阿彌陀經通贊疏 1.68

1.68

In Sanskrit he is called Sundarananda, which is translated as "Handsome Joy." "Sundara" is corrupt. "Sundara" was the name of his wife, so called because her beauty and dignity were peerless; "Nanda" was his own name. In order to distinguish him from Cowherd Nanda, he was called Sundarananda, meaning "Sundara's Nanda." He was the Buddha's biological younger [half-]brother, fifteen feet and two inches tall. The Buddha converted Nanda to seek liberation, but he was infatuated with his wife's beauty. Only after [the Buddha] displayed various skillful means showing suffering, bliss, and so forth, did he become willing to leave home, and he has already attained the holy fruit. For this venerable one, the World-Honoured One's brotherly kin, flying in the rank of wild geese, longed for feminine beauty in the royal palace; [the Buddha] displayed evil causes in hell, and only after being terrified did he turn his mind, knowing that sensual craving is the source of suffering and understanding that infatuation with beauty is the root of misfortune. Forsaking glory and abandoning the secular life, he shaved his hair and donned monk's robes; hence it is called "abandoning desire."