Golden Youth Sutra, Chapter 5
Translated by Dharma Protector and Others, Imperial Command.
At that moment, Merchant Sunlight, upon hearing all these many matters, was utterly shattered in heart and mind, overwhelmed by immense sorrow and suffering. He collapsed unconscious to the ground, and they sprinkled water on his face; it was a long while before he revived. Slowly sitting up, weeping and sobbing, he cried out, "Agony! Agony! My only son—his life now ends." Having spoken thus, he once again wailed aloud and recited this verse:
"How pitiful! My son, with his gentle eyes, How pitiful! The great ornament of our clan, I, your father, have little merit and virtue, Thus I weep bitterly, because you are harmed.
Because of you, my heart is torn apart, And now I wander lost in every direction, Separated from you, a blazing fire burns— How pitiful! It scorches my very mind.
You are a gentle and wise person, One who loves compassion deeply, But I, your father, am an utterly evil man, Who has brought you into this time of great hardship.
When you, my son, were first born, I gained joy beyond compare, But now that we must part, The fire of sorrow burns fiercely in my heart.
How pitiful! The king and his ministers, Lacking compassion and discernment, See this person who upholds the law and discipline, Yet cannot carefully evaluate the truth.
How pitiful! The great kingdom's ruler, Shows a clear lack of compassion, Unable to examine the matter thoroughly, And thus you have discarded my son.
The most virtuous and noble person in the world Would never conceal his intentions; Everyone knows my son is a man of virtue, So I weep bitterly because you are harmed.
The holy sages in this great city— Now separated, where will they go? If such a virtuous person can be illuminated, Let him be spared upon the execution ground.
May the Lord Shakra and the World-Protectors, And other mighty deities, Please open your compassionate hearts a little, And now protect my son with kindness.
The powerful monks who have perfected discipline, And the other silent sages, I bow to you, asking you to open compassionate hearts, And now come to my son's rescue."
At that time, after the merchant Sunlight finished reciting those verses, a sudden flash of wisdom arose in him, and he thought to himself, "My current wailing and lamentation are all in vain and meaningless. I have heard that the Buddha, the World-Honored One, possesses infinite merit and virtue. He extends universal compassion to all beings, treating everyone with equal kindness. With great compassion, he responds instantly to every heartfelt thought. This Buddha, the World-Honored One, becomes a master for those who have no guide, a savior for those who have no protection, a refuge for those who have no shelter, and a path for those who have no direction."