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

The Precious Scroll of Incense Mountain, Part 1 55
The third of them, Marvelous Goodness, was the youngest,
Her parents loved her best—she was the apple of their eye!
One morning when the emperor ascended the throne hall [for the
morning audience], a great rage showed on his dragon-mien, filling
his court officials with fear. The emperor did not say a word, but secretly
he thought to himself: ‘‘The concubines and other women in
the rear palace number three thousand seven hundred, but they all
are just like bodies modeled from clay or carved from wood. There
is not even a single one who is capable of giving me a son and heir!
And then to think that the plants and trees of the mountains and
rivers each year again in spring open their flowers and form fruit! 32
But We lack a descendant, so all Our effort in serving as lord of the
country is in vain. If only one of the women in the rear palace
would give me a crown prince, who would succeed Our mandate,
govern the realm, and glorify his rule, so his fame would spread to
other countries—that is Our wish! Today there is none to whom I
can complain, so I can only call my ministers to draw near, so they
may listen as I tell them in detail my innermost feelings.’’
If only he had had a son, this affair would have been dropped,
Without a worry in the world, he’d have enjoyed Great Peace.
Namo Guanshiyin pusa
The emperor opened his golden mouth, speaking as follows:
‘‘My dear ministers, come closer and listen to Our concerns.
What is the point in piling up gold and accumulating jade?
In the final reckoning the rarest treasure is not really genuine.
Light and shade like an arrow hasten the process of aging,
But the state lacks a crown prince, We lack a descendant.
To Our despair today We realize that Our body is aging,
And to govern mountains and rivers We lack a successor.
If only one palace woman would give birth to a prince,
I would not worry for the peace of this whole wide world.
All you high officials here present in your red and purple,
Who can free me of these feelings of affliction and sorrow?’’
The four chancellors and the nine directors promptly replied,
Following a double genuflection and eight bows they spoke:
‘‘Everyone here at court is a loyal servant and a gentleman,
There is not one person here who disobeys and is not good.