The Long Āgama Sūtra 1.87

1.87

「於時，菩薩欲出遊觀，告勅御者嚴駕寶車，詣彼園林，巡行遊觀。御者即便嚴駕訖已，還白：『今正是時。』太子即乘寶車詣彼園觀。於其中路見一老人，頭白齒落，面皺身僂，拄杖羸步，喘息而行。太子顧問侍者：『此為何人？』答曰：『此是老人。』又問：『何如為老？』答曰：『夫老者生壽向盡，餘命無幾，故謂之老。』太子又問：『吾亦當爾，不免此患耶？』答曰：『然，生必有老，無有豪賤。』於是，太子悵然不悅，即告侍者迴駕還宮，靜默思惟：『念此老苦，吾亦當有。』」佛於是頌曰：

“At that point, the Bodhisattva wanted to go out sight-seeing, so he ordered his driver to prepare a chariot and horses to go tour a forest park. Once the chariot and horses were ready, the driver returned and said, ‘Now is a good time.’ The prince then rode in the precious chariot to the scenic park. While they were on the road, they saw an elderly man. His hair was white, his teeth had fallen out, and his wrinkled body was bent. He walked wearily with a cane and was short of breath.

“The prince asked his aide, ‘What sort of man is that?’

“He answered, ‘This is an old man.’

“The prince also asked, ‘What is “old”?’

“He answered, ‘Old age happens as the end of one’s life approaches. When there aren’t many years left, it’s called being old.’

“The prince asked, ‘Will I be likewise? Will I not escape this hardship?’

“He answered, ‘Yes, anyone born is sure to become old. It doesn’t matter if they are rich or poor.’

“The prince was disturbed and unhappy at that point. He told his driver to turn the chariot around and go back to the palace. He silently thought to himself, ‘To think I’ll also have to suffer being old!’”

The Buddha then spoke in verse: