釋迦譜 5.7

5.7

At that time, the World-Honoured One, walking through the towns and hamlets with the bhikṣus, saw two young boys, one named Jaya and the other named Vijaya, playing together in the sand. From afar they saw the World-Honoured One adorned with the thirty-two marks on his body. Then the boy Jaya thought to himself: 'I should offer barley flour to the Buddha.' He then cupped fine sand in his hands and placed it into the World-Honoured One's bowl. At that time, Vijaya joined his palms in sympathetic joy. Then that boy made a vow, saying: 'By the merit of the wholesome root of this generous gift, may I become an emperor with a single parasol over the entire world, and in that very place may I be born to make offerings to all the Buddhas.' At that time, the World-Honoured One let a smile appear on his face. Ānanda joined his palms and addressed the Buddha: 'World-Honoured One, for what reason do you smile?' Then the World-Honoured One told Ānanda: 'You should know that one hundred years after my extinction, this boy will become a wheel-turning king ruling over the world in the city of Pāṭaliputra, of the Maurya clan, named Aśoka, governing and transforming with the true Dharma. Furthermore, he will widely distribute my relics and shall build eighty-four thousand stūpas. Ānanda, take this sand offered in the bowl and cast it upon the Tathāgata's walkway; I will walk there.' Ānanda received the instruction and immediately took the sand from the bowl to plaster the walkway. 'Ānanda, you should know that in the city of Pāṭaliputra there will be a king named Candragupta. That king will father a son named Bindusāra, who will rule that country. He, in turn, will have a son named Suśīma. At that time, in the state of Campā, there was a brahman daughter who was exceedingly handsome, pleasant to behold, and prized by the state. The physiognomists, upon seeing that girl's marks, made the prediction that this girl would become a royal consort and would certainly bear two sons: one would rule the world, and one would leave home to study the path and achieve the traces of holiness. When the brahman heard what the physiognomists said, he was immeasurably rejoiced, and at once brought his daughter to the city of Pāṭaliputra with all manner of adornments, intending to marry her to Prince Suśīma. The physiognomists said she ought to be married to King Bindusāra. The king, seeing that this girl was handsome and virtuous, forthwith established her as his primary consort, and they constantly took pleasure in each other. She subsequently became pregnant, and having completed her months, gave birth to a son. At the time of birth, she was tranquil and free of distress; after seven days had passed, she named him Aśoka ("Without Distress"). She again gave birth to a son named Vītāśoka. As for Aśoka, his skin was coarse and rough, and his father took no pleasure in seeing him. The king wished to test his sons and called a brahman, saying: "Examine my sons: after my death, who should become king?" The brahman said: "Bring these sons outside the city to the park pavilions of the Golden Palace, where I shall examine their physiognomy." At that time, King Aśoka's mother said to Aśoka: "Now the king has gone out to the park pavilions of the Golden Palace to examine the princes, to see who should become king after his death. Why do you not go?" Aśoka stated: "Since I receive no affection and he takes no pleasure in seeing me, [why should I go]?" His mother said: "Just go!" He then set off, saying: "I pray, Mother, send me food." The mother said: "So it shall be." The king had beforehand instructed his ministers: "If Aśoka comes, make him come riding an old and sluggish elephant, and give him old men as his retinue." At that time, Aśoka rode the old elephant, reached the park pavilions, and sat on the ground. Then food and drink were served to the various princes. Aśoka's mother, using an earthenware vessel, prepared curd and rice and sent it to Aśoka. The king asked the master: "Among these, who possesses the marks of a king and will succeed to my throne?" Then that physiognomist observed the princes and saw that Aśoka fully possessed the marks of a king and would succeed to the throne. He also thought: "This Aśoka is not loved by the Great King. If I say he will become king, the king will certainly be displeased." He then said: "I will now make a general prediction: if there is someone here with a superior mount, that person shall become king." Hearing what he said, the princes each thought to themselves: "I ride a fine mount." At that time Aśoka said: "I ride an aged elephant; I shall become king." Then the king again said to the master: "Please examine them further." The master replied again: "If there is one here with the foremost seat, he shall become king." The princes said to one another: "My seat is foremost." Aśoka said: "Now I sit upon the earth; this is a firm and supreme seat, so I shall become king." The king again told the master to examine them once more. The master reported again: "The one here with the superior vessel and superior food, he shall obtain kingship." Aśoka thought: "I have the superior food; I must become king." The assembly dispersed and they returned to the palace. At that time, Aśoka's mother asked Aśoka: "Whom did the brahman definitively predict?" Aśoka reported: "Your son will become king. Taking an old elephant as mount, taking the ground as seat, and holding food in a plain vessel—non-glutinous rice mixed with curd—these are the most supreme." The brahman, knowing that Aśoka would be king, frequently paid him respect. His mother thereupon asked: "Who will become king?" The master said: "The prince you bore, Aśoka, is the person." At that time, in King Bindusāra's border country, Takṣaśilā rebelled. The king then said to Aśoka: "Lead the fourfold army and pacify that country." When it came time to set forth, he gave him few weapons and armor. At that time, the attendants addressed the prince, saying: "Now going to conquer that country without military weapons, how can it be pacified?" Aśoka said: "If I am destined to be king, weapons and armor will naturally appear in response." As he uttered these words, in response to his voice the earth opened and weapons and armor came forth from the earth. He then led the fourfold army to go and conquer that country. When the people of that country heard that Aśoka was coming, they leveled and swept the roads, and welcomed the prince with all kinds of offerings. The devas proclaimed a command: "Prince Aśoka is to rule this world; do not harbor rebellious intentions." That country then surrendered. In this manner he pacified this world even unto the edges of the ocean. At that time, the father king contracted a severe illness. The ministers then adorned Aśoka and brought him to the king's place, [saying]: "For now let us install this son as king; later we will gradually install Suśīma as king." When the king heard these words, he was grieved and unhappy, and remained silent without answering; thereupon he passed away. At that time, Aśoka thought and said: "If I am to rightfully attain the royal throne, let the devas naturally come and consecrate my head with water, binding my head with plain white silk." In response to his voice, the devas immediately consecrated Aśoka's head with water and bound his head with plain white silk; he ascended to the supreme royal station, and humans and spirits rejoiced. A commentary is also cited saying: On the day Aśoka was installed as king, an iron wheel flew down, and he ruled over Jambudvīpa, forty leagues into the sky and forty leagues beneath the earth, and the spirits all praised his goodness.'