in countless eons

Left behind all kinds of treasures

Even one’s life was given away

In the past, inconceivably long time ago

There was a Tathagata called Treasure Inheritance

When He has entered into Nirvana

There was a king called Benign Born

Who was a wheel turning king

Ruling 4 continents

The areas around the borders of the ocean

Was also ruled by him

The king has a palace

Called Gentle Music

And he often abides in that palace

At night, he dreamt of

The wisdom of the Tathagata

And see a priest,

Named Treasure heritage

Who is sitting on an altar

Just like the sun

And he is speaking of this Sutra

Of the Golden Light

When he awoke from his dream

The king became jubilant

The great joy flooded

All over the body

When the Sun nearly rose

The king exit his palace

And went to the dwelling place

Of the monks

When the king had respectfully

Made offering to the monks, he asked

Among these monks

Is there one called Treasure Heritage

The one who accomplish

The vows and virtues

Of teaching sentient beings?

At this time, the great priest

Named Treasure Heritage

Was abiding in a small house

And was mindfully reciting

The Sutra of the Golden Light.

He was unmoving, and solemn,

Having gentle and blissful mind and body

A monk led the wheel turning king

To the dwelling place

Of the priest Treasure Heritage

 He saw in the small house

The priest who was sitting upright

And the whole of his body

Had beautiful forms and light

The monk said to the king:

Here, this is the priest Treasure Heritage

Who keeps and maintains

The profound practice of the Tathagata

Which is the Sutra of the Golden Light

The king of Sutra

The most supreme

The wheel turning king immediately

Bow down to the priest Treasure Heritage

And respectfully held his palms together

And made a request:

May the one whose face is delightful to behold

And looks just like a full moon

Pray that you can speak to me about

The miraculous Dharma of the Golden Light

 The priest Treasure Heritage

Accepted the offer

And promised to speak

About that king of Sutra

At that time, the whole great heavenly worlds

And all the devas rejoice together

The king then arranged

A clean and spacious room

And diligently decorated that room

With various rare and precious jewels

Spray away the dust using

Supreme perfumes

And scatters colorful flowers

In this special place

The king put a high altar

Decorated with canopies

And silken flags

Rubbing perfumes in various manners

The gentle scent exuded to all places

The devas, Nagas, Asuras

Kinaras, Maholayas, together with Raksas

And especially the devas

Scatter the mandala flowers

To make offering to that

Supremely high altar

There are also thousands

Tens of thousands of devas

Who like to listen to the Dharma

Together, they assemble at that place

The priest started to move from his old place

That they have made offerings to

Using heavenly flowers

At this time, the great priest

Treasure Heritage

Bathed himself cleanly

And wore clean clothes

Arrived at the assembly

To the Dharma altar

He sincerely held the palms together

And bowed down in homage

The lords of the devas, and the devas’ sons

Together with the daughters of devas

Together scatter down

Heavenly flowers, mandala

Hundreds and thousands of heavenly music

Resounded in the air

Making miraculous sounds

That were indescribable and unthinkable

At this time, the Treasure Heritage priest

Stepped up on the altar

And sat cross-legged

He focused his attention

To the Tathagatas in the ten directions

Hundreds of thousands of Tathagatas

He also thought of

Sentient beings who are currently suffering

He generated the thought

Of compassion and equality

And then he spoke of the Sutra

Of the Golden Light

To the Benign Born king

Who have requested to listen to the Sutra

When the king have listened

The miraculous Dharma

He sincerely held the palms together

And said with joy

Listening to this Dharma is rare

The king burst into tears

For it was such a great joy

That flooded his whole body

At this time, the Benign Born king

Wished to make offering

To the king of Sutra, the Golden Light

He took a Wish-fulfilling mani jewel

And made a vow,

For the benefits of all kinds of beings

Right in this place

The Jambudvipa continent

May there rain down the 7 precious substances

And various strings of pearls

So that the poor, and lacking

May have all necessary items and money

All their wishes granted

Immediately, the 7 precious substances

Rained down in all places

And satisfied all beings

In the four continents

Whatever they wished for, they were granted

Strings of pearls to beautify oneself

Clothes and food

Without missing anything

At this time, when the Benign Born king

 Saw the rain of the 7 precious substances

He made offering

To the Treasure Heritage Tathagata

And the monks, following His wish

The assembly should know

The Benign Born King

Today is the Tathagata Himself

In the past, I have left behind

This whole continent

Together with all kinds of treasures

Full of the four continents

And the Treasure Heritage

The great priest who had

Spoken the miraculous Dharma

To the Benign Born king

Spoken of the king of Sutra

For the king

Today, he is the Unmoving Tathagata

In the East

The Tathagata in the past

When listening to this king of Sutra

Held the palms together and said

I now rejoice

And dedicate, give offering

Of the 7 precious substance

Thanks to this merit

I attain a Vajra body

The one who is supreme

That body has a golden light

Decorated by hundreds of merits

Whoever sees It will rejoice

Among all sentient beings

There are none who do not like

Countless devas also enjoy in the same way

The Tathagata have gone through

99 times countless eons

Being born as the wheel turning king

Or the king of smaller nations

It amounted to hundreds of thousands of lives (eons)

In countless eons, I was also Indra

And Brahma kings as well

I made offerings to the 10 powers

Great compassionate Tathagatas

In countless lives, one can barely know all

The Tathagata in the past

Rejoiced when hearing the Dharma

The mass of merits I acquired

Is hard to know

Thanks to this mass of merits

I now attained the Unsurpassed Enlightenment

And also acquired a Dharma body

And the wondrous wisdom of true permanence

At this time, when the assembly has heard of this, everyone rejoices by saying: how rare, excellent. Everyone has the wish to uphold the king of Sutra of the Golden Light, perpetually expounding this.