Truyện Tiền Thân Đức Phật - Phần II: Bài 1 - Vua Thiện Đại

Vua Thiện Đại

[Sự Kiên Trì]

Thủy Tú dịch thuật

Vào một thuở xa xưa ở thành Benares (Ba La Nại) thuộc vùng bắc Ấn Độ, một đấng Giác Ngộ đã sanh ra đời trong hoàng tộc của xứ đó. Khi trở thành vua, ngài được gọi là vua Thiện Đại. Ngài đã có danh hiệu này bởi vì ngài luôn cố gắng làm điều tốt, ngay cả khi kết quả của những hành động đó có thể không có lợi cho ngài.

Tất nhiên là vua Thiện Đại đã thể hiện sự tôn kính những ngày thánh lễ bằng cách không ăn trong những ngày này. Và ngài luôn thực hành “Năm Bước Đường Tu Tập” bằng cách từ bỏ năm hành động bất thiện, đó là sát sinh, trộm cắp, tà dâm, nói láo và say rượu. Vì thế mà lòng từ bi của ngài đã trở thành nhiều hơn và tinh khiết hơn.

Vì không muốn làm hại ai nên Vua Thiện Đại còn từ chối cả việc bỏ tù hay đánh đập những kẻ làm điều sai quấy. Biết thế nên một trong những vị quan đạ thần cao cấp nhất trong triều đã lợi dụng lòng tốt của ngài. Ông ta đã lên kế hoạch để lừa một số phụ nữ trong hậu cung của hoàng gia. Việc này sau đó đã bị mọi người phát giác và tâu lên vua.

Vua cho gọi viên quan đại thần gian xảo lên và nói rằng, “Ta đã điều tra và biết rằng ngươi đã làm việc phạm pháp. Lời đồn về hành động xấu xa đó đã lan truyền ra và ngươi đã làm tổn hại danh dự của chính ngươi ở thành Benares này. Vì vậy tốt hơn là ngươi hảy rời khỏi đây và đi sống ở nơi khác. Ngươi có thể đem theo tài sản và gia đình của mình đi đến nơi nào ưa thích và vui sống ở đó. Hảy học hỏi từ bài học này.”

Thế rồi viên quan đó đã đem gia đình và tất cả tài sản của hắn đi đến sinh sống ở thủ đô của xứ Kosala. Bởi vì ông ta là một người rất thông minh, quỹ quyệt cho nên y đã tìm đủ mọi cách để leo trở lại lên con đường công danh sự nghiệp của mình và trở thành một quan đại thần của vua. Dần dần ông ta trở thành người cố vấn đáng tin cậy nhất của vua xứ Kosala. Một ngày kia ông nói với vua rằng: “Thưa chúa công, tôi đã đến từ Benares. Thành phố Benares giống như là một tổ ong với những con ong không có ngòi chích! Vua đang trị vì ở đó rất là mềm mỏng dịu dàng và yếu ớt.. Chỉ cần một đội quân nhỏ nhoi là ngài có thể dễ dàng chế ngự thành phố và biến nó thành sở hữu của ngài.”

Vua nghi ngờ điều này nên nói rằng: “Ông là quan đại thần của ta nhưng ông nói như là một gián điệp dẫn dụ ta vô cạm bẫy!” Ông ta trả lời: “Không đâu thưa chúa công. Nếu ngài không tin tôi thì hảy gởi những điệp viên giỏi nhất của ngài đến kiểm chứng những gi tôi nói. Tôi không có nói láo. Khi mà những kẻ trộm cướp bị giải đến gặp vua của xứ Benders, ngài ấy đã cho họ tiền, khuyên họ đừng lấy những gì mà không được phép lấy, và rồi thả họ đi.”

Vua quyết định tìm coi điều này có đúng không. Thấ là ông sai vài tên cướp đến tấn công một cái làng xa xôi ở vùng biên giới của thành Benares. Dân làng bắt những tên cướp và giải chúng đến gặp Vua Thện Đại. Ngài hỏi họ: “Tại sao các ngươi muốn làm những việc tội lỗi này?”

