法苑珠林 10.62

10.62

爾時太子問馭者言。此人為是獨一家法如是。為當一切悉皆如斯。馭者報言。非獨一家如斯。一切世間皆有此法。貴賤雖殊皆未過老。太子言。若我不離是老宜速還宮。老法未過云何縱逸。時淨飯王問馭者。具答如前王言。希有此之形相。恐太子出家。更增五欲。太子厭捨五欲唯作老苦之觀。後於異時辭王從城南門出欲向園觀。王勅道路嚴淨倍加於先。爾時作瓶天子即於太子前化作一病人。連骸困苦命在須臾。臥糞穢中宛轉呻喚不能起舉。唱言叩頭乞扶我坐。太子見已問馭者言。此是何人。腹肚極大猶如大釜。喘息之時身遍顫慄。悲切酸楚不忍見聞。馭者以是因緣。而說偈言。

Then the prince asked the charioteer, "Is this condition peculiar to this one family, or are all [people] like this?" The charioteer replied, "It is not peculiar to this one family; throughout the entire world this condition exists. Though noble and base are distinct, none have bypassed old age." The prince said, "If I cannot escape this old age, it is fitting to return quickly to the palace. Since the law of old age has not been bypassed, how could I indulge in ease?" When King Śuddhodana questioned the charioteer, he answered fully as before. The king said, "It is rare for such a form to appear. I fear the prince will leave home." He further increased the five desires. The prince, feeling revulsion toward and renouncing the five desires, contemplated solely the suffering of old age. Later, at another time, taking leave of the king, he went out through the southern gate of the city wishing to view the gardens. The king ordered that the roads be adorned and purified twice as much as before. At that time, the devaputra Ghaṭīkāra transformed himself in front of the prince into a sick man, emaciated of bone, suffering bitterly, his life hanging in the balance, lying in excrement and filth, tossing and groaning, unable to lift himself up, calling out and knocking his head, begging, "Help me sit up!" When the prince saw him, he asked the charioteer, "What kind of person is this? His belly is huge like a large cauldron; when he gasps for breath, his whole body trembles; his grief and anguish are unbearable to see and hear." On account of this, the charioteer spoke a verse: