法華義疏 1.241

1.241

「羅睺羅」者，此云覆障，以六年在胎為胎所障，故云覆障。三藏云：「本是阿修羅名，此阿修羅能以手障月，若具翻之應云障月佛子。所以作此名者，是借喻為目。佛自說：『我正法如月，此兒障月，欲出家學道有兒則成障也。』雖復是障而如來能捨之。佛自說『過去世羅睺羅數數為道作障，我亦數數能捨之。』又名宮生，佛出家後而耶輸有身，諸釋種詰之。耶輸云：『乞待生子後當證驗。』生子已後，耶輸燃大火聚抱子而立誓曰：『若非佛子，當母子俱燒。』遂投火聚便滅而母子無他。諸釋種曰：『真是宮生。』」佛到迦毘羅城七日即度之為道。

"Rāhula" is translated here as "Veiled and Obstructed" (Fùzhàng). Because he stayed in the womb for six years and was obstructed by the womb, he was called "Veiled and Obstructed". The Tripiṭaka Master says: "It was originally the name of an asura; this asura can obstruct the moon with his hand. If fully translated, it should be called 'Son of the Buddha Who Obstructs the Moon'. The reason he was given this name is that it was adopted as an analogy. The Buddha himself said: 'My true Dharma is like the moon, and this child obstructs the moon; when I wished to leave the household life and study the Way, having a son constituted an obstacle.' Yet though he was an obstacle, the Tathāgata was able to renounce him. The Buddha himself said: 'In past lifetimes Rāhula repeatedly created obstacles to the Way for me, and I also repeatedly was able to renounce him.'" He was also named "Born in the Palace" (Gōngshēng). After the Buddha left home, Yaśodharā became pregnant, and the Śākyas interrogated her. Yaśodharā said, "Please wait until the child is born, and then there will be proof." After she gave birth to the child, Yaśodharā lit a great blazing fire, held the child, and made an oath, saying: "If this is not the Buddha's son, mother and child should burn together." She then leaped into the blazing fire, which immediately went out, and mother and child were unharmed. The Śākyas said, "He is truly born in the palace." Seven days after the Buddha arrived in Kapilavastu, he delivered him into the religious life.