Two Precious Scroll Narratives of Guanyin and Her ... - Khamkoo

54 ThePreciousScrollofIncenseMountain,Part1
Inside the palace the princess practiced cultivation—but how
would it end? Let’s tell how the Marvelous Splendor emperor ruled
the realm with a firm hand: even gods and ghosts were frightened
and filled with fear. Those who had merit were rewarded, and those
who broke the law were not pardoned. The four chancellors and
nine directors served him respectfully, and his millions of troops
protected him on all sides. In the rear palace his three thousand
seven hundred concubines dined nine times every day, as harmonious
music played in accord with Heaven. He lacked neither gold
nor silver nor rare treasures. Pondering his position, the only thing
he lacked was a crown prince. He then composed the following
gātha:
Whether an emperor lacks an heir depends on Heaven—
This long tale of cause and conditions is still transmitted.
In a myriad kalpas, in a thousand lives, a rare opportunity: 31
Sit up straight and still your breath, and listen to its telling.
Namo Guanshiyin pusa (Here one repeats the name of the Buddha
and burns and offers [incense]. Whenever one comes across the name
of the bodhisattva, the congregation recites the name once. Sound the
ruler once.)
The Marvelous Splendor emperor governed all-under-heaven,
A lord and king in possession of the Way, he ruled the people.
The hundreds of millions of mountains and streams were unified,
The myriads of phenomena praised in concert this Great Peace.
Let’s not discuss the emperor’s ample possession of the Way,
Let us tell you about his main consort inside the rear palace:
She went by the name of Precious Virtue and was the empress,
A saintly mother of a buddha who had come down to earth.
Her natural beauty from birth was fully perfect in all respects,
Her humane virtue and kind compassion were without compare.
The thirty-six palaces all served her with utmost reverence,
The seventy-two courtyards all venerated her with proper awe.
But even though she was the empress in the rear palace,
She had not given birth to a crown prince, a son and heir.
One after another, she had given birth to three daughters,
And these three daughters I will now introduce to you all.
The eldest sister, Marvelous Book, was the first of them,
The second of them went by the name of Marvelous Sound.