釋迦譜 1.406

1.406

爾時太子思如是已。至於後夜。淨居天王極欲界諸天。充滿虛空。即共同聲白太子言。內外眷屬皆悉昏臥。今者正是出家之時爾時太子。即便自往至車匿所。以天力故。車匿自覺。而語之言。汝可為我。鞁犍陟來爾時車匿。聞此語已。舉身戰怖心懷猶豫。一者不欲違太子令。二者畏王勅旨嚴峻。思惟良久流淚而言。大王慈勅如是之嚴。且又今日非遊觀時。又非降伏怨敵之日。云何於此後夜之中。而忽索馬。欲何所之。太子又復語車匿言。我今欲為一切眾生。降伏煩惱結使賊故。汝今不應違我此意。爾時車匿舉聲號泣。欲令耶輸陀羅及諸眷屬皆悉覺知太子當去。以天神力昏臥如故。車匿即便牽馬而來。太子徐前而語車匿及以犍陟。一切恩愛會當別離。世間之事易可果遂。出家因緣甚難成就。車匿聞已默然無言。於是犍陟不復噴鳴。爾時太子見明相出。放身光明徹照十方。師子吼言。過去諸佛出家之法。我今亦然。於是諸天捧馬四足并接車匿。釋提桓因執蓋隨從。諸天即便令王北門自然而開。不使有聲。車匿重悲。門閉下鑰。誰當開者。時諸鬼神阿須倫等自然開門。太子於是從門而出。虛空諸天讚歎隨從。爾時太子又師子吼。我若不斷生老病死憂悲苦惱。終不還宮。我若不得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。又復不能轉於法輪。要不還與父王相見。若當不盡恩愛之情。終不還見摩訶波闍波提。及耶輸陀羅。當於太子說此誓時。虛空諸天讚言。善哉斯言必果。至於天曉所行道路。已三踰闍那。時諸天眾。既從太子至此處已。所為事畢忽然不現。

At that time, having reflected thus, in the latter part of the night, the kings of the Śuddhāvāsa Heaven and the devas up to the peak of the desire realm filled the sky. In unison, they addressed the Crown Prince: "All the kinfolk inside and out are in a deep slumber; now is precisely the time to go forth from the household!" At that moment, the Crown Prince went in person to Chandaka's quarters. Due to the power of the devas, Chandaka woke of his own accord, and the Prince said to him: "Saddle Kaṇṭhaka and bring him to me!" Hearing these words, Chandaka trembled all over with hesitation: on the one hand, he did not wish to disobey the Crown Prince's command; on the other, he feared the king's stern decrees. Pondering for a long time, he wept and said: "The Great King's compassionate command is so strict! Furthermore, tonight is not a time for excursions, nor is it a day for subduing enemies. Why do you suddenly demand a horse in the middle of the latter part of the night? Where do you intend to go?" The Crown Prince said further to Chandaka: "I now desire, for the sake of all sentient beings, to subdue the thieves of defilement and fetters. You must not oppose my intention today!" Thereupon Chandaka wept aloud, wanting Yaśodharā and all the kinfolk to wake up and realize the Crown Prince was about to depart. Yet through the spiritual power of the devas, they remained in deep sleep as before. Chandaka then led the horse forward. The Crown Prince stepped forward slowly and spoke to Chandaka and Kaṇṭhaka: "All affection and love must end in parting. The affairs of the worldly life are easily accomplished, but the causes and conditions for going forth from the household are exceedingly difficult to fulfill." Hearing this, Chandaka remained silent, and Kaṇṭhaka ceased neighing. Then, seeing the morning star appear, the Crown Prince emitted light from his body that thoroughly illuminated the ten directions, and uttered a lion's roar: "Such was the manner of going forth of the past Buddhas; so shall it be with me today!" Thereupon the devas held up the horse's four hooves and supported Chandaka, while Śakra Devānām Indra held an umbrella and followed. The devas then caused the king's northern gate to open of itself, without making any sound. Chandaka was grieved anew: "The gate is locked and bolted; who could open it?" At that moment, the spirits, asuras, and others opened the gate of their own accord. The Crown Prince then went forth through the gate, as the devas in the sky praised him and followed. Then the Crown Prince uttered another lion's roar: "If I do not sever birth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, grief, and suffering, I shall never return to the palace! If I do not attain anuttarāsamyaksaṃbodhi, and if I am unable to turn the Wheel of the Dharma, I will never return to see my father the king! If I do not exhaust all feelings of affectionate attachment, I shall never return to see Mahāprajāpatī and Yaśodharā!" When the Crown Prince made this vow, the devas in the sky praised him, saying: "Excellent! These words will surely bear fruit!" By the time dawn broke, the distance traveled was already three yojanas. Having accompanied the Crown Prince to this place and having completed what they had set out to do, the host of devas suddenly vanished from sight.