Những tên cướp trả lời, “Kính bẩm ngài, chúng tôi là những kẻ nghèo khó. Mà không có cách nào để sống khi không có tiền. Trong khi xứ sở của ngài có đầy dẫy việc làm cho người dân, thì trái lại chúng tôi không có được việc nào để làm cả. Vì thế mà chúng tôi phải đi cướp giật ở xứ này để sống còn.” Nghe thế, nhà vua đã cho họ tiền, khuyên họ thay đổi cách sống và thả họ đi.

Khi vua Kosala nghe kể như vậy, vua sai một băng đảng cướp giật khác đến những đường phố ở ngay tại Benares. Những tên này cũng ăn cướp hàng hóa ở các cửa tiệm và chúng còn giết cả mấy người dân buôn nữa. Khi bọn chúng bị bắt và đem giải đến vua Thiện Đại, ngài cũng đối xử với họ giống như bọn cướp trước.

Khi biết được chuyện này, vua Kosala đã đem quân đội và đoàn voi chiến của ông hành quân đến Benares.

Vào thời gian đó, vua của xứ Benders có một quân đội hùng mạnh trong đó có cả những con voi chiến rất dũng mảnh. Quân lính của họ đa số có tầm vóc trung bình, tuy vậy cũng còn có một số người có vóc dáng to lớn như người khổng lồ. Nghe đồn là họ có khả năng chinh phục hết cả vùng Ấn Độ.

Những người lính to lớn vạm vỡ đó tâu với vua Thiện Đại về việc một cánh quân xâm lược đến từ Kosala. Họ xin vua cho phép đi tấn công và tiêu diệt hết bọn chúng.

Nhưng Vua Thiện Đại đã ngăn không cho họ ra gây chiến. Ngài nói, “Các con của ta, đừng có chiến đấu chỉ vì muốn cho ta còn ngồi trên ngôi vua. Nếu chúng ta hủy hoại mạng sống của người khác thì chúng ta cũng hủy hoại tâm hồn bình an của chính chúng ta. Tại sao chúng ta phải giết người khác? Hảy cho họ vương quốc này nếu họ ham muốn có nó đến thế. Ta không muốn có chiến tranh.

Các quan đại thần đồng lên tiếng, “Tâu Hoàng thượng, chính chúng tôi sẽ ra chiến đấu với họ. Xin ngài đừng lo lắng. Chỉ cần ngài ra lệnh cho chúng tôi.” Nhưng một lần nữa vua đã ngân cản họ.

Trong khi đó, vua của xứ Kosala đã gởi đến ngài lời cảnh báo, yêu cầu ngài từ bỏ ngai vàng hoặc là chiến đấu. Vua Thiện Đại gởi lời đáp từ như sau: “Ta không muốn ông chiến đấu với ta, và ông không muốn ta chiến đấu với ông. Nếu ông muốn đất nước này, ông có thể có nó. Tại sao chúng ta phải giết người chỉ để quyết định tên của vua? Ngay cả việc thay đổi tên của vương quốc này nó có ý nghĩa gì không?”

Nghe vậy, các quan đại thần bước tới khẩn cầu, “Tâu Hoàng thượng, hảy cho chúng tôi đem quân đội hùng mạnh của chúng ta ra chiến đấu. Chúng ta sẽ thắng họ bằng những vũ khí tối tân của chúng ta và bắt tất cả bọn họ. Chúng ta mạnh hơn họ nhiều. Chúng ta không cần phải giết một người nào của họ cả. Và thêm vào đó, nếu chúng ta nhường cho họ kinh thành, kẻ thù chắc chắn sẽ giết hết chúng ta!”

Nhưng Vua Thiện Đại không lay chuyển. Ngài từ chối việc gây tổn thương bất cứ ai. Ngài trả lời, “Cho dù các ông không muốn giết ai, việc giao chiến sẽ làm cho nhiều người bị thương. Tên bay, đạn lạc vô tình có thể làm cho một số khác bị chết. Không ai biết được tương lai – không biết được là những kẻ tấn công chúng ta có giết chúng ta hay không. Nhưng chúng ta biết rõ là những hành động của chúng ta ngay lúc này đây là đúng hay sai. Do đó, ta sẽ không làm hại hoặc khiến cho ai khác làm tổn hại bất cứ sinh linh nào!”

Rồi Vua Thiện Đại ra lệnh mở cổng thành cho những kẻ xâm lược tiến vào. Ngài dẫn các quan đại thần lên tầng cao nhất của hoàng cung và khuyên bảo ho, “Đừng nói gì cả và hảy cố giữ bình tĩnh.”

Vua Kosala tiến vào kinh thành Benares và đã không thấy ai chống lại ông. Thế rồi vua và quân lính của ông đi vào cung điện và lên thẳng tầng lầu cuối. Họ bắt giữ Vua Thiện Đại, một vị vua ngay thẳng và trong sạch. Bọn lính trói tay của vua thua cuộc và tất cả các quan đại thần của ngài.

Rồi họ bị dẫn đến nghĩa trang ở bên ngoài thành phố. Họ bị chôn toàn thân thẳng đứng xuống đất, chỉ chừa lại cái đầu ở trên mặt đất.Nhưng cho dù đất cát đang bị nện xuống chung quanh cổ của ngài, vi Đại Thánh Nhân vẫn không chút giận dữ và yên lặng không nói gì cả.

Sự kỷ luật và phục tùng của các quan đại thần đối với Vua Thiện Đại vững mạnh đến độ không một vị quan nào nói lời chống đối hoặc phỉ báng ai. Nhưng vua Kosala không chút thương hại. Với giọng thô lỗ, ông nói: “Khi đêm xuống, hảy để cho những con sài lang tha hổ làm những gì chúng muốn!”

Và rồi khi màng đêm buông xuống, một bầy sài lang, khuyễn dữ đã mon men đến nghĩa địa. Chúng ngửi thấy cả một mâm cỗ thịt người đang được bày ra cho chúng.

Trông thấy bọn chúng đi đến, Vua Thiện Đại và các quan đại thần cùng nhau la hét ngay lập tức và nhờ vậy đã làm chúng sợ hãi bỏ đi. Chuyện này xảy ra hai lần. Và rồi những con sài lang quỷ quyệt đã nhận ra rằng, “Chắc là bọn người này đã bị chôn ở đây để cho chúng ta giết chết và ăn thịt.” Không còn sợ nữa, bọn chúng lờ qua những tiếng la hét của họ. Con saì lang chúa bước ngay đến trước mặt Vua Thiện Đại.

Vua đưa cổ ra dụ con thú dử ăn. Nhưng trước khi nó có thể cắn ngài, vua liền dùng răng của mình ngoạm ngay cái cằm con sài lang. Không có ý hại nó, Vua Thiện Đại cắn thật chặt làm con sài lang chúa hú lên sợ hãi. Điều này khiến cho những con trong đàn sợ hãi bỏ chạy.

Trong khi đó, con sài lang chúa vùng vẫy qua lại, cố tìm cách thoát khỏi hàm răng rắn chắc của vua loài người. Khi làm như thế, nó đã làm lỏng dần khối đất bít quanh cố và vai của nhà vua. Và rồi Vua Thiện Đại nhả con sài lang đang run sợ, kêu thét đó ra. Ngài đã có thể xoay sở để nới lỏng thân mình khỏi đất cát và ngoi lên trên mặt đất. Xong rồi ngài giải thoát cho các quan đại thần đang run sợ quanh ngài.

Gần đó có một xác chết. Cái xác này vô tình nằm ngay ranh giới của vùng đất cai quản bởi hai con quỷ đang kình chống nhau. Chúng đang tranh cãi về việc phân chia cái xác chết, chúng sỉ vã lẫn nhau theo kiểu của loài yêu tinh.

Rồi một con quỷ nói với con kia, “Tại sao chúng ta cứ phải cải vả thay vì ngồi ăn. Ở đằng kia có Vua Thiện Đại của thành Benares. Ngài ấy nổi tiếng khắp mọi cõi về tính công bình của ngài. Ngài sẽ phân chia cái xác chết này cho chúng ta.

