Karura is also a manifestation of Bodhisattva
2025-04-04
Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra
A Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
Karura (Roc gold-winged bird) lives in Mount Vajra, and its palace is adorned with seven treasures. When it is about to die, it cannot eat the dragon. Why? Because there is poisonous juice in the dragon's body. The Karura usually eats dragons and is not afraid of the poison. When it is about to die, at this time, the dragon's body releases poisonous juice, which shoots into its eyes, making it unable to open its eyes. In this way, it cannot eat the dragon.
It was so hungry and then rested on the iron tree of Mount Kumgang. When it could no longer bear it, it flew into the sea to find a dragon to eat it. The dragon released poison and drove it away. This happened seven times before it was finally exhausted and died of the poison. At this time, the body of the Karura was burned by poisonous fire, like a volcanic eruption, melting all hard things into water. Nanda Dragon King was afraid that the treasure mountain would be burned down, so he sent heavy rain from the sky. The raindrops were as big as wheels, which put out the fire. At this time, the whole body of the Karura has turned into ashes. Only the heart of the bird has not been burned, and it has become a jewel, with a glazed color, exquisite and lovely. If the Chakravarti (Wheel-Turning King) obtains it, he will use it as a Cintamani (wish-fulfilling jewel) on his crown; if Śakra (the ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven) obtains it, he will use it as a night-shining pearl.
In the "Tathāgata Appearance Chapter" of this Buddhist Sutra, there is a verse that says:
"The Bodhisattva Karura, as he wishes he has solid feet and convenient and brave wings. With compassionate and clear eyes, live in the trees of all wisdom and observe the ocean of three sentient beings. Catching the heavenly dragon and bring it to the shore of Nirvana." Judging from this passage, the Karura is also a manifestation of a Bodhisattva to tame all sentient beings. That's why said:"The Bodhisattva Karura flies in the sky as he wishes. Its feet are very strong, and its wings are convenient and brave. Its eyes are very compassionate and bright clear. Although it eats dragons, it only eats dying dragons. On the surface, it appears that they are being eaten by it, but in reality, it is saving the dragons, so that they no longer suffer the pain of reincarnation and can reach the Pāra shore (Nirvana) directly. The tree where it lives is called the Tree of Wisdom. It observes the seas of three sentient beings of the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm, catches the dragons in the sky or the human world, and sends them to the other side of Nirvana. "
This kind of state is not something we ordinary people can understand. People who have not achieved Phala (fruition) will not believe this truth. Only after they have achieved Phala will they know what is going on. Shakyamuni Buddha is a person who has attained the supreme Buddhahood and would never tell a lie. This state is absolutely correct.
Garuda 迦樓羅
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garuda
Karura 迦樓羅 (佛教)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karura
Chakravarti (Sanskrit term) 轉輪王
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakravarti_(Sanskrit_term)
Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddh%C4%81vata%E1%B9%83saka_S%C5%ABtra
Enlightenment in Buddhism 無上正等正覺
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism
A Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
https://www.cttbusa.org/fas1/fas_contents.asp.html
Free English Dharma Books from Buddhist Text Translation Society
https://www.buddhisttexts.org/collections/free-english
大方廣佛華嚴經淺釋