釋迦譜 1.136

1.136

佛告諸比丘。有四大河水。從阿耨達泉出。云何為四。所謂恒伽。新頭。婆叉。私陀波。恒伽水東流牛頭口出。新頭南流師子口出。私陀西流象口中出。婆叉北流從馬口出。是時四大河水。繞阿耨達泉。已恒伽入東海。新頭入南海。婆叉入西海。私陀入北海。爾時四大河入海已。無復本名字同名為海。此亦如是有四姓。云何為四。剎利婆羅門長者居士種。於如來所剃除鬚髮。著三法衣出家學道。無復本姓。但言沙門釋迦子。所以然者。如來眾者其猶大海。四諦其如四大河。除去結使入於無畏涅槃城。是故諸比丘諸有四姓。剃除鬚髮以信堅固。出家學道者。彼當滅本名字。自稱釋種中出家學道比丘。當欲論生子之義者。當名沙門釋種子是。所以然者。生由我生成從法而成。是故比丘當求方便得作釋種子。如是諸比丘當作是學。

The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: 'There are four great rivers whose waters emerge from Lake Anavatapta. What are the four? They are called the Gaṅgā, the Sindhu, the Vakṣu, and the Sītā. The waters of the Gaṅgā flow east, emerging from the mouth of an ox; the Sindhu flows south, emerging from the mouth of a lion; the Sītā flows west, emerging from the mouth of an elephant; and the Vakṣu flows north, emerging from the mouth of a horse. At that time, after the waters of the four great rivers encircle Lake Anavatapta, the Gaṅgā enters the eastern sea, the Sindhu enters the southern sea, the Vakṣu enters the western sea, and the Sītā enters the northern sea. When the four great rivers have entered the sea, they no longer retain their original names, but are collectively named the sea. So it is likewise here: there are four castes. What are the four? The kṣatriya, brāhmaṇa, elder, and householder castes. When they shave off their hair and beards at the place of the Tathāgata, don the three Dharma robes, leave home, and train in the Path, they no longer have their original clan names, but are simply called śramaṇas, sons of Śākya. Why is this? The assembly of the Tathāgata is like the great ocean; the Four Noble Truths are like the four great rivers. Having eradicated the fetters, they enter the fearless city of nirvāṇa. Therefore, bhikṣus, whenever members of the four castes shave off hair and beard with firm faith, leave home, and train in the Path, they should eliminate their original names and call themselves bhikṣus who have left home and trained in the Path among the Śākya clan. If one wishes to speak of the meaning of giving birth to a son, they should be named śramaṇa sons of the Śākya clan. Why is this? Their birth is generated by me, and their completion is achieved through the Dharma. Therefore, bhikṣus, you should seek the expedients to become sons of the Śākya clan. Thus, bhikṣus, should you train.'