The Questions of Brahmadatta

The Questions of Brahmadatta (Skt. Brahma-datta-paripṛcchā; Tib. ཚངས་པས་བྱིན་གྱིས་ཞུས་པ།, Wyl. tshangs pas byin gyis zhus pa) is a sutra which begins with the bodhisattva Amoghadarshin departing from the Jeta Grove of Shravasti, where the Buddha is residing. Together with more than five hundred bodhisattvas, he travels to the region of Pancala, where King Brahmadatta requests Amoghadarshin to impart teachings to him and his citizens. The bodhisattva discusses the attributes and correct practices of a king who is a protector of the Dharma. The king requests that the bodhisattva remain in his kingdom to observe the summer vows in retreat. Sixty wicked monks already residing there treat Amoghadarshin poorly, and after three months he leaves Pancala and returns to the Jeta Grove.

King Brahmadatta later goes to see the Buddha, who explains to the king how the wicked monks behaved and the negative consequences of such actions. The Buddha then goes on to explain what a monk and others who wish to attain awakening should strive for, namely, to rid themselves of pride, anger, and jealousy. Upon hearing these instructions, King Brahmadatta expels the sixty wicked monks from his kingdom. Many beings then generate the mind of awakening, and King Brahmadatta is irreversibly set on the path of complete awakening. The Buddha smiles and radiates multicoloured lights throughout the whole world. Finally, the king apologizes to Amoghadarshin and the bodhisattva forgives him.

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The Tibetan translation of this sutra can be found in the General Sutra section of the Tibetan Kangyur, Toh 159.

• English translation: The Questions of Brahmadatta