法華義疏 4.239

4.239

二者、五人退不還國，畏淨飯王誅之，進不給侍太子，謂佛無道，故頓止鹿林。《毘婆沙》云「三人計苦行得道，二人計受樂得道，二人見佛苦行，便謂佛無道，故往鹿薗。三人二年供養佛，後見佛食乳麋，復謂佛受樂故無道，亦捨佛往鹿薗。佛受請竟，則自念云：甘露門開，誰應先聞？自念阿羅羅、欝頭藍弗聰明利根應前得道。諸天報云：一仙命終已七日，一仙昨夜命終。佛復念云誰應得聞？則知前五人應次受道，故往彼化之也。

Second, the five men withdrew and would not return to the kingdom, fearing King Śuddhodana would execute them, yet they would not advance to attend upon the prince, thinking the Buddha had no Way; thus they suddenly halted in the Deer Forest. The *Vibhāṣā* says: "Three of them believed that the Way is attained through asceticism, while two believed that the Way is attained through experiencing pleasure. When the two saw the Buddha practicing asceticism, they thought the Buddha had no Way, so they went to the Deer Park. The other three provided offerings to the Buddha for two years; later, seeing the Buddha eating milk-rice, they also thought the Buddha was pursuing pleasure and thus had no Way, so they too abandoned the Buddha and went to the Deer Park." After the Buddha accepted the request, he then reflected to himself: "The gate to the nectar is open; who should be the first to hear it?" He reflected that Ārāḍa and Udraka Rāmaputra were intelligent with sharp faculties and ought to attain the Way first. The deities reported: "One sage passed away seven days ago, and the other sage passed away last night." The Buddha again reflected: "Who ought to hear it?" He then knew that the previous five men were next in line to receive the Way; therefore, he went there to transform them.