釋迦譜 1.421

1.421

At that time, the prince thought to himself: 'Now I eat one hemp seed and one grain of rice a day, or even eat one hemp seed and one grain of rice every seven days. My body is emaciated like a dry piece of wood. I have practiced austerities for nearly six years, yet I have not attained liberation, so I know this is not the path. It is not as good as the Dharma that I contemplated in the past beneath the jambu tree: detachment from desire and tranquility are the most genuine and true. Now, if I were to attain the Path with this frail body, those non-Buddhists would say that self-starvation is the cause of parinirvāṇa. Although I still have the strength of Nārāyaṇa in every joint, I will not attain the fruit of the Path by this means either. I should accept food and only then attain the Path.' Having had this thought, he rose from his seat, went to the Nairañjanā River, and entered the water to bathe. When the bathing was finished, his body was so frail and emaciated that he could not emerge on his own. A heavenly deity came down and pressed down a tree branch for him, so that he was able to grasp it and pull himself out of the pool. At that time, outside the forest, there was a cowherd maiden named Nandabalā. A deity of the Śuddhāvāsa Heaven descended and urged her, saying: 'The prince is now in the forest. You should make an offering to him.' Having heard this, the woman was filled with great joy. At that moment, a thousand-petaled lotus flower spontaneously sprang up from the ground, with milk-rice porridge upon it. Seeing this, the woman thought it marvelous; she at once took the milk-rice porridge, went to the prince's presence, prostrated her head and face at his feet, and offered it to him. The prince then accepted the woman's offering and uttered an auspicious blessing: 'May this offering of food that is given now replenish the physical vigor of the one who eats it; may the family of the donor obtain abundance, obtain joy, be at peace, be free from illness, fully preserve their lifespan, and be complete in wisdom.' The prince then further spoke these words: 'It is in order to bring all sentient beings to maturity that I accept this food.' When the auspicious blessing was finished, he accepted and ate it. His body became radiant and delighted, his physical vigor was fully replenished, and he was capable of receiving bodhi. At that time, when the five men saw this matter, they were shocked and surprised, considering it a regression, and each returned to his own dwelling. The Bodhisattva went alone toward the pippala tree, and made a vow of his own: 'Sitting beneath that tree, if I do not accomplish the Path, I shall never rise.' The Bodhisattva's virtue was weighty, and the earth could not bear it. At that moment, with every step he took, the earth shook and emitted a great sound. At that time, the blind dragon heard the rumbling of the earth shaking, and his heart was filled with great joy; his two eyes opened and regained sight. Having seen such auspicious omens with previous Buddhas in the past, he had this thought, welled up out of the earth, and paid homage to the Bodhisattva's feet. At that time, there were five hundred bluebirds flying through the air, circling the Bodhisattva to the right. Multi-colored auspicious clouds and fragrant winds followed, praising the Buddha. At that time, the blind dragon praised him in verse, saying: