Udanavarga 4.51-52

4.51

昔有國王治行正法民慕其化，無有太子以為愁憂。佛來入國便出覲尊，聽經歡欣即受五戒，一心奉敬唯願有子，晝夜精進三時不懈。有一給使其年十一常為王使，忠信奉法不失威儀，謙卑忍辱精進一心學誦經偈，知時先起已辦香火，數年之中精進如是不以為勞，卒得重病遂致無常。其神來還為王作子，乳餔長大至年十五立為太子。父王命終襲代為王，憍慢自恣婬泆欲樂，晝夜躭荒不理國事，臣僚廢朝民被其患。佛知其行不會本識，將諸弟子往到其國。王聞佛來，如先王法，大眾奉迎稽首于地却坐王位，佛告王曰：「國土人民群僚百官，悉自如常不？」王曰：「為人年幼未能綏化，皆蒙聖恩國土無他。」佛告王曰：「王今自知本所從來，作何功德得此王位？」王曰：「不審。頑愚不達，不知先世所從來也。」佛告大王：「本以五事得為國王。何等為五？一者布施得為國王，萬民奉獻宮觀殿堂資財無極。二者興立寺廟供養三尊床㯓幃帳以是為王，在於正殿御座理國。三者親身禮敬三尊及諸長德以是為王，一切萬民莫不為之作禮。四者忍辱身三口四及意無惡以是為王，一切見者莫不歡欣。五者學問常求智慧以是為王，決斷國事莫不奉用。行此五事世世為王。」

Formerly, there was a king who practiced the correct Dharma, and his people looked up to his transforming influence; however, he had no crown prince and was deeply sorrowful on that account. When the Buddha came to enter his realm, [the king] immediately went out to behold the World-Honoured One, listened to the scriptures with joy, and at once received the five precepts. Single-mindedly reverent, he wished only to have a son, and day and night he made vigorous effort throughout the three periods of the day without flagging. There was a serving-boy, eleven years of age, who constantly served as the king's messenger; loyal, faithful, and observant of the Dharma, he never breached dignified deportment, was humble and forbearing, and single-mindedly and vigorously studied and recited the scriptural verses. Knowing the proper time, he rose early and prepared the incense and fire. For several years he was thus vigorous without regarding it as wearisome, when he suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away. His consciousness returned and became the king's son; nursed and reared, when he reached the age of fifteen he was invested as crown prince. When the father king's life ended, he succeeded him as king. Haughty, self-indulgent, and given over to debauchery and sensual pleasure, he indulged himself day and night without attending to the affairs of state, so that his ministers neglected court audiences and the common people suffered harm. The Buddha, knowing that his conduct was out of accord with his original consciousness, led his disciples to that country. When the king heard that the Buddha had come, in accordance with the ways of the former king, he received him reverently with the great assembly, bowed his head to the ground, and then withdrew to sit upon the royal seat. The Buddha addressed the king, saying: “Are the land, the people, the various ministers, and the hundred officials all as usual?” The king said: “Being young, I have not yet been able to pacify and transform them; yet all rely on your holy kindness, and the land is free of troubles.” The Buddha addressed the king, saying: “Do you now know from where you originally came, and what merits you performed to attain this royal position?” The king said: “I do not know. Foolish and dull, I do not understand from where I came in my prior lifetime.” The Buddha addressed the great king: “Originally, it was through five things that one attains being a king. What are the five? First, through giving one becomes a king, so that the myriad people present offerings and palace halls and material wealth are boundless. Second, through erecting monasteries and shrines and offering to the Three Jewels beds, couches, curtains, and canopies, by this one becomes a king, ruling the realm from the royal seat in the main palace. Third, through personally revering the Three Jewels and all those of senior virtue, by this one becomes a king, so that none among all the myriad people fail to salute him. Fourth, through forbearance, having no evil in the three [actions] of body, four of speech, or in mind, by this one becomes a king, so that all who behold him are joyful. Fifth, through study, constantly seeking wisdom, by this one becomes a king, so that all defer to and follow his determinations of state affairs. By practicing these five things, one becomes a king lifetime after lifetime.”

There was in former days a certain King who ruled his people justly, and with an earnest desire for their good; but he had no son to succeed him. Buddha, having come to his kingdom, he went to hear him preach, and being convinced of the truth he became a disciple. After this he ceased not to pray earnestly for a son. Now he had a little servant boy (keih-shi?) about eleven years old, who also devoted himself to religious exercises and the repetition of Scripture. This boy having died, was re-incarnated as a child of the King his master, and when he had arrived at the age of fifteen years he was publicly acknowledged as the Prince Royal (Kumāra). After a while, the King having died, the Prince ascended the throne, and he soon gave way to evil habits of self-indulgence, and the people and the kingdom suffered in consequence. On this Buddha, knowing all the circumstances of the case, once more visited the kingdom, and the Rāja having gone to meet him, paid the usual obeisance. Buddha then began to explain to the King how it was he had come to his present royal dignity—viz., by his attention in former births to the five religious duties of a Shaman, which are these—1st, charity; 2d, founding religious buildings; 3d, reverence in worship; 4th, patience and self-restraint; 5th, diligent search after truth. By observing these he had attained his present rank; and then the World-honoured added these words, and said:—

4.52

於是世尊以偈頌曰：

Thereupon, the Bhagavat pronounced in verse: