This is the fourth of the five-part series: 15 Days of Buddha’s Miracles.
During the first fifteen days of the Lunar year, this festival is celebrated. The fifteenth day is the main day of commemoration.
Why the Six False Teachers dare to challenge the Buddha
Then, after the Buddha told why his foot displays the Thousand-Spoked Wheel, King Bimbisara asked, “Lord, why did the six false teachers challenged you, although they know that they cannot win? Why did they jump to their deaths after losing and embarrassing themselves?
The Buddha replied, “Your Majesty, it is not the first time that these six false teachers challenged me. In days long past, they also acted in this way.” Then the Buddha continued.
“In eons long past, eons that cannot be recalled, there was a king named Mahasukali. This king had 500 minor kings under his reign. Also, he had 500 wives. None of his 500 wives have given birth to a son. This made the king depressed.
Indra, the king of the gods, saw this, and disguised himself as a doctor. He came to King Mahasukali and offered a solution. He offered to pick medicinal plants, grind them and boil them in milk, and give them to the 500 wives, so that they may born a son.
After climbing deep forests and mountains, he prepared the medicine. He gave it to the first wife. The smell of the drink disgusted the wife, making her dizzy. She then refused to take it.
Meanwhile, the 499 wives drank it and immediately became pregnant. The first wife regretted her action, and sought for the remains of the medicine. Only some leftovers were found, and she mixed it in milk and drank.
Prince Tree Stump Was Born
The 499 wives all gave birth to the most handsome and comely sons. When the first wife followed, the son that was born was as ugly as a tree trunk! Thus, he was called Prince Tree Stump.
All the princes grew up in sports, education and arts. Eventually, the 499 princes all married except for the ugly Prince Tree Stump. When they were all adults, there happened a war. The 499 princes went to war but were defeated. In terror, they all retreated.
Prince Tree Stump asked why they were retreating, and he refused to retreat. He said, “Bring me the ancestor’s bow and horn and I shall do battle with them!”
The horn and bow were owned by their ancestor who was a Universal Emperor (Skt: Chakravartin). Only a royal emperor can shoot the bow and blow the horn. This Prince Tree Stump did.
The roar of the horn sounded like a dragon that was heard everywhere. It terrified all their enemies and Prince Tree Stump won the battle.
Prince Tree Stump Marries
During the celebrations back in the capital, the king, queen and nobles decided that it was time for the prince to marry.
They heard that King Losipaca had the most beautiful princess daughter. However, King Losipaca said, “If she were to marry one of the handsome princes, then fine. But if she marries that ugly prince, I will not allow her!”
So King Mahasukali arranged for one of his handsome sons to receive the princess. Then, he arranged that Prince Tree Stump and the new bride would only meet during night time when they were about to sleep. They could not meet each other during the daytime.
This happened and everything went smoothly for sometime.
The Princess Flees in Freight
One day, the other princesses told the Princess that Prince Tree Stump is the ugliest of the princes. She could not believe this as she saw that her husband was handsome when he fetched her from her country.
That night, when they were both asleep, the princess checked upon Prince Tree Stump. Indeed, he was ugly! She was too terrified that she fled the palace and returned to her father.
The next day, after not finding her, Prince Tree Stump heard that his wife ran away to her home country. As he was going there, he heard that six other princes were marching towards the same country.
After hearing about the princess’ return, six princes from six different countries decided to win her heart through battle. They marched to King Losipaca’s kingdom.
Winning Over The Six Princes
The King and his ministers were troubled.
One minister suggested, “Just divide the princess into six parts and give one part to each of the six princes.” Another minister said, “give the princess to the prince who can drive all the other princes and their armies away.”
To this, the king agreed and gave a proclamation.
After hear the proclamation, Prince Tree Stump arrived in the enemy armies’ camps. He blew the horn and drew the bow, terrifying all the soldiers.
They all froze in fear, and Prince Tree Stump rushed to the princes’ camps and cut each of their heads. He took their crowns and their respective armies surrendered.
The King was delighted to hear this and gave his daughter once again to Prince Tree Stump.
It is better to die than be this ugly
Once they were back at the palace, Prince Tree Stump asked the princess why she left him. She said, “It is because you are too ugly. I was terrified and so, I fled!”
Upon hearing this, Prince Tree Stump looked at the mirror, and indeed, he realized he was too ugly! He decided that it was better to die than to live this ugly.
Sad and hopeless, he wandered into the forest preparing for his death. Indra, the king of the gods, saw him and asked, “Why are you doing this?”
He replied, “because I am too ugly”.
Hearing this, Indra gave him a jewel which he could put on his hair. The moment he wore the jewel, he transformed into a handsome prince. When he went back and the wife saw him, they reunited and lived in happiness.
He was no longer called Prince Tree Stump, but Prince Sulasan, meaning the ‘Handsomest of All’.
Prince Tree Stump Becomes a Universal Monarch
Sometime later, the Prince decided to build a great palace in a great plane. He commanded his subjects to build one of earth and stones. Then, a naga king approached him, and asked this.
The naga king was disappointed with his plan and offered, “You should build it using jewels and precious stones. I will bring forth four springs in the four directions. The eastern spring will spring forth water and lapiz lazuli. The south – gold. The west – silver. The north – crystal”
The prince was able to build a palace like that of the gods’. Then he constructed wood and crystal buildings along the highway.
Then the seven precious possessions (of a Chakravartin, Universal Monarch) naturally came to him. He became a Universal monarch ruling over the four continents. He caused all beings to commit acts of virtue.
The six princes who wished for the princess’ hand in marriage were the six false teachers. They had enmity towards the Buddha long before. They would rather perish than follow his teachings due to their arrogance and pride.
This was the distant story why the Buddha was challenged by the six false teachers in this present life.
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Next, Part 5: Why Prince Tree Stump was born too ugly
Previous, Part 3: Why the Buddha developed the Thousand-spoked Wheel sign on the sole of his foot