大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 77.4

77.4

Regarding the Commentary's mention of 'the town of Pāṭaliputra' and so forth: the eighth fascicle of the Record of the Western Regions states, 'South of the Gaṅgā River in the kingdom of Magadha there is an old city, over seventy li in circumference; though it has long been overgrown, its foundations still remain. In ancient times, when the human lifespan was measureless, it was called the city of Kusumpura, which in Chinese means the City of the Fragrant Flower Palace, so named because the royal palace had many flowers. By the time the human lifespan was several thousand years, it was renamed the city of Pāṭaliputra. The old term Balinfuyi was an error. Originally, there was a brāhmaṇa of high talent and erudite learning, with thousands of disciples transmitting and receiving instruction, who traveled and sight-saw along with his students. One scholar lingered, gazing melancholic, and his companions said to him, "What are you worrying about?" He replied, "My prime years are in full bloom, yet I wander alone, treading on my shadow. The months and years have accumulated, yet my artistic accomplishments are unformed. Looking upon this, my worried heart grows increasingly severe." Thereupon, the students said in jest, "Now we shall seek a betrothal and marriage for you!" They then falsely designated two people as the boy's parents and two people as the girl's parents, and sat beneath a pāṭali tree, calling it the son-in-law tree. Gathering seasonal fruits and pouring clear stream water, they laid out the preliminaries of marriage and requested an auspicious date for union. At that time, the mock father of the girl plucked a flowering branch and handed it to the scholar, saying, "This is an excellent match; pray do not refuse." The scholar's mind was pleased and contented. At dusk, when it was time to return, he lingered with longing and stayed. The students said, "What was said before was only in jest; pray return with us. We fear fierce beasts in the forest may harm you." The scholar nevertheless remained, pacing beside the tree. After night fell, a strange light illuminated the wilderness, pipes and strings played clear and elegant music, and curtains and tents were spread out. Suddenly he saw an old man leaning on a staff coming to comfort him, and shortly after, an old woman leading a young girl, with guests and attendants filling the path, in glamorous attire playing music. The old man then pointed to the young girl and said, "This is your humble wife." They drank, sang, made merry, and feasted for seven days. The students suspected he had been harmed by wild beasts and went to search for him, only to find him sitting alone beneath the shady tree as if facing noble guests. They urged him to return together, but he refused and would not comply. Later, he entered the city himself to visit relatives and old friends and recounted the whole affair. Those who heard were astonished; they went with his friends into the forest, and all saw that the flowering tree was a great mansion, with servants and attendants bustling back and forth. The old man calmly received them, presenting delicacies and playing music, with all host-and-guest etiquette complete. The friends returned to the city and told everyone far and near. After ten years, a boy was born. He said to his wife, "I wish to return home now. I cannot bear to be separated and hindered, but staying here my heart is unsettled, lodging in the open wind and dew." Having heard this, his wife fully reported it to her father. The old man said to the scholar, "For one to enjoy life, must it be in one's native home? Now I shall build a mansion for you; you should harbor no differing intention." Thereupon, he dispatched spiritual attendants, and the work was accomplished in no time; the capital was moved from the old fragrant flower city to this town. Because of that son, the spirits built the city for him; from then on, it was named the city of Pāṭaliputra.'