釋迦譜 1.393

1.393

爾時太子年至十歲。諸釋種中。五百童子皆亦同年。太子從弟提婆達多。次名難陀。次名孫陀羅難陀等。或有三十相。三十一相者。或復雖有三十二相。相不分明。各鬪技藝有大筋力。時提婆達多等五百童子。既聞太子諸藝皆通名徹十方。共相謂言。太子雖復聰明智慧善解書論。至於筋力拒勝。我等欲與太子校其勇健。爾時父王又訪國中善知射者。而召之來令教。太子即往後園欲射鐵鼓。提婆達多等五百童子亦悉隨從。時師即便授一小弓而與太子。太子含笑而問之言。以此與我欲作何事。射師言欲令太子射此鐵鼓。太子又言此弓力弱。更求如是七弓將來。師即授與。太子便執七弓以射。一箭過七鐵鼓。時彼射師往白王言。大王。太子自知射藝。以箭力射過七鼓。閻浮提中無能等者。云何令我為作師也。爾時白淨王聞此語已。心大歡喜而自念言。我子聰明。書論算數四遠悉知。而其射藝四方人民未有知者。即勅太子及提婆達多等五百童子。又復擊鼓唱令國界。太子薩婆悉達。却後七日。當出後園欲試武藝。諸人民中有勇力者可悉來此。到第七日。提婆達多與萬眷屬最先出城。于時有一大象當城門住。此諸軍眾皆不敢前。提婆達多問諸人言。何故住此而不前也。諸人答言有一大象當門而立。舉眾畏之故不敢前提婆達多聞此言已。獨前象所。以手搏頭即便躄地。於是軍眾次第得過爾時難陀。又與眷屬亦欲出城。其諸軍眾徐步漸前。難陀即問何故行遲。諸人答言提婆達多以手搏一象。躄在城門妨行者路。以是故遲。難陀即便前至象所。以足指挑象擲著路傍。無數人眾聚共視之。爾時太子與十萬眷屬。前後圍繞始出城門。見於路傍人眾聚看。即便問曰。此諸人輩為何所看。從人答言。提婆達多手搏一象。躄在城門妨人行路。難陀次出。以足指挑擲著於此。是故行人悉聚看之。於是太子即自念言。今者正是現力之時。太子即便以手執象。擲著城外還以手接。不令傷損。象又還甦無所苦痛。時諸人民歎未曾有。王聞此已深生奇特。如是太子及提婆達多。并與難陀。四遠人民皆悉來集在彼園中。爾時彼園種種莊嚴。施列金鼓銀鼓。鍮石之鼓。銅鐵等鼓。各有七枝。爾時提婆達多最先射之。徹三金鼓。次及難陀亦徹三鼓。諸來人眾悉皆歎訝。爾時群臣白太子言。提婆達多及與難陀皆已射訖。今者次第正在太子。唯願太子射此諸鼓。如是三請。太子曰善。而語之言。若欲使我射諸鼓者。此弓力弱更覓強者。諸臣答言。太子祖王有一良弓。今在王庫。太子語言。便可取來。弓既至已。太子即牽以放一箭。徹過諸鼓。然後入地泉水流出。又亦穿過大鐵圍山。爾時提婆達多。又與難陀共相撲戲。二人力等亦無勝者。太子又前。手執二弟躄之於地。以慈力故不令傷痛。爾時四遠諸人民眾。既見太子有如此力。高聲唱言。白淨王太子非但智慧勝一切人。其力勇健亦無等者。莫不歎伏益生恭敬。

At that time, when the Prince reached ten years of age, there were also five hundred youths of the same age among the Śākya clan. The Prince's younger cousins were Devadatta, followed by Nanda, Sundarananda, and others, some possessing thirty marks or thirty-one marks, or, though possessing the thirty-two marks, having them indistinctly. Each competed in martial arts and had great physical strength. When Devadatta and the other five hundred youths heard that the Prince had mastered all arts and that his renown resounded throughout the ten directions, they said to one another, 'Although the Prince is clever, wise, and skilled in scripts and treatises, when it comes to physical strength and combat, we wish to contest our valor with him.' At that time, the father-king sought out those skilled in archery within the realm, summoned them, and ordered them to instruct [the Prince]. The Prince then went to the rear garden wishing to shoot at iron drums, and Devadatta and the other five hundred youths all followed. The instructor immediately handed a small bow to the Prince. Smiling, the Prince asked him, 'What do you wish me to do with this?' The archery master said, 'I wish to have the Prince shoot this iron drum.' The Prince said again, 'This bow's strength is too weak; find seven more bows like this and bring them.' The master then handed them to him. The Prince then took hold of the seven bows together to shoot; a single arrow pierced through seven iron drums. The archery master then went to report to the King, saying, 'Great King! The Prince understands the art of archery by himself. With the force of an arrow, he has shot through seven drums; throughout Jambudvīpa, none can equal him. Why bid me serve as his instructor?' When King Śuddhodana heard these words, he rejoiced greatly in his heart and thought, 'My son is clever; his knowledge of scripts, treatises, and mathematics is renowned in the four quarters, but as for his archery skill, the people of the four quarters do not yet know of it.' He immediately commanded the Prince, Devadatta, and the other five hundred youths, and also beat the drum to proclaim throughout the realm: 'Prince Sarvārthasiddha, seven days from now, will go out to the rear garden to test his martial arts. Whoever among the people possesses strength and valor may all come here.' When the seventh day arrived, Devadatta, with ten thousand followers, was the first to depart the city. At that time, a great elephant stood blocking the city gate, and the host of troops dared not advance. Devadatta asked the people, 'Why do you stop here and not advance?' The people answered, 'A great elephant stands blocking the gate; the entire assembly fears it and therefore dares not advance.' Hearing this, Devadatta went alone to the elephant and struck its head with his fist; it immediately fell to the ground. Thereupon, the troops were able to pass through in succession. At that time, Nanda, also with his followers, wished to depart the city. The troops were walking slowly ahead, so Nanda asked, 'Why do you walk so slowly?' The people answered, 'Devadatta struck an elephant with his fist, and it fell at the city gate, blocking the travelers' path; for this reason we are slow.' Nanda then went forward to the elephant and, with his toe, tossed the elephant aside to the roadside. Countless people gathered together to watch. At that time, the Prince, surrounded before and behind by one hundred thousand followers, just then departed the city gate. Seeing the crowd gathered by the roadside watching, he asked, 'What are these people watching?' An attendant answered, 'Devadatta struck an elephant with his fist, and it fell at the city gate, blocking the people's path. Nanda came out next and tossed it here with his toe; therefore, travelers have all gathered to watch it.' Thereupon, the Prince thought to himself, 'Now is indeed the time to display my strength.' The Prince then seized the elephant with his hand, tossed it outside the city walls, and caught it again with his hand so as not to harm or injure it. The elephant also revived, feeling no pain. The people marveled at what was unprecedented. Hearing this, the King considered it profoundly extraordinary. In this manner, the Prince, Devadatta, Nanda, and the people from the four quarters all assembled in that garden. At that time, that garden was adorned in various ways, with rows of golden drums, silver drums, brass drums, bronze drums, and iron drums, each set comprising seven. Then Devadatta shot first and pierced through three golden drums. Next came Nanda, who also pierced through three drums. All the people who had come were astonished. Then the ministers said to the Prince, 'Devadatta and Nanda have already finished shooting; now it is the Prince's turn. We pray that the Prince will shoot at these drums.' After being requested thrice in this way, the Prince said, 'Very well,' and told them, 'If you wish me to shoot at these drums, this bow's strength is too weak; seek a stronger one.' The ministers replied, 'The Prince's grandfather had an excellent bow, which is now in the royal armory.' The Prince told them, 'You may bring it.' When the bow arrived, the Prince pulled it and released a single arrow, which pierced through all the drums and then entered the ground, causing spring water to flow forth; it also pierced through the Great Iron Ring Mountains. At that time, Devadatta and Nanda also wrestled with one another; their strengths were equal, and neither was victorious. The Prince then stepped forward, took hold of his two younger cousins with his hands, and laid them on the ground; because of the power of his compassion, he did not cause them harm or pain. When the people of the four quarters saw that the Prince had such strength, they called out in a loud voice: 'King Śuddhodana's Prince not only surpasses all people in wisdom, but his physical strength and valor are also unequaled!' None did not marvel, submit, and grow even more respectful.