Chapter 49: Muktāsāra
Sudhana, the head merchant’s son, eventually arrived in the southern region, and in the town of Bharukaccha he approached the goldsmith Muktāsāra. He bowed his head to the feet of the goldsmith Muktāsāra and then, standing before him with his palms together in homage, said, “Ārya, I have developed the aspiration for the highest, complete enlightenment, but I do not know how bodhisattvas should train in bodhisattva conduct and in what way they should practice it.
“Ārya, I have heard that you give instruction and teachings to bodhisattvas. I pray that you explain to me how bodhisattvas should train in bodhisattva conduct and how they should practice it!”
When he had said that, the goldsmith Muktāsāra said, “Noble one, I know the bodhisattva liberation called the display of pure1940 unimpeded memory. I continuously seek the Dharma at the feet of the tathāgatas in the ten directions.
“Noble one, I know only this bodhisattva liberation called the display of pure1941 unimpeded memory. How could I know the conduct or describe the qualities of the bodhisattvas who have the fearless lion’s roar and are established in great merit and wisdom?
“Depart, noble one. In the forest beside this town of Bharukaccha resides a householder by the name of Sucandra who has a continuously shining house. Go to him and ask him, ‘How should a bodhisattva train in and practice bodhisattva conduct?’ ”
Sudhana, the head merchant’s son, bowed his head to the feet of the goldsmith Muktāsāra. He circumambulated the goldsmith Muktāsāra many hundreds of thousands of times, keeping him to his right, and, looking back at him again and again, he departed from the goldsmith Muktāsāra.