釋迦譜 1.401

1.401

At that time, after a short while had passed, the prince again petitioned the king to go out on an excursion. When the king heard this, anxiety arose in his heart, and he thought to himself: "When the prince went out previously, he encountered an old man and was sorrowful and displeased. Why does he now seek to go out again?" Loving the prince and unable to bear thwarting his wish, the king reluctantly complied. He immediately assembled his ministers and deliberated with them, saying: "Previously, when the prince went out through the eastern gate of the city, he encountered an old man and returned straightway displeased. Now he has again sought to go out on an excursion. Unable to refuse, I have granted it to him once more." The ministers answered: "We should give strict orders again to the external officials to repair the roads, hang silk banners and canopies, and scatter flowers and burn incense, making everything splendid. Do not allow anything foul and unclean, or any aged or sick persons, to be beside the road." At that time, outside the four gates of the city of Kapilavastu, there was a park outside each gate. Their trees, flowers, fruits, bathing ponds, towers, and pavilions were all adorned in various ways without any difference. The king asked his ministers, "Among the various outer parks and pavilions, which is superior?" The ministers replied, "The outer parks and pavilions are all equal and without difference, like the Garden of Delight in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven." The king ordered again, "When the prince went out previously, he did so through the eastern gate. Now let him go out through the southern gate." At that time, the prince, escorted by the hundred officials, went out through the southern gate of the city. Then a Śuddhāvāsa god transformed into a sick person, with an emaciated body and a swollen belly, panting and groaning, his bones wasting and his flesh consumed, his complexion sallow and withered, his entire body trembling and shaking, unable to support himself, with two people supporting his armpits by the roadside. The prince immediately asked, "What kind of person is this?" The attendant answered, "This is a sick person." The prince asked again, "What is meant by 'sick'?" He replied, "What is called 'sick' arises from desires and uncontrolled eating and drinking; the four elements become unbalanced and turn into disease. The hundred joints suffer pain, breath and strength are deficient and faint, food and drink are meager, and sleeping and lying down are uneasy. Although he has a body and limbs, he cannot move them himself, but must rely on the strength of others to sit up or stand." At that time, with a heart of compassion, the prince looked upon that sick person and naturally gave rise to sorrow. He asked again, "Is this person alone like this, or are all others so?" He replied, "All people, whether noble or base, alike suffer from this illness." Having heard this, the prince thought to himself: "Such suffering of sickness must pervade and entangle all. Why are worldly people indulged in pleasure and feel no dread?" Having thought this, deep terror arose within him, and his body and mind trembled and shook, like the reflection of the moon appearing on rippling water. He said to the attendant, "Such a body is a great mass of suffering. Worldly people groundlessly give rise to joy within it; foolish and ignorant, they fail to awaken to it. Why should we now go to that park for an excursion and amusement?" He immediately turned his carriage back and reentered the royal palace, sitting and reflecting in sorrow and displeasure. The king asked the attendants, "Did the prince have any pleasure when he went out just now?" The attendants answered, "No sooner had he gone out through the southern gate than he encountered a sick person; being displeased by this, he immediately turned his carriage back." Hearing these words, the king was exceedingly sorrowful, fearing that he would leave the household life. Thereupon the king asked his ministers, "Previously, when the prince went out through the eastern gate of the city, he encountered an old man and was sorrowful and displeased. For this reason, I ordered you to cleanse the roads and not allow the old and sick to be beside the thoroughfares. Why is it that, going out now through the southern gate of the city, there was again a diseased person, causing the prince to encounter and see him?" The ministers answered: "Recently we received the king's decree and strictly ordered the external authorities not to permit any foul, aged, or sick persons to be nearby, checking and rechecking one another without daring to be negligent. We do not know for what reason a sick person suddenly appeared; it is not our fault." At that time, the king asked the attendants, "You all saw the sick person on the road. Whence did he come?" The attendants replied, "There were no footprints; we do not know whence he came." Then the king felt deep vacillation regarding the prince, fearing that he would study the Path. He added more courtesans to please his mind, wishing furthermore to make him develop attachment to the five desires.