106. The gods request the Buddha to reveal the Law

The great Brahma with hair high-twisted, lord of ten times three thousand great thousands (worlds) was by the power of the Buddha in his mind aware of what passed in the Tathagata's mind: that the spirit of Bhagavan, being not cheerful, was inclined towards not revealing the Law. Then he thought: "Let me go myself to the Tathagata and request him to reveal the Law." Surrounded and followed by sixty eight hundred thousand brahmana's he betook himself to the place where the Tathagata was, did homage to his feet and spoke to him with hands held in sembah: "This world goes completely to ruin, Bhagavan, if the Tathagata after attaining the highest Wisdom, being not cheerful inclines his mind towards not revealing the Law."

Therefore the great Brahm] with hair high-twisted, betook himself to the place where Qakra, king of the gods, was end said unto him: "This well thou shouldst know, Kau,cika, the mind of the Tathagata Is inclined (etc. as above). Why should we not go together to the Tathagata, the arhat who has attained the perfect Wisdom, to request him to reveal the Law ?" "It is good, o worthy one." Then Qakra and Brahma, the earth-gods, the heaven-gods etc. etc. came to the place where the Tathagata was and placed themselves aside. <:akra, king of the gods, went up to theTathagata, bowed before him with hands held in sembah and praised him in verses etc.

When the great Brahma with hair high-twisted and (:akra, king of the gods, became aware that the Tathagata kept silence, they went away sorrowful and dejected with those gods sons(393: 20; 394: 8; 396: 4, 5, 1 1, 13, 18, 21; 397: 20).

Between two incense-burners is placed the once more plain throne of the Buddha, who sits in dhyana-muira. The tree is in the same style of hovering flower-arrangement, and now covered by an umbrella. The gods sit on both sides with trees in the background; some are making a sembah, others hold gifts of honor. None of them has his hair dressed high so as to be Brahma, nor is Qakra to be identified by the presence of Airavata in the usual way. It seems to be more a deputation of the gods in a body, not Brahma or (;akra in particular.