釋迦譜 1.495

1.495

爾時世尊心自念言。頻婆娑羅王。往昔於我有約誓言。若道成者願先見度。今日時至宜應往彼。滿其本願作此念已。即與迦葉兄弟。及千比丘眷屬圍繞。往王舍城諸頻婆娑羅王所。爾時頻婆娑羅王。昔以聚落。給優樓頻螺迦葉者既見迦葉及其弟子。悉為沙門即還啟王。說如此事。王與諸臣既聞此語。心大驚怪默然無聲。時外人民聞此語已。各相謂言。優樓頻螺迦葉。智慧深遠無與等者。年又耆老已得阿羅漢。云何反為瞿曇弟子。終無此理。乃可說言沙門瞿曇為弟子耳。爾時世尊。漸近王舍城。住於杖林。時優樓頻螺迦葉。即便遣其常所使人。白頻婆娑羅王言。我今於佛法中出家修道。今隨從佛來至杖林。大王宜先禮拜供養。王聞來信說此言已。方決定知優樓頻螺迦葉為佛弟子。即勅嚴駕。與諸大臣婆羅門。及人民眾。往詣佛所。至杖林外。王即下輿除去儀飾。出至佛前。爾時空中有天而語王言。如來今者在此林中。是諸天人最上福田。大王宜應恭敬供養。又應宣示國中人民。皆悉令其供養如來。時王既聞彼天語已。心大歡喜倍增踊躍。普曜經云。時瓶沙王聞之欣然。大悅吾本共要得佛相度。勅諸大臣長者梵志。國中吏民。嚴治道路。散華燒香持諸幢蓋。王乘羽葆之車。大臣百官前後導從。千乘萬騎。長者梵志萬二千人。欲出城迎忽大風起閉其城門。王怪所以今行迎佛。當有吉喜快善瑞應。時城門神即謂王言。快無不利。王往前世。與八萬四千王。治寺起塔。誓言。於來世一時見佛。諮受道教。今有一人閉在刑獄。違其本誓。故城門閉。當放大赦獄中人出。同時見佛諮受訓誨。城門乃開。王聞乃遣速勅詔。放大赦境土獄囚得出。一時往迎。時佛入國。有大社樹名曰遮越。佛與比丘坐樹下。王遙見佛。如星中月。猶如日出天下大明靡不照耀。亦如帝釋梵王。聖帝處於本宮。如樹華茂晃若金色。威神特顯光明巍巍。超絕無侶。王心踊躍下車步進。五體威儀。除蓋履扇冠幘刀杖。前稽首佛足。自稱其號。我是國主瓶沙王也。久服聖尊饑虛積時。如是至三。佛告王曰。實如來言是王瓶沙也。諸佛天神皆護王身。王曰。蒙祐退坐一面。前者作禮。中者低頭。後者叉手。皆却坐訖。王及臣民覩優樓迦葉在山學仙。耆舊來久怪之佛邊。心自念言。佛是優樓師。優樓是佛師乎。佛覩心念即告優樓。為說偈言。

