The Bodhisattva, being not at all desirous of pleasures and rejoicings connected with existence, and thinking it painful even to ask for anything, since he had attained the state of contentment, said to Sakra:
14. 'If thou wishest to give me some boon, that may please me, I ask the foremost of the Devas this boon,
15. 'May that fire of covetousness, which after obtaining a beloved wife, children, power, riches more abundant than had been longed for, still goes on heating the mind of men never to be satisfied—may that fire never enter my heart!'
The propensity to contentment declared by this well-turned saying delighted Sakra in a still higher degree. He praised the Bodhisattva again, saying: 'Excellent, excellent!' and once more he urged him to choose some boon.
16. 'Muni, also for this right and well-said sentence I offer thee gladly as a present in return a second boon.'
Then the Bodhisattva, in order to show him the difficulty of getting rid entirely of the innate evil passions[63], preached him the Law once more under the guise of asking a boon.
17. 'If thou givest me some boon, thou Vâsava, abode of excellent qualities, then I ask thee another boon, and no mean one, Lord of the Devas.
18. 'May that fire of hatred, subdued by which the creatures come to[64] loss of wealth, loss of caste and of good reputation, as if they were vanquished by a hostile attack—may that fire be far from me!'
On hearing this, Sakra, the chief of the Devas, highly admiring him, praised him: 'Excellent, excellent!' and again he said: