法苑珠林 23.48

23.48

佛說太子刷護經云。阿闍世王太子名為刷護。白佛言。菩薩何因緣得顏貌端正。何因緣不入女人腹。於蓮華中化生。何因緣故能知宿命之事。

The Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on Crown Prince Śrīgupta says: King Ajātaśatru's crown prince was named Śrīgupta. He addressed the Buddha, saying: 'By what cause and condition does a bodhisattva obtain an upright and handsome appearance? By what cause and condition does he not enter a woman's womb, but is spontaneously born through transformation in a lotus flower? By what cause and condition is he able to know matters of past lives (pūrvanivāsa)?'