six ministers ［六大臣・六臣］ ( roku-daijin or roku-shin): Also, six royal ministers. The ministers of Ajātashatru, a king of Magadha in India during Shakyamuni’s time. In Chinese scriptures, their names are rendered as Famed for the Moon, Virtue Contained, Truly Attaining, Complete Understanding of Meanings, Auspicious Virtue, and Fearlessness. The original Sanskrit names are unknown, although Famed for the Moon is thought to be Chandrakīrti or Chandrayashas. According to the Mahāparinirvāna Sutra, Ajātashatru was suffering from virulent sores all over his body because of his offense of killing his father, King Bimbisāra, a patron of Shakyamuni Buddha. Ajātashatru’s six ministers each recommended to him that he consult a different one of the six non-Buddhist teachers. The minister Famed for the Moon exhorted the king to see the teacher Pūrana Kassapa; Virtue Contained advised him to consult Makkhali Gosāla; Truly Attaining, to see Sanjaya Belatthiputta; Complete Understanding of Meanings, Ajita Kesakambala; Auspicious Virtue, Pakudha Kacchāyana; and Fearlessness urged him to see Nigantha Nātaputta. The great physician Jīvaka, however, exhorted the king to see Shakyamuni Buddha and receive his instruction. According to the sutra, when the king decided to seek out Shakyamuni Buddha, the Buddha was far off in a grove of sal trees. Nevertheless, he perceived the king’s desire and entered the so-called moon-loving meditation in order to relieve his suffering. A brilliant ray of light then shone forth from the Buddha’s body and reached the palace, falling on the king’s body. As a result, Ajātashatru was completely cured of his sores.