Chúng kéo cái xác đến gặp nhà vua và nhờ ngài chia đều cho chúng. Vua nói, “Này các bạn, tôi rất vui lòng làm việc phân chia này cho các bạn. Nhưng mình mẩy tôi dơ bẩn và dính đầy cát bụi. Tôi phải lau chùi người tôi cho sạch đã.

Hai con yêu tinh bèn dùng phép thuật của họ để đem nước tắm, nước hoa thơm, áo quần cùng những đồ trang sức từ cung điện của vua ở thành Benares đến. Ngài liền tắm rửa, mang y phục và các đồ trang sức vào người.

Các con quỷ đó lại hỏi Vua Thiện Đại coi có cần chúng làm gì nữa không. Vua trả lời là ngài đói bụng. Thế là một lần nữa, những con quỷ đã dùng phép thuật để đem món cơm ngon nhất đựng trong chén bằng vàng và nước uống thơm trong ly vàng từ cung điện của xứ Benders đến.

Khi ngài ăn uống xong, vua Thiện Đại yêu cầu họ mang đến cho ngài thanh kiếm báu của hoàng gia từ dưới gối của vua Kosala, vua này đang ngủ trong cung điện ở Benares. Điều này thật là dễ dàng làm với phép thuật của họ. Rồi vua dùng thanh kiếm cắt xác chết ngay chỗ sống lưng ra làm hai miếng đều nhau. Xong rồi ngài rửa thanh kiếm gia bảo và đeo vào hông.

Hai con quỷ đói sung sướng nuốt chửng phần xác chết đã được chia đều của chúng. Rồi chúng vui vẻ nói với Vua Thiện Đại, “Bây giờ chúng tôi đã no bụng, chúng tôi có thể làm gì thêm cho ngài không?”

Vua trả lời, “Hảy dùng phép thuật của các ông mà đem tôi đến phòng ngủ của tôi trong cung điện, ngay cạnh vua Kosala. Và hảy đem các quan đại thần của tôi trở về nhà họ. Không một lời nói, các con yêu tinh đã làm đúng như vua yêu cầu.

Lúc đó, vua Kosala đang ngủ say xưa trong phòng dành cho vua. Vua Thiện Đại dùng thanh gươm lay khẽ vào bụng ông vua đang say ngủ. Vua Kosala giật mình thức giấc. Dưới ánh đèn mờ ảo ở đầu giường, ông ta kinh sợ khi thấy Vua Thiện Đại với thanh kiếm trong tay đang nghiêng người về phía ông. Ông ta phải duội mắt để biết chắc là mình không gặp ác mông!.

Rồi ông ta hỏi vị vua vĩ đại kia, “Thưa ngài, làm sao mà ngài có thể vô đây khi mà lính của tôi canh gác đầy chung quanh? Ngài đã bị chôn dưới đất đến tận cổ ở ngoài nghĩa địa kia mà. Sao mà ngài lại có thể sạch sẽ, thơm tho, và mặc hoàng bào với trang sức lộng lẫy như vậy?”

Vua Thiện Đại kể cho ông ta nghe chuyện ngài trốn thoát khỏi bọn sài lang như thế nào. Ngài kể về việc hai con yêu tinh đã đến nhờ ngài giải quyết tranh chấp của chúng. Và ngài cho biết họ đã trả ơn bằng cách dùng phép thuật để giúp đỡ ngài.

Nghe xong, vua Kosala cảm thấy rất hổ thẹn. Ông cúi đầu chào Vua Thiện Đại và than khóc: “Ô này vị vua vĩ đại, ngay cả những con yêu tinh đần độn và hung dữ, sinh sống bằng cách ăn thịt và uống máu người chết, mà còn nhận ra tấm lòng từ bi cao cả cùa ngài. Vậy mà tôi đây, một kẻ được may mắn sinh ra làm một con người khôn ngoan và văn minh, lại quá ngu ngốc không nhìn thấy lòng nhân từ thật là hoàn hảo của ngài.”

