太子瑞應本起經 1.20

1.20

「至年十四，啟王出遊，欲觀施為。王勅令左右百官導從。始出城東門，天帝化作病人，身瘦腹大，倚門壁而喘息。太子問曰：『此為何人？』其僕曰：『病人也。』『何謂為病？』對曰：『凡病者，皆由風寒，或熱或冷，此人必以飲食不節、臥起無常，故得斯病。』太子曰：『一何苦哉！吾處富貴，飲食快口，亦有不節，當復有病，與此何異？』即迴車還，悲念人生俱有此患，豈以豪強，獨得免耶！遂憂不食，自念不能嬰此病也。王問其僕：『太子出遊，寧不樂乎？』對曰：『逢見病人，以此不悅。』王即增五百妓女，晝夜娛樂之。王心愁憂，恐其學道。數年小差，即復白王：『閉在宮中，其日致久，思欲出遊。』王不忍拒，預勅國中，太子當出，無令疾病諸不潔淨在道側也。

"When he reached fourteen years of age, he requested the king to go out on an excursion, wishing to observe activities [in the world]. The king commanded his attendants and the hundred officials to guide and accompany him. Just as he went out of the eastern gate of the city, the Lord of Devas transformed into a sick man, his body emaciated and his belly swollen, leaning against the gate wall and gasping for breath. The prince asked, saying: 'What kind of person is this?' His servant said: 'A sick man.' 'What is meant by being sick?' He replied: 'All illness arises from wind and cold, or heat or chill. This person must have eaten and drunk without restraint and had irregular sleep and rising; therefore he has contracted this disease.' The prince said: 'How suffering it is! Living in wealth and nobility, enjoying delicious food and drink, I too indulge without restraint; when sickness comes again, how will I differ from this?' He immediately turned his carriage back, sorrowfully reflecting that human life is subject to this affliction: 'Could it be that the mighty and powerful alone can be exempt?' Thereupon he grieved and did not eat, reflecting to himself that he could not bear this disease. The king asked his servant: 'When the prince went out on the excursion, was he not happy?' He replied: 'He encountered a sick man, and on this account was displeased.' The king immediately added five hundred singing-girls to entertain him day and night. The king's heart was sorrowful, fearing that he would study the Way. After several years, when he had recovered slightly, he again addressed the king: 'Confined in the palace, the days have been very long; I yearn to go out on an excursion.' The king could not bear to refuse, and warned the realm in advance: 'The prince is going out; do not let any diseased or impure things be beside the road.'"