Chapter 16 - Magadha-bhramaṇa

Magadhabhramaṇaṃ Soḍaśaṃ Prakaraṇam
(Chapter Sixteen named Magadhabhramaṇam )

Then he went to Magadha. When he arrived in the land of Magadha, he saw beings that had lived for twenty years in the wilderness eating each other’s flesh. Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara wondered, ‘By what method can I bring contentment to these beings?

Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara then caused divine rains to fall. First there was a rain of water, and the water brought them satisfaction. Then there came a rain of divine food with supreme flavors, and they were completely filled. When they were completely satisfied by eating the food, a rain of grain fell. Then there fell sesame, rice, jujubes, and wild rice. Whatever those beings wished for, their wishes were fulfilled each time. Those beings in the land of Magadha were amazed, and they all sat down together. Seated, they asked each other, ‘what deity manifested all of this? ‘Among them there was one being who many hundreds of thousands of years old was. He was aged, old, feeble, hunchbacked, and bent like a cow’s ear. He said to them, ‘only Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara has this kind of power, no other deity.’ Then those gathered there asked him, ‘What are the qualities of Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara? Then the man began to describe Avalokiteśvara’s qualities to them: ‘Listen, noble sons; He is a lamp for those in darkness. He is a parasol for those burned and pained by the sun. He is a river for those afflicted with thirst. He gives freedom from fear to those who are terrified and afraid. He is medicine for those afflicted with sickness. He is a father and mother for beings who suffer. He is a teacher of nirvāṇa to those reborn in Avīci. Those are his special qualities. Those who remember his name will have happiness in this world and will completely leave behind every suffering in saṃsāra. Those who continually gather and offer flowers and incense to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara will become cakravartin kings who possess the seven jewels. The seven jewels are: the precious wheel, the precious horse, the precious elephant, the precious jewel, the precious wife, the precious householder, and the precious counsellor. Those who offer flowers to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara will have aromatic bodies, and wherever they are reborn, their bodies will be perfect. The old man taught Avalokiteśvara’s special qualities in that way. Then those gathered there returned to their homes, and the aged man, having taught them an appropriate dharma, returned to his home, and Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara Vanished into the sky.

While Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara was in the sky he thought, ‘It has been a long time since I, have seen Tathāgata Viśvabhū, and so he next went to Jetavana Monastery. Bhagavat Viśvabhū saw him coming. As Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara approached the Jetavana monastery, he saw Devas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garuḍas, Kiṃnaras, Mahoragas, humans, and non-humans, and a gathering of many hundreds of Bodhisattvas.

Bodhisattva Gaganagañja asked Bhagavat Viśvavhū [Viśvabhū?], ‘Bhagavat, which Bodhisattva is arriving? ‘Bhagavat Viśvabhū said, ‘This is Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara who is arriving.’ Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara bowed his head to Bhagavat Viśvabhū’s feet, circumambulated him three times, and sat on his left. Bhagavat Viśvabhū asked him, ‘Are you tired? Are you weary? Noble son, what work have you been doing? Then Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara told Viśvabhū what had occurred. Bodhisattva Gaganagañja was extremely amazed and said, ‘I have never seen such a field of activity as that of this Bodhisattva. There is no such field of activity among the Tathāgatas, let alone among the Bodhisattvas.

Then Bodhisattva Gaganagañja came to Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara and sat before him. Seated, he asked Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Avalokiteśvara, ‘Are you tired? Are you weary? ‘He replied, ‘I am not tired and I am not weary. ‘They talked with each other and then became silent.

Then Bhagavat Viśvabhū began to teach upon the six perfections: ‘Noble sons, listen. Having become a Bodhisattva, you must complete the perfection of generosity. Similarly, you must complete the perfection of conduct, the perfection of patience, the perfection of diligence, the perfection of meditation, and the perfection of wisdom. Having taught that dharma he became silent. Then the assembled beings each returned to their own dwelling places, and the Bodhisattvas returned to their own Buddha realms.

This completes Part One of the precious king of the Mahāyāna Sūtras, The Sūtra of the Kāraṇḍyavyūha Sūtra. Dvitīyo Nirvyūhaḥ