釋迦氏譜 1.140

1.140

經云。太子至跋伽仙林中鳥狩矚目。仙人謂是天神。與徒眾迎請坐。太子見諸仙人。草樹皮葉以為衣者。或食花果草木。或日止一食。三日一食者。或事水火日月。翹脚臥灰棘水火上者。問其所由。答欲生天。便告仙曰。汝諸所求終不離苦。言論反覆乃至日暮明旦辭去。諸仙答曰。所修道異不敢相留。可往北行。彼有大仙可就語論。不必往彼極視乃還。

The sūtra says: When the Prince reached the forest of the ṛṣi Bhārgava, the birds and beasts gazed upon him. The ṛṣi took him to be a heavenly god, and together with his disciples welcomed him and invited him to sit. The Prince saw the various ṛṣis wearing clothes made of grass, tree bark, and leaves; some ate only flowers, fruit, grass, and trees; some ate only once a day, or once every three days; some worshiped water, fire, the sun, and the moon; some stood on tiptoe, or slept on ashes, thorns, water, or fire. He asked them the reason for this, and they replied that they wished to be born in heaven. He then said to the ṛṣis, “All that you seek will ultimately never depart from suffering.” They discussed back and forth until dusk, and the next morning he took his leave. The ṛṣis replied, saying, “The path you cultivate is different; we do not dare detain you. You may go north; there is a great ṛṣi there with whom you may converse and debate. It is not necessary to go there; you may return after observing to the utmost.”