太子瑞應本起經 1.26

1.26

"Thereupon the prince again requested an excursion. Going out of the northern city gate, the Lord of Devas again transformed into a śramaṇa, wearing Dharma robes and holding an alms bowl, looking at the ground as he walked. The prince asked, saying: 'What kind of person is this?' His servant said: 'A śramaṇa.' 'What is meant by a śramaṇa?' He replied: 'I have heard that the śramaṇa's practice of the Way consists of abandoning household, wife, and children, casting aside love and desire, severing the six emotions, and upholding the precepts in non-action. His way is pure, and one who attains one-pointedness of mind eradicates the myriad evils. The way of one-pointedness of mind is called an arhat. An arhat is a true person; sounds and forms cannot defile him, glory and position cannot bend him, he is immovable like the earth, has already escaped grief and suffering, and is at ease in life and death.' The prince said: 'Excellent! Only this is delightful.' He immediately turned his carriage back. He fasted, reflected, and did not eat, thinking: 'The Way is pure and it is not fitting to remain at home; I should dwell in the mountains and marshes, investigating essence and practicing meditation.' Gopikā suspected his mind and knew he wished to depart, so in sitting and rising she did not leave his side. When he reached nineteen years of age, on the night of the eighth day of the fourth month, a deva crossed his hands at the window and addressed him, saying: 'The time to depart has come!' The prince looked up and answered, saying: 'Pressed by guards and attendants, wishing to leave, there is no way.' The deva thereupon cast a spell of stupor over his wife and the singing-girls, causing them all to lie down and sleep."