Nichiren referred to the two princes from the “Śubhavyūha” chapter in encouraging an unidentified couple, possibly Lord Matsuno of Suruga and his wife, who were mourning their deceased son and had apparently become more earnest in their Buddhist practice following his death. Nichiren’s disciple Nichiji, who was related to Matsuno and had reported the matter to Nichiren, informed him that the young man had not only been unusually handsome, but also straightforward and wise. According to Nichiren, Nichiji had told him that he had initially been struck with pity that so remarkable an individual should die young. “But on reflection, I realized that, because of this boy’s death, his mother aroused the aspiration for the way and his father began to take thought for his next life. This is far from ordinary, I thought. And the fact that they have placed faith in the Lotus Sūtra, which everyone opposes, must mean that their deceased son has been at their side, encouraging them to do so.” Nichiren told the parents that he fully concurred with Nichiji’s reading of events, adding, “The king Śubhavyūha was an evil monarch. But when guided by their two sons, the princes [Vimalagarbha and Vimalanetra], father and mother were both able to place their trust in the Lotus Sūtra and become buddhas. The same must be true in your case as well!”