At that time, the World-Honoured One thought to himself: “King Bimbisāra formerly made a vow with me, saying: ‘If you attain the path, please save me first.’ Today the time has arrived; I should go there and fulfill his original vow.” Having formed this thought, he set out for the dwelling of King Bimbisāra in Rājagṛha, surrounded by the Kāśyapa brothers and a retinue of one thousand bhikṣus. At that time, the person to whom King Bimbisāra had formerly granted a village to support Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa saw that Kāśyapa and his disciples had all become śramaṇas, and returned to report this to the king, narrating these events. When the king and his ministers heard these words, they were greatly astonished and remained silent without a word. When the people outside heard these words, they said to one another: “Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa's wisdom is profound and far-reaching, with no equal; he is also advanced in years and has already attained arhatship. How could he conversely become Gautama's disciple? This is utterly impossible! Rather, it could only be said that the śramaṇa Gautama is his disciple.” At that time, the World-Honoured One gradually drew near to Rājagṛha and stayed in the Yaṣṭivana (Staff Grove). Then Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa sent the messenger he usually employed to inform King Bimbisāra, saying: “I have now left home to cultivate the path within the Buddha's Dharma, and have now accompanied the Buddha to the Staff Grove. The Great King should first pay homage and make offerings.” When the king heard the messenger speak these words, only then did he know with certainty that Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa was a disciple of the Buddha. He immediately ordered his royal retinue to be prepared, and together with his ministers, brahmins, and the multitudes of people, set out for the Buddha's dwelling. Arriving outside the Staff Grove, the king alighted from his carriage, put off his regal ornaments, and proceeded before the Buddha. At that time, a deva in the sky spoke to the king, saying: “The Tathāgata is now in this grove, the supreme field of merit for devas and humans. The Great King should pay respect and make offerings, and should also proclaim to the people throughout the realm to have them all make offerings to the Tathāgata.” When the king heard the words of that deva, his heart was filled with great joy and leapt with doubly increased delight. The Puyao jing says: At that time, King Bimbisāra heard this with delight, rejoicing greatly: “Originally I made an agreement with him that when he attained buddhahood he would save me.” He ordered his ministers, householders, brahmins, officials, and common people throughout the realm to adorn and repair the roads, scatter flowers, burn incense, and carry banners and parasols. The king rode in a feather-canopied carriage, with ministers and officials leading and following before and behind, with thousands of chariots and tens of thousands of horsemen, and twelve thousand householders and brahmins. As they were about to exit the city to welcome him, a great wind suddenly arose and shut the city gates. The king wondered at why this should happen: “Now that I am going to welcome the Buddha, there should be auspicious, joyful, and excellent omens.” At that time, the deity of the city gate said to the king: “It is wonderfully auspicious, with nothing disadvantageous. In a past life, the king, together with eighty-four thousand kings, built monasteries and erected stūpas, vowing: ‘In a future life we will see the Buddha together at the same time and consult him to receive the teachings of the path.’ Now there is one person locked in prison, which transgresses that original vow; therefore the city gates have shut. You should grant a great amnesty to let the people in prison out, so that they may see the Buddha and consult him to receive his instructions at the same time; only then will the city gates open.” Hearing this, the king dispatched an urgent edict granting a general amnesty throughout his realm so that the prison inmates were released, and they all went together to welcome him. When the Buddha entered the kingdom, there was a great shrine tree named Cha-yue. The Buddha and the bhikṣus sat beneath the tree. The king saw the Buddha from afar, like the moon among the stars, or like the rising sun shedding great light over all under heaven, leaving nothing unillumined; and also like Śakra, Brahmā, or a sacred monarch dwelling in his original palace, radiant like a tree in full bloom, shining as if of golden color, his majestic spiritual authority especially prominent, his light towering and exalted, peerless and without match. The king's heart leapt with joy; alighting from his carriage, he advanced on foot with all decorum of the five limbs, setting aside his parasol, shoes, fan, turban, and sword. Stepping forward, he bowed his head to the Buddha's feet and announced his own name: “I am the ruler of this kingdom, King Bimbisāra. Long have I admired the Sacred and Venerable One, hungering and thirsting for a long time.” He said this three times. The Buddha told the king: “Indeed, it is as the Tathāgata says: this is King Bimbisāra. The buddhas, devas, and spirits all protect the king's person.” The king said: “I am blessed by your favor.” He withdrew and sat to one side. Those in front bowed, those in the middle bowed their heads, and those behind clasped their hands; they all finished sitting down. The king and his people, seeing Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa practicing as an immortal in the mountains, an elder of long standing, were surprised to find him at the Buddha's side. They thought to themselves: “Is the Buddha Uruvilvā's teacher, or is Uruvilvā the Buddha's teacher?” Seeing their thoughts, the Buddha addressed Uruvilvā and spoke a verse for him.