“Tôi xin hứa là sẽ không bao giờ nghĩ đến việc chống lại ngài, hỡi vị chúa công đáng kính. Ngài đã có được một cái tâm từ bi, tràn đầy thương yêu và không làm tổn hại một ai thật là tuyệt vời. Và tôi xin hứa là sẽ phục tùng ngài mãi mãi, như là một chư hầu thân tín nhất. Xin hảy tha thứ cho tôi, thưa Hoàng thượng.” Và rồi, giống như là một người hầu cận, vua Kosala đặt vua Thiện Đại nằm lên chiếc giường dành cho vua trong khi ông ta thì nằm trên một chiếc ghế bành nhỏ.

Sáng hôm sau, vua của xứ Kosala triệu tập tất cả binh lính của ông đến trước cung đình. Ở đó, ông công khai ca ngợi vua của xứ Benares và một lần nữa cầu xin ngài tha thứ cho ông. Ông giao trả vương quốc lại cho vua Thiện Đại và hứa là ông sẽ mãi mãi bảo vệ vị vua này. Rồi ông trừng phạt người cố vấn của ông, viên quan phạm tội xúi dục đó. Sau đó, vua Kosala đã cùng tất cả quân đội và đàn voi chiến quay trở về xứ sở của họ.

Vua Thiện Đại ngồi oai nghiêm trên chiếc ngai vàng có bốn chân được trạm trổ như chân nai, và được che nắng bởi một chiếc lọng hoàng gia màu trắng tinh khiết. Ngài đã ban huấn từ như sau: “Này dân chúng của thành Benares, sự thanh tịnh được bắt đầu bằng việc từ bỏ hết cả năm điều bất thiện. Phẩm chất cao quý nhất của một người tốt, cho dù người đó là vua hoặc dân, chính là tình thương yêu và thông cảm (lòng từ bi và trắc ẫn). Khi người ta được trang bị với những đức tính này thì không ai làm haị ai hết – bất kể vì một lý do gì hoặc với giá nào. Mặc cho mối đe doạ có nguy hiểm đến mức nào, ta phải kiên trì cho đến khi sự vĩ đại của lòng từ bi chiến thắng hết tất cả.”

Trong suốt phần còn lại của triều đại của ngài, dân chúng thành Benares đã sống thanh bình và hạnh phúc. Vua Thiện Đại đã tiếp tục thực hiện các công trình phúc lợi cho người dân. Và rồi sau đó ngài đã từ trần và tái sanh vào kiếp sống mới xứng đáng dành cho ngài.

Ý chính: Từ chối làm hại người khác, trái tim nhân hậu sẽ thắng tất cả.

King Goodness the Great

(Perseverance)

Once upon a time, in Benares in northern India, the Enlightenment Being was born into the royal family. When he became king he was called Goodness the Great. He had earned this title by trying to do good all the time, even when the results might not benefit him. For example, he spent much of the royal treasury on the building and running of six houses of charity. In these houses good and aid were given freely to all the poor and needy who came along, even to unknown travelers. Soon king Goodness the Great became famous for his patience, loving-kindness and compassion. It was said that he loved all beings just like a father loves his young children.

Of course king Goodness observed the holy days by not eating. And naturally he practiced the “Five Training Steps”, giving up the five unwholesome actions. These are: destroying life, taking what is not given, doing wrong in sexual ways, speaking falsely, and losing one’s mind from alcohol. So his gentle kindness became more and more pure.

Since he wished to harm no one, King Goodness the Great even refused to imprison or injure wrongdoers. Knowing this, one of his highest ministers tried to take advantage of him. He cooked up a scheme to cheat some of the women in the royal harem. Afterwards it became known by all and was reported to the king.

He called the bad minister before him and said, “I have investigated and found that you have done a criminal act. Word of it has spread and you have dishonored yourself here in Benares. So it would be better for you to go and live somewhere else. You may take all your wealth and your family. Go wherever you like and live happily there. Learn from this lesson.”

Then the minister took his family and al his belongings to the city of Kosala. Since he was very clever indeed, he worked his way up and became a minister of the king. In time he became the most trusted adviser to the King of Kosala. One day he said, ‘My lord, I came here from Benares. The city of Benares is like a beehive where the bees have no stingers! The ruling king is very tender and weak. With only a very small army you can easily conquer the city and make it yours.’

