太子瑞應本起經 1.33

1.33

"Chandaka walked, leading the horse back. Everyone in the palace, within and without, was disheartened and sorrowful. Gopikā wept aloud and threw herself down from the hall, saying: 'I longed for the Prince as one who is thirsty desires water. Why have you and the horse now returned alone and empty-handed?' She came forward, embraced the horse's neck, and asked where the Prince was. Chandaka said: 'The Prince reported to the Great King on high and took leave of his wife: "I now seek the Great Way of the unconditioned; do not worry about me."' Gopikā cried aloud, saying: 'How wretched is my fate, that while alive I have lost the one who is my heaven! Where is he now? Where shall I seek him?' Caressing the horse's back, she said: 'The Prince rode you forth; why have you returned alone?' The people of the entire kingdom all sobbed and wept. The King moaned in grief, tears streaming down. He said to Gopikā: 'Just as my son perceived, the suffering of old age, sickness, and death is truly a great affliction. He is a divine being. On the day he was born, the Lord on High descended in person, ten thousand gods stood guard, and auspicious signs and radiant marks appeared such as the world has never seen. The physiognomist Asita said: "If he takes no joy in the world and leaves home to practice the Way, he will certainly become a spontaneous Buddha and cross over all the people." Now that he has renounced [the world] to study the Way, is it not spontaneous?'"