Overall Teaching

King Balendraketu teaches his son Ruciraketu the textbook for kings. It teaches that kings are called divine and divine sons because they are manifested by and blessed by the gods in order to promote good and punish evil. If a king fails to do this, the gods neglect their realm and evils increase. If a king does do this, then the kingdom will prosper and the heavens will prosper as a result of people doing good deeds.

Summary

1.     First, homage is given to the Buddhas Ratna-, Śākyamuni, Śrī, and Sarasvatī.

2.     King Balendraketu said to his son, King Ruciraketu,[1] who he had recently consecrated:

a.     He received the textbook for kings called Instruction concerning Divine Kings from his father and reigned according to it for 20,000 years.

b.     This textbook removes doubts and evil deeds so he shall relate it.

3.     The textbook teaches:

a.     On mount Vajrākara, King Brahma was questioned by the world-protectors why a king born among humans is called “divine” and why a king is called a “divine son” if born among humans? Moreover, how will a god exercise kingship among humans?

b.     Brahma replied:

                                               i.     Under the blessing of divine kings a king enters his mother’s womb. Therefore, they are called divine.

                                             ii.     Moreover, the gods of the Thirty-three[2] magically create a lord of men for the sake of subduing evil on earth. Regardless of caste or species, a king manifests to remove evil.

                                            iii.     A king is also blessed by the gods to show the fruition of good and bad deeds: if a king neglects to punish evil people who do evil, evil deeds and lawlessness grow and quarrels grow in the realm. If a king fails to punish an evil deed, the gods of the Thirty-three are wrathful on his kingdom:

1.     Foreign armies will destroy his realm and enjoyments and houses.

2.     Those who accumulated wealth are deprived of it.

3.     There will be unfavourable signs (winds, rains, asterisms).

4.     Crops won’t ripen, famine will arise, natural disasters will occur.

5.     Gods will ignore the king and he will be ignored by his family.

6.     His beloved minister and animals will die.

7.     The venerable will be lawless, and there will be respect for lawless people and the oppression of the law-abiding.

8.     Where there is oppression of the law-abiding, three things will go wild: asterisms, water, and winds.

9.     Where there is acceptance of the lawless three things will perish: the savour, essence, and strength of the Good Dharma, strength of beings, and savour of the earth.

10.  Where there is honour for untruthful people and dishonour for the truthful, there will be: famine, thunderbolt, and death by plague.

11.  Things previously enjoyable will become unenjoyable: e.g. food.

12.  Beings will become weak and disease ridden.

13.  Demons, asterisms, and various rākṣasas will arise.

                                            i.     This is because he overlooks the duty for which he was manifested by the gods: this is not how true sonship or kingship is exercised. The king should be a promoter of good acts.

                                             ii.     The king is appointed for himself, others, the Dharma, and his territory. So, in controlling wicked, evil people, he should even give up life and sovereignty for the sake of the Dharma and his territory.

                                            iii.     When a king overlooks evil acts, not only does he destroy his realm like a great pool by elephants, but the gods are wrathful and their abode is destroyed.

                                          iv.     The king should be impartial towards all people in his realm, including relatives—the law-abiding king fills the world with his fame and gladdens the gods: when he does this, he establishes people in good actions and as a result, this fills the heavens with divine sons.

                                         v.     When he rules according to the Dharma, the gods are joyful and they send rain and plenty.

4. Thus, the king should not give up the Jewel of the Dharma and keep the company of those with virtues who refrain from evil.

[1] The Bodhisattva from Chapter 2.

[2] Trāyastriṃśa, on top of Sumeru.