經律異相 4.9

4.9

與數千萬眾。入羅閱城。遙見之者。舉手讚歎。或言善來。或言日月。或自歸命。或相問訊。為是天耶。為帝釋耶。眾人隨逐。瓶沙王在高樓上。即問左右。為有何故。有一大臣曰。釋子辭家遊蕩在外。或能謀國。當往誅之。王曰。此子紹位作轉輪聖王。我等皆為臣佐。若使出家學道得佛。願為上首弟子。最初說法。先在其側。王載飲食。往東山候之。尋前禮足。自稱摩竭國瓶沙王者。今我是也。佛曰。我先識矣。何須致敬。王即啟曰。今獻微供。以表單心。願見納受。佛默然受。王言。若成無上道。願先見度。時阿蘭諸弟子。遙見世尊。白其師言。今有一人。端政殊特。經趣師門。必當求為弟子也。阿蘭乃說偈曰。

Together with several tens of millions of followers, he entered the city of Rājagṛha. Those who saw him from afar raised their hands in praise, some saying “Welcome!” or “Sun and Moon!”, some taking refuge, and others inquiring among themselves: “Is this a deva? Or is this Śakra?” The crowd followed him. King Bimbisāra was in an upper storey of his palace and asked his attendants, “What is the reason for this?” A minister said, “A son of the Śākyas has renounced his family and wanders outside; he might be plotting against the state. We should go and execute him.” The king said, “If this son were to succeed to the throne as a wheel-turning sage king, we would all be his ministers. If he has left home to practice the Way and become a Buddha, I wish to be his foremost disciple, so that when he first expounds the Dharma, I will be the first at his side.” The king loaded food and drink and went to the eastern mountain to wait upon him. He immediately came forward, bowed at his feet, and introduced himself: “I am Bimbisāra, the king of Magadha, who now stands before you.” The Buddha said, “I recognized you beforehand; what need is there for such homage?” The king then said, “I now present a meager offering to express my sincere mind; may you deign to accept it.” The Buddha silently accepted it. The king said, “When you attain the unsurpassed Way, I pray that you will deliver me first.” At that time, the disciples of Ārāḍa saw the Bhagavat from afar and said to their teacher, “Now there is a man, extraordinarily upright and distinctive, who has passed on toward our master's gate; he will certainly seek to become a disciple.” Ārāḍa then spoke a verse: