注維摩詰經 3.215

3.215

什曰：阿修羅食月時名羅睺羅。羅睺羅，秦言覆障，謂障月明也。羅睺羅六年處母胎所覆障，故因以為名。明聲聞法中密行第一。菩薩出家之日，諸相師言：「若今夜不出家，明日七寶自至為轉輪聖王，王四天下。」王即於其夜更增伎樂以悅其心。於時菩薩欲心內發，羅睺羅即時處胎，耶輸陀羅其夜有身。於時淨居諸天相與悲而言曰：「菩薩為欲所纏，迷於女色。眾生可愍，誰當度者？」即時變諸妓女皆如死人，甚可怖畏，令菩薩心厭，即勸出家。車匿牽馬，四天王接足，踰域而去。到菩提樹下思惟，苦行六年已夜成佛。時羅睺羅乃生，生已佛乳母問言：「悉達出家於是六年，汝今何從有身？若六年懷妊，世所未聞。」諸釋聞之相與議言：「此是不祥，毀辱釋門，必是私竊。」欲依法殺之。耶輸曰：「願見大王，爾乃就死。」王於是隔慢與語，具以事詰問其所由。耶輸如實自陳：「我非私竊，是太子之胤耳。自太子出家，我常愁毒寢臥冷地，故此兒不時成就耳。」語王言：「自看此兒顏貌色相，為是孫子不？」王即抱而觀之，見其色相與太子相似，王乃流淚而言曰：「真是吾孫子也。」佛欲證明，化作梵志來入王宮，見兒問言：「汝名何等？」答言：「我名羅睺羅。」梵志讚言：「善哉！汝以業因緣故處胎六年，所覆障故，應名此也。」王問：「何業因緣？」答曰：「我知業因緣，不知何業。」佛後還國，羅睺羅見佛身相莊嚴，敬心內發願欲出家。其母語言：「此人出家得成聖道。」「道非汝分，何用出家？」羅睺羅言：「若令一人得道，我要當得。」使人剔髮，髮已垂盡唯有頂上少許，復言：「若髮都盡，則與死人無異。決定汝心，無從後悔。」答言：「國位寶珍無量妙樂我能棄之，況惜少髮耶！」道心堅固，遂棄國出家，以舍利弗為和尚。羅睺羅因緣及出家事，以聲聞法略說也。肇曰：羅睺羅，秦言覆障。六年為母胎所障，因以為名。弟子中密行第一。

[Kumāra]jīva says: When an asura eclipses the moon, it is called Rāhula. Rāhula in the language of Qin means "covering and obstructing," referring to obstructing the moonlight. Rāhula was covered and obstructed within his mother's womb for six years, hence he was named after this. This clarifies that among the śrāvaka teachings, he is foremost in esoteric practice. On the day the Bodhisattva went forth from the household life, the physiognomists said: "If he does not go forth tonight, tomorrow the seven treasures will arrive of themselves, and he will become a wheel-turning sage king, ruling over the four continents." That night, the King increased the music and dances to gladden his heart. At that time, sensual desire arose within the Bodhisattva, and Rāhula immediately entered the womb; Yaśodharā became pregnant that night. At that time, the devas of the Śuddhāvāsa wept together and said: "The Bodhisattva is entangled in desire, infatuated with female beauty. Sentient beings are pitiable; who will deliver them?" They immediately transformed the dancing women so that they all looked like corpses, extremely terrifying, causing the Bodhisattva's mind to feel aversion, and they urged him to go forth. Chandaka led the horse, the Four Heavenly Kings supported its hooves, and he leapt over the city wall and departed. Reaching the Bodhi tree, he contemplated, and after six years of austerities, he attained Buddhahood at night. Only then was Rāhula born. After he was born, the Buddha's wet-nurse asked: "Siddhārtha went forth from the household life six years ago; from what do you now have a child? To be pregnant for six years is unheard of in the world!" The Śākyas heard this and discussed among themselves: "This is inauspicious, bringing shame upon the Śākya clan; it must be an illicit affair." They wished to execute her according to law. Yaśodharā said: "I wish to see the Great King, and only then submit to death." The King thereupon spoke with her through a curtain, interrogating her fully about the circumstances. Yaśodharā stated truthfully: "I did not commit an illicit act; this is the heir of the Crown Prince. Since the Crown Prince went forth, I have constantly grieved in sorrow, lying on the cold ground, which is why this child did not mature in due time." She said to the King: "Look yourself at this child's facial features and marks, to see whether he is your grandson or not." The King took him into his arms, observed him, saw that his features resembled the Crown Prince's, and, shedding tears, said: "He truly is my grandson." Wishing to verify this, the Buddha transformed himself into a brahmacārin and entered the royal palace. Seeing the child, he asked: "What is your name?" The child replied: "My name is Rāhula." The brahmacārin praised him: "Excellent! Due to karmic causes and conditions you dwelt in the womb for six years, covered and obstructed; therefore, you should be so named." The King asked: "What karmic causes and conditions?" He replied: "I know there were karmic causes and conditions, but I do not know which karma." When the Buddha later returned to his country, Rāhula saw the Buddha's adorned physical marks, revered him in his heart, and wished to go forth. His mother told him: "This man went forth and succeeded in attaining the noble path." "The path is not your lot; why go forth?" Rāhula said: "If even one person can attain the path, I must attain it." He had someone shave his hair. When his hair was almost entirely gone, with only a little left on the crown, she said again: "If your hair is completely gone, you will be no different from a corpse. Make up your mind, lest you regret it later." He replied: "The royal throne, precious treasures, and immeasurable wondrous pleasures I can abandon; how much less should I begrudge a little hair!" With a firm mind for the path, he ultimately abandoned the kingdom, went forth, and took Śāriputra as his preceptor (upādhyāya). The circumstances and story of Rāhula's going forth are briefly recounted here according to the śrāvaka teachings. [Seng]zhao says: Rāhula in the language of Qin means "covering and obstructing." For six years he was obstructed by his mother's womb, and was named on that account. Among the disciples, he is foremost in esoteric practice.