釋迦譜 1.86

1.86

Then the wrestlers and elders of the Śākya clan addressed King Śuddhodana: "If the prince becomes a Buddha, the lineage of the sage king will be cut off." The king said: "Which king's daughter is suitable to be the prince's consort?" The Bodhisattva thought: "I have no greed or desire; I abandoned Tuṣita to come here. Now I should test them by skillful means." He had a master artisan make a splendid golden statue inscribed with characters, [stating that] only a woman possessing the virtues and righteousness described in his text could be betrothed to him. King Śuddhodana then instructed the chief brāhmaṇa to enter the city of Kapilavastu and inspect everywhere. Walking about, the brāhmaṇa saw a maiden, pure as a lotus and like the treasure of a maiden. The king asked about the maiden, and the brāhmaṇa replied: "She is of the Daṇḍapāṇi Śākya clan." The king said: "Lest she not be to his liking, let him choose for himself." He summoned the beautiful maidens of Kapilavastu to gather at the lecture hall. At that time, the Śākya maiden Gopī arrived before the Bodhisattva, gazing intently at him without blinking. The Bodhisattva smiled with joy, took a jeweled flower, and gave it to Gopī. Gopī replied: "I do not covet jewels; one should adorn oneself with merit." The king sent the brāhmaṇa to arrange the match with this maiden. Daṇḍapāṇi Śākya said: "According to the custom of our clan, she will only be given in marriage to one who possesses arts and skills." The king asked the Bodhisattva: "Can you display your skills?" The Bodhisattva said: "I can." The king issued an order throughout the realm, striking bells and beating drums: "Seven days from now, the prince will display his skills. Let all who have arts and skills assemble; to the victor, the Śākya maiden shall be given." Thereupon, Devadatta pulled an elephant with his right hand and struck it dead with his left. When Nanda came out of the city gate, he dragged it to the side of the road. When the Bodhisattva came out of the city, he said: "This elephant's body is large, and its stench fills the city." Taking it in his right palm, he tossed it outside the city. At that time, the minister Arcismat was foremost in mathematics, yet in discourse and calculation he could not match [the Bodhisattva]. The number of trees, medicinal herbs, and drops of water could all be known one by one; gambling, liubo, astronomy, and geography—he was thoroughly versed in all eighty thousand extraordinary arts, yet none could rival the Bodhisattva. Devadatta and Nanda still wished to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Pitying them, the Bodhisattva lifted Devadatta into the air, whirling him three times, without hurting his body. The king and the Śākyas wished to test their archery further. Devadatta set up an iron drum at forty li, Nanda at sixty li, and the Bodhisattva at a hundred li. Devadatta struck the drum at forty li, but could not pierce through it; Nanda hit sixty li, but could not surpass it either. When the Bodhisattva drew his bow, the bow snapped. He asked: "Is there another bow capable of bearing my use?" The king said: "The bow used by my grandfather is peerless and extraordinary; none can use it. It is kept in the deva temple and may be brought here." None of the Śākyas could string it. The Bodhisattva strung it by pressing it with his hand; the twang of the bow was heard throughout the city. Nocking an arrow and releasing it, he pierced the drum at a hundred li. The arrow sank into the earth, and a spring welled forth naturally. It struck Mount Cakravāḍa, and the trichiliocosm trembled in six ways. All the Śākyas marveled, declaring it unprecedented. At that time, Daṇḍapāṇi Śākya gave his daughter Gopī to be the Bodhisattva's consort. Conforming to worldly customs, they appeared to enjoy pleasure together.