The king doubted this, so he said, "You are my minister, but you talk like a spy who is leading me into a trap!’ He replied "No my lord. If you don’t believe me, send your best spies to examine what I say. I am not lying. When robbers are brought to the King of Benders, he gives them money, advises them not to take what is not given, and then lets them go free."

The king decided to find out if this was true. So he sent some robbers to raid a remote border village belonging to Benares. The villagers caught the looters and brought them to King Goodness the Great. He asked them, "Why do you want to do this type of crime?"

The robbers answered, "Your worship, we are poor people. There is no way to live without money. As your kingdom has plenty of workers, there is no work for us to do. So we had to loot the country in order to survive." Hearing this, the king gave them gifts of money, advised them to change their ways, and let them go free.

When the King of Kosala was told of this, he sent another gang of bandits to the streets of Benares itself. They too looted the shops and even killed some of the people. When they were captured and brought to king Goodness, he treated them just the same as the first robbers.

Learning of this, the King of Kosala began marching his troops and elephants towards Benares.

In those days the King of Benders had a mighty army which included very brave elephants. There were many ordinary soldiers, and also some that were as big as giants. It was known that they were capable of conquering all India.

The giant soldiers told King Goodness about the small invading army from Kosala. They asked permission to attack and kill them all.

But King Goodness the Great would not send them into battle. He said, "My children, do not fight just so I may remain king. If we destroy the lives of others we also destroy our own peace of mind. Why should we kill others? Let them have the kingdom if they want it so badly. I do not wish to fight."

The royal ministers said, "Our Lord, we will fight them ourselves. Don’t worry yourself. Only give us the order." But again he prevented them.

Meanwhile the King of Kosala sent him a warning, telling him to give up the kingdom or fight. King Goodness the Great sent this reply: "I do not want you to fight with me, and you do not want me to fight with you. If you want the country, you can have it. Why should we kill people just to decide the name of the king? What does it matter even the name of the country itself?"

Hearing this, the ministers came forward and pleaded, "Our Lord, let us go out with our mighty army. We will beat them with our weapons and capture them all. We are much stronger than they are. We would not have to kill any of them. And besides, if we surrender the city, the enemy army would surely kill us all!"

But King Goodness would not be moved. He refused to cause harm to anyone. He replied, "Even if you do not wish to kill, by fighting many will be injured. By accident some may die. No one knows the future - whether our attackers will kill us or not. But we do know whether our present actions are right or wrong. Therefore I will not harm, or cause others to harm, any living being!"

Then King Goodness ordered the city gates be opened up for the invaders. He took his ministers to the top floor of the palace and advised them, "Say nothing and try to remain calm."

The King of Kosala entered the city of Benares and saw that no one was against him. So he and his soldiers entered and went up to the top floor. They capture the innocent King Goodness the Great. The soldiers tied the hands of the defeated king and all of his ministers.

Then they were taken to the cemetery outside the city. They were buried up to their necks, standing straight up, with only their heads above ground. But even while the dirt was being trampled down around his neck, the Great Being remained without anger in his mind and said nothing.

Their discipline and obedience to King Goodness were so great that not a single minister spoke a word against anyone. But the King of Kosala had no mercy. He said roughly, "Come night time, let the jackals do as they please!"

And so it came to pass that, at midnight, a large band of jackals wandered into the cemetery. They could smell a feast of human flesh waiting for them.

Seeing them coming, King Goodness and his ministers shouted all at once and scared the jackals away. Twice more this happened. Then the clever jackals realised, "These men must have been put here for us to kill and eat." No longer afraid, they ignored the shouts. The jackal king walked right up to the face of King Goodness.

The king offered his throat to the beast. But before he could bite into him, the king grabbed the jackal’s chin with his teeth. No harming him, King Goodness gripped him tightly so the jackal king howled in fear. This frightened his followers and they all ran away.

Meanwhile the jackal king thrashed back and forth, trying madly to free himself from the might jaws of the human king. In so doing, he loosened the dirt packed around the king’s neck and shoulders. Then King Goodness released the screaming jackal. He was able to wiggle himself free from the loosened earth and pull himself up onto the ground. Then he freed all his frightened ministers.

Nearby there was a dead body. It just so happened that it was lying on the border of the territories claimed by two rival demons. They were arguing over the division of the body, insulting each other in ways that only demons can.

Then one demon said to the other, "Why should we continue quarrelling instead of eating? Right over there is King Goodness the Great of Benares. H is famous in all worlds for his righteousness. He will divide the dead body for us.

They dragged the body to the king and asked him to divide it between them fairly. He said, ‘My friends, I would be glad to divide this for you. But I am filthy and dirty. I must clean myself first."

The two demons used their magic powers to bring scented water, perfume, clothing, ornaments and flowers from the king’s own palace in Benares. He bathed, perfumed himself, dressed, and covered himself with ornaments and flower garlands.

The demons asked King Goodness if there was anything else they could do. He replied that he was hungry. So, again by their magic powers, the demons brought the most delicious flavoured rice in a golden bowl and perfumed drinking water in a golden cup - also from the royal palace in Benders.

When he was satisfied, king Goodness asked them to bring him the sword of state from the pillow of the King of Kosala, who was sleeping in the palace in Benares. With magic that too was easily done. Then the king used the sword to cut the dead boy into two halves, right down the spine. He washed the sword of state and strapped it to his side.

The hungry demons happily gobbled up the fairly divided dead body. Then they gratefully said to King Goodness, "Now that our bellies are full, is there anything else we can do to please you?"

He replied, "By your magic, set me in my own bedroom in the palace next to the King of Koala. In addition, put all these my ministers back in their homes." Without a word, the demons did exactly as the king had asked.

At that moment the King of Koala was fast asleep in the royal bedchamber. King Goodness the Great gently touched the belly of the sleeping king with the sword of state. The king awoke in great surprise. In the dim lamplight he was frightened to see King Goodness leaning over him with sword in hand. He had to rub his eyes to make sure he was not having a nightmare!"

Then he asked the great king, "My lord how did you come here in spite of all my guards? You were buried up to your neck in the cemetery - how is it you are spotlessly clean, sweet smelling, dressed in your own royal robes, and decorated with fine jewellery and the loveliest flowers?"

King Goodness told him the story of his escape from the band of jackals. He told of the two demons that came to him to settle their quarrel. And he told how they gratefully helped him with their magic powers.

On hearing this, the king of Kasala was overcome by his own shame. He bowed his head to King Goodness the Great and cried, "Oh great king, the stupid ferocious demons, who live by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of dead bodies - they recognised your supreme goodness. But I, who was lucky enough to be born as an intelligent and civilised human being - I have been too foolish to see how wonderful your pure goodness is.

"I promise never again to plot against you, my lord - you who have gained such perfect harmlessness. And I promise to serve you forever as the truest of friends. Please forgive me, great king." Then, as if he were a servant, the King of Kosala laid King Goodness the Great down on the royal bed, while he himself lay on a small couch.

The next day the King of Kosala called all his soldiers into the palace courtyard. There he publicly praised the king of Benares and asked his forgiveness once again. He gave back the kingdom and promised that he would always protect King Goodness. Then he punished his adviser, the criminal minister, and returned to Kosala with all his troops and elephants.

King Goodness the Great was sitting majestically on his golden throne, with its legs like those of a gazelle. He was shaded from the sun by the pure white royal umbrella. He taught his loyal subjects saying, "People of Benares wholesomeness begins with giving up the five unwholesome actions once and for all. The highest qualities of the good person, whether ruler or subject, are loving-kindness and compassion. Filled with these qualities, one cannot harm another - no matter what the reason or the cost. No matter how dangerous the threat, one must persevere until the greatness of the good heart wins in the end."

Throughout the rest of his reign, the people of Benares lived peacefully and happily. King Goodness the Great continued performing wholesome works. Eventually he died and was reborn as he deserved.

The moral is: Refusing to harm others, the good heart wins over all.

Kurunegoda Piyatissa

(The Jataka stories)

Truyện Tiền Thân Đức Phật - Phần II

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Bài 1 - Vua Thiện Đại - Sự Kiên Trì

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