法苑珠林 9.109

9.109

如佛本行經云。時淨飯王知其太子年已八歲（因果經云年至七歲）即會百官群臣宰相而告之言。卿等當知。今我化內誰最有智。智能悉通堪為太子作師。諸臣報言。大王當知。今有毘奢婆蜜多羅。善知諸論最勝最妙。如是大師堪教太子（已下略述）王即遣召而告之言。尊者大師。能教我太子一切技藝諸書論不。時蜜多報言。大王。謹依王命。我今堪能心生歡喜。即嚴五百釋。種童子前後左右。別有無量無邊童男童女。隨從太子將昇學堂。時彼大師遙見太子。威德力故不能自禁遂使其身從座忽起。屈身頂禮於太子足。禮拜起已。四面顧視生大羞慚。時蜜多羅生慚愧已。於虛空中有一天子。名曰淨妙。從兜率宮共於無量無邊最大諸天神王而常守護太子。在彼虛空。隱身不現。而說偈言。

As stated in the *Abhiniṣkramaṇa-sūtra*: At that time, King Śuddhodana knew that his prince had reached eight years of age (the *Sūtra on Cause and Effect* says he had reached seven years of age). He then assembled all the officials, ministers, and chancellors and addressed them, saying: "You should know: who within my realm is the wisest, thoroughly knowledgeable in all wisdom, and fit to be the prince's teacher?" The ministers replied: "Great King, you should know that there is now Viśvāmitra, who is well-versed in all treatises, the most supreme and wonderful. Such a great master is fit to teach the prince." (The following is an abridged account.) The king then sent for him and addressed him, saying: "Venerable Master, can you teach my prince all arts, crafts, writings, and treatises?" At that time Viśvāmitra replied, saying: "Great King, I respectfully obey the royal command; I am capable of it now and my heart rejoices." Five hundred Śākya youths were then arrayed before, behind, to the left, and to the right, along with countless and boundless other boys and girls, following the prince as he was about to enter the schoolroom. At that time, seeing the prince from afar, the great master could not restrain himself due to the prