Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/90

 it is always possible to make him accept what is said for his good. For this reason my mind, adhering to virtue, is inclined to the partisan of virtue.'

Then Sakra praised him, exclaiming: 'Well said! very excellent!' and with still increased satisfaction again summoned him to ask some boon.

32, 33. 'Surely, thou hast already obtained everything, since thou art wholly satisfied, yet thou shouldst take some boon from me, considering it as a means of gratifying me. For a favour offered out of reverence, from abundance of power, and with the hope of affording a benefit, becomes a cause of great pain, if not accepted.'

Then the Bodhisattva, seeing his utmost desire for doing good, and wishing to please him and to benefit him, answered so as to declare to him the superiority of the strong desire of almsgiving.

34. 'May thy food, which is free from destruction and corruption, thy mind, which is lovely because of its practice of charity, and mendicants adorned by the pureness of their good conduct, be mine! This most blessed boon I ask.'

Sakra said: 'Thy Reverence is a mine of jewels of well-said sentences. Further,

35. 'Not only will everything thou hast requested be accomplished, but on account of this well-said sentence I give thee some other boon.'

The Bodhisattva said:

36. 'If thou wilt give me a boon which incloses the highest favour for me, O most excellent of all Celestials, do not come to me again in this thy blazing splendour. For this boon I ask the destroyer of the Daityas.'

Upon this Sakra was somewhat irritated, and highly astonished he thus spoke to him: 'Do not speak so, sir.

37. 'By every kind of ritual: prayers, vows, sacrifices, with penances and toilsome exertions, people on earth seek to obtain the sight of me. But thou dost not desire so. For what reason then? I came up to thee, wishing to bestow my boons on thee.'

The Bodhisattva said: 'Do not yield to thy anger. I will pacify Thy Highness, king of the Devas. It is