釋迦譜 1.395

1.395

爾時太子啟王出遊。王即聽許。時王即與太子。并諸群臣前後導從。案行國界。復次前行到王田所。即便止息閻浮樹下。看諸耕人。爾時淨居天化作傷蟲。鳥隨啄之。太子見之起慈悲心。眾生可愍互相吞食。即便思惟離欲界愛。如是乃至得四禪地。日光昕赫。樹為曲枝。陰蔭太子。爾時白淨王四面推求問覓太子。從人答曰。太子今在閻浮樹下。時王即便與諸群臣往彼樹所。未至之間遙見太子端坐思惟。又見彼樹曲蔭其軀深生奇特。時王即前執太子手。問言。汝今何故在於此坐。太子答言。觀諸眾生更相吞食。甚可傷愍。王聞此語。心生憂畏慮其出家。宜急婚娉以悅其意。即便呼之俱共還國。太子答言。願停於此。王聞其語。心即念言。彼阿私陀往日所說。太子今者將如其言。王即流淚重喚還國。太子既見父王如此。即便隨從歸於所止。王恐愁憂不樂在家。更增妓女而娛樂之。

At that time, the Prince requested the King's permission to go out on an excursion, and the King granted it. The King then set out with the Prince and all the ministers, with retinues guiding them before and behind, to inspect the realm. Advancing further, they arrived at the royal fields and rested beneath a jambu tree to watch the plowmen. At that time, a deity of the Śuddhāvāsa heaven transformed into a wounded insect, and a bird pursued and pecked at it. Seeing this, the Prince gave rise to thoughts of compassion: 'Sentient beings are pitiable, devouring one another!' He immediately contemplated, abandoning the desires of the desire realm, and in this manner attained the state of the four dhyānas. The sunlight grew radiant and scorching, and the tree bent its branches to shade the Prince. At that time, King Śuddhodana sought the Prince on all four sides, inquiring after him. An attendant replied, 'The Prince is now beneath the jambu tree.' The King then went with the ministers to that tree. Before arriving, seeing from afar the Prince sitting upright in contemplation, and seeing also that tree bending to shade his body, he found it profoundly extraordinary. The King then stepped forward, took the Prince's hand, and asked, 'Why are you sitting here now?' The Prince answered, 'I observed the sentient beings devouring one another; it is deeply distressing and pitiable.' Hearing these words, the King gave rise to sorrow and fear in his heart, dreading that he would go forth from home, [thinking]: 'It is fitting to arrange a marriage quickly to delight his mind.' He immediately called him to return together to the capital. The Prince replied, 'I wish to remain here.' Hearing his words, the King thought in his heart, 'What Asita spoke of in days past—the Prince is now about to fulfill his words.' The King wept and repeatedly called him to return to the capital. Seeing his father-king like this, the Prince complied and returned to his residence. Fearing that the Prince was sorrowful and found no joy at home, the King added even more singing girls to entertain him.