大唐西域記 6.26-27

6.26

宮城內有故基，淨飯王正殿也。上建精舍，中作王像。其側不遠有故基，摩訶摩耶（唐言大術）夫人寢殿也。上建精舍，中作夫人之像。其側精舍，是釋迦菩薩降神母胎處，中作菩薩降神之像。上座部菩薩以嗢呾羅頞沙荼月三十日夜降神母胎，當此五月十五日；諸部則以此月二十三日夜降母胎，當此五月八日。菩薩降神東北，有窣堵波，阿私多仙相太子處。菩薩誕靈之日，嘉祥輻湊。時淨飯王召諸相師而告之曰：「此子生也，善惡何若？宜悉乃正，明言以對。」曰：「依先聖之記，考吉祥之應，在家作轉輪聖王，捨家當成等正覺。」是時阿私多仙自遠而至，叩門請見。王甚慶悅，躬迎禮敬，請就寶座，曰：「不意大仙今日降顧。」仙曰：「我在天宮安居宴坐，忽見諸天群從蹈舞，我時問言：『何悅豫之甚也？』曰：『大仙當知，贍部洲中釋種淨飯王第一夫人，今產太子，當證三菩提，圓明一切智。』我聞是語，故來瞻仰。所悲朽耄，不遭聖化。」

To the north-east of the palace of the spiritual conception is a stupa; this is the place where Asita the Rishi prognosticated the fortune (took the horoscope or signs of) the royal prince. On the day when the Bodhisattva was born there was a gathering (a succession) of lucky indications. Then Suddhodana-raja summoned all the soothsayers, and addressing them said, "With respect to this child, what are the fortunate and what the evil (signs)? As it is right, so do you clearly answer me." In reply they said, "According to the record of the former saints the signs are especially fortunate. If he remains in secular life he will be a Chakravartin monarch; if he leaves his home he will become a Buddha." At this time the Rishi Asita, coming from afar, stood before the door, and requested to see the king. The king, overjoyed, went forth to meet and reverence him, and requested him to be seated on a precious chair; then addressing him he said, "It is not without an object that the Great Rishi has condescended to visit me this day."

There are a couple of Deva temples, in which various sectaries worship (live). Within the royal precincts are some ruined foundation walls; these are the remains of the proper palace of Suddhodana-raja; above is built a vihāra in which is a statue of the king. Not far from this is a ruined foundation, which represents the sleeping palace of Mahamaya, the queen. Above this they have erected a vihara in which is a figure of the queen. By the side of this is a vihara; this is where Bodhisattva descended spiritually into the womb of his mother. There is a representation of this scene drawn in the vihara. The Mahasthavira school say that Bodhisattva was conceived on the 30th night of the month U-ta-lo-'an-sha-cha (Uttarashadha). This is the 15th day of the 5th month (with us). The other schools fix the event on the 23d day of the same month. This would be the 8th day of the 5th month (with us).

The Rishi said, "I was quietly resting (or, observing the summer rest) in the palace of the Devas, when I suddenly saw the multitude of the Devas dancing together for joy. I forthwith asked why they rejoiced in this extravagant way, on which they said, 'Great Rishi, you should know that to-day is born in Jambudvipa, of Maya, the first queen of Suddhodana-raja of the Sakya line, a royal son, who shall attain the complete enlightenment of sambodhi, and become all-wise.' Hearing this, I have come accordingly to behold the child; alas! that my age should prevent me awaiting the holy fruit." At the south gate of the city is a stupa. This is where the royal prince, when contending with the Sakya princes, cast the elephant away. The royal prince having contended in the public competition (of arts and athletic exercises), was left entirely alone (without compeer) among them all, (or, in every exercise). And now the Maharaja Suddhodana, after receiving congratulations (or, congratulating him), was about to go back to the city.

6.27

城南門有窣堵波，是太子與諸釋角力擲象之處。太子伎藝多能，獨拔倫匹。淨飯大王懷慶將返，僕夫馭象，方欲出城。提婆達多素負強力，自外而入，問馭者曰：「嚴駕此象，其誰欲乘？」曰：「太子將還，故往奉馭。」提婆達多發憤引象，批其顙，蹴其臆，僵仆塞路，杜絕行途，無能轉移，人眾填塞。難陀後至，而問之曰：「誰死此象？」曰：「提婆達多。」即曳之避路。太子至，又問曰：「誰為不善，害此象耶？」曰：「提婆達多害以杜門，難陀引之開徑。」太子乃舉象高擲，越度城塹，其象墮地，為大深阬，土俗相傳為象墮阬也。其側精舍中作太子像。其側又有精舍，太子妃寢宮也，中作耶輸陀羅，并有羅怙羅像。宮側精舍作受業之像，太子學堂故基也。

At this time the coachman was leading out the elephant and just about to leave the city. Devadatta, confident as ever in his brute strength, was just entering the gate from without; forthwith he asked the coachman, "Who is going to ride on this gaily caparisoned elephant?" He said, "The royal prince is just about to return, therefore I am going to meet him." Devadatta, in an excited manner, pulled the elephant down, and struck his forehead and kicked his belly, and left him lying senseless, blocking the way so that no one could pass. As they could not move him out of the way, the passers-by were stopped on their route. Nanda coming afterwards, asked, "Who has killed the elephant?" They said, "It was Devadatta." Forthwith he (Nanda) drew it on one side of the road. The prince-royal then coming, again asked, "Who had done the foul deed of killing the elephant?" They replied, "Devadatta killed it and blocked up the gate with it, and Nanda drew it on one side to clear the road." The royal prince then lifted the elephant on high and threw it across the city moat; the elephant falling on the ground caused a deep and wide ditch; the people since then have commonly called it "the fallen-elephant ditch." By the side of this is a vihara in which is a figure of the royal prince. By the side of this again is a vihara; this was the sleeping apartment of the queen and the prince; in it is a likeness of Yasodhara and (the child)

Rahula. By the side of the queen's chamber is a vihara with a figure of a pupil receiving his lessons; this indicates the old foundation of the school-house of the royal prince. At the south-east angle of the city is a vihara in which is the figure of the royal prince riding a white and high-prancing horse; this was the place where he left the city. Outside each of the four gates of the city there is a vihara in which there are respectively figures of an old man, a diseased man, a dead man, and a Sraman. It was in these places the royal prince, on going his rounds, beheld the various indications, on which he received an increase of (religious) feeling, and deeper disgust at the world and its pleasures; and, filled with this conviction, he ordered his coachman to return and go home again. To the south of the city going 50 li or so, we come to an old town where there is a stupa. This is the place where Krakuchchhanda Buddha was born, during the Bhadra-kalpa when men lived to 60,000 years. To the south of the city, not far, there is a stupa; this is the place where, having arrived at complete enlightenment, he met his father. To the south-east of the city is a stupa where are that Tathagata's relics (of his bequeathed body); before it is erected a stone pillar about 30 feet high, on the top of which is carved a lion. By its side (or, on its side) is a record relating the circumstances of his Nirvana. It was erected by Asoka-raja.