A King called Virtuous

“Oh Kasyapa! Any person who breaks the precepts and who does not protect Wonderful Dharma should be called a bogus priest. One who keeps strictly the observance of the rules (monastic) does not gain such a designation (bogus). Oh good man! In the past - there are innumerable, boundless, asamkhyas of kalpas ago – there appeared in this town of Kushinagar a Buddha who was the Alms-deserving, the All-Enlightened, the All-accomplished One, the Well-gone who Knows the World, the Unsurpassed Best Trainer, Master of Heaven and Earth, Buddha, World Honored One, and whose name was 'Tathagata of Joy-and-Benefit-Augmentation'. At that time, the world was wide and gloriously pure, rich and peaceful. People were at the height of prosperity and no hunger was felt. They seemed Bodhisattvas of the Land of Peace and Happiness. That Buddha, World Honored One, stayed in the world for an innumerable length of time. Having taught the people, he entered Parinirvana between the twin sal trees.

After Buddha having entered Nirvana, his teaching remained in the world for countless billions of years, and in the latter part of the last forty years the Buddhist teachings had not yet disappeared. At that time, there was a bhiksu called ‘Enlightened-Virtuous’, who upheld the precepts well and was surrounded by many of his relatives. He raised the lion's roar and preached all the nine types of sutras. He taught, saying: 'Do not keep menials, whether men or women, cows, sheep or whatever might go against the precepts’. At that time there were many bhiksus who were acting contrary to the precepts. On hearing this, they conspired and came upon this bhiksu brandishing swords and sticks. At that time, there was a King called 'Virtuous'. He heard about this. To protect the Dharma, he came to where the bhiksu was delivering his sermons and fought against the evil doers so that the bhiksu did not suffer. The king, however, received wounds in his entire body. Then the bhiksu Enlightened-Virtuous praised the king, saying: 'Well done, well done, oh King! You are a person who protects the Wonderful Dharma. In the days to come, you will become an unsurpassed utensil of Dharma'. The king heard his sermon and rejoiced. Then he died and was born in the land of Buddha Akshobhya and became his foremost disciple. The underlings of the king, his relatives and soldiers were all glad and did not retrogress in their Bodhicitta. When came the day of their departure from the world, they were born in the land of Buddha Akshobhya. At the time when the Wonderful Dharma was about to die out, they could act and protect a Dharma like this one. Oh Kasyapa! The king at that time was I; the bhiksu who delivered the sermons was Buddha Kasyapa. Oh Kasyapa! One who protects the Wonderful Dharma is rewarded with such incalculable fruition. This is why I today adorn my body in various ways and have perfectly achieved the indestructible Dharma-body."

Bodhisattva Kasyapa further said to the Buddha: "Oh World Honored One! The eternal body of the Tathagata is the one carved in stone, as it was."

The Buddha said to Kasyapa: "Oh good man! For that reason, bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas, upasikas should all try harder and protect Wonderful Dharma. The reward for the protection of the Wonderful Dharma is extremely great and priceless. Oh good man! Because of this, those upasakas who protect the Dharma should take the swords and sticks and protect a bhiksu who guards Dharma. Even though a person upholds the precepts, we cannot call that person one who upholds Mahayana. Even though a person has not yet received the five precepts, if it protects the Wonderful Dharma, such a person can well be called one of (who protects the) Mahayana. A person who upholds the Wonderful Dharma should take the swords and sticks, and guard the bhiksus."

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 5 - On the Adamantine Body.