經律異相 7.15

7.15

The Buddha told Maudgalyāyana: 'Go to the city of Kapilavastu. Inquire after my parents, my uncle, and my aunt. Comfort and instruct Rāhula's mother, causing her to sever affectionate attachment and let Rāhula go to become a novice monk (śrāmaṇera). The affectionate joy between mother and child lasts but a moment; upon dying they fall into hell, each unaware of the other. When Rāhula attains the Way, he shall return to deliver his mother, cutting off birth and death forever, just as I have now.' Maudgalyāyana arrived in the kingdom and explained the Buddha's intent in full. When Yaśodharā heard that the Buddha had sent a messenger to take Rāhula, she was about to climb a tall tower. She instructed the guards to firmly shut the gates and doors, ordering that all be secured. Maudgalyāyana flew up. Having no choice, Yaśodharā made obeisance and asked: 'Is the Bhagavat free from illness? What does he wish by sending the venerable one here?' Maudgalyāyana said: 'The prince Rāhula is already nine years old; he should be made to leave household life and study the noble Way.' He then explained the Buddha's intent in full. She answered: 'When the Tathāgata Śākyamuni was a prince, he took me as his wife. I served the prince as though serving a heavenly deity. In less than three years, he abandoned the pleasures of the five desires, leapt over the palace walls, and fled to the royal fields, pledging that when he attained the Way he would surely return. Having attained the Way and returned to the kingdom, he did not visit his kin at all, disregarding past love and kindness worse than a stranger on the road. He made me endure solitude and embrace misery. Now he would snatch away my child to be his follower—what cruelty could match this? When the prince attained the Way, he himself spoke of kindness and compassion; now he separates mother and child—what compassion is there in this? Return to the Bhagavat and speak as I have related.' Maudgalyāyana took his leave and returned to King Śuddhodana's dwelling, where he reported these matters in full. Hearing these words, the king at once said to Lady Pajāpatī: 'My son Siddhārtha has sent for Rāhula to study the noble Dharma. His mother, being a woman, is foolish and bound by clinging, loving without letting go. You may go and admonish her, bringing her mind to awakening.' The lady reasoned with her repeatedly, yet Yaśodharā still would not listen, saying to the lady: 'When I was at home, kings of eight realms vied to seek my hand, but my parents did not consent. Because the prince's talents and arts surpassed others, my parents gave me to him. If the prince did not wish to remain in the world, why did he so earnestly and laboriously seek me? When a noblewoman marries, it is truly for affection and fondness, and to carry on the lineage of descendants—the proper conduct of the world. Since the prince has already left, and now seeks Rāhula as well, severing forever the royal succession, what justice is there in that?' Hearing this, the lady was silent and had no words. The Buddha then sent an apparition who spoke from the air: 'Do you remember your ancient vow or not? When I was a bodhisattva, I bought five stalks of flowers from you with five hundred silver coins to offer to Dīpaṅkara Buddha. You asked to contribute two stalks, requesting that in life after life wherever we were born, you would always be my wife. I said to you: "As a bodhisattva, I give all in charity." You then made a vow: "In life after life wherever we are born, realms, cities, wives, children, and even my own body—all may be given away as you wish." Why do you now begrudge Rāhula?' Yaśodharā suddenly awakened, as though seeing yesterday's events. Her clinging to her beloved son gradually subsided. She sent for Maudgalyāyana, repented and apologised to him, held Rāhula's hand, earnestly entrusted him, and parted in tears. Rāhula addressed his mother: 'I go to pay my respects to the Bhagavat. Mother, please do not grieve; I shall soon return to see you.' King Śuddhodana told the grand clans: 'Let each of you send one son to accompany my grandson.' Fifty persons thereupon accompanied him to the Buddha's presence and bowed their heads in obeisance. The Buddha had Ānanda shave the heads of Rāhula and the fifty young gentlemen, causing them all to leave household life. He commanded Śāriputra to serve as preceptor (upādhyāya) and Mahāmaudgalyāyana to serve as ācārya to confer the ten precepts upon them. The Buddha preached to the fifty novices about the past karmic retribution of Śaṇḍila and others (too lengthy to record), and they were all greatly distressed. They all addressed the Buddha: 'Our preceptor has great wisdom and virtue, so he receives the highest offerings. We boys are foolish and without virtue; eating people's generous offerings, we will suffer in future lives like Śaṇḍila. Therefore we are truly anxious. May the Buddha have pity and permit us to abandon the Way, hoping to avoid sin and fault.' The Buddha said: 'Suppose there were two starving men who suddenly met a host providing fine food and drink, and greedily ate until overly full. One had wisdom: he took emetics from a physician, observed restraint, and took care of himself, thereby escaping calamity and in the end preserving his lifespan. The other was without wisdom: he killed living beings and performed sacrifices to save his life; the retained food caused wrenching pain, and he died of agony in his heart, being born into hell. Returning home out of fear of guilt—that is the person without wisdom. You have wholesome causes and have encountered me; taking the medicine to relieve suffering, you will surely attain deathlessness.' Hearing this, Rāhula's mind opened and his thoughts understood. Later, when the Buddha returned to the palace, people suspected Gopā: 'The prince abandoned the kingdom twelve years ago; whence was this child born?' The Buddha addressed the father-king: 'Gopā maintained pure and faithful chastity, truly without blemish.' He transformed the community of monks so that all resembled the Buddha. Rāhula, aged seven, was asked: 'Who is your father?' Rāhula immediately stepped forward, went up to the Buddha, made obeisance, and handed his mother's signet ring to the Bhagavat. (From the first part of the Sūtra of What Has Never Been; the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya states that when the Buddha returned to the palace, Rāhula saw him from afar on the tower and came down to beg the Buddha for his remaining wealth, and the Buddha had Śāriputra ordain him as a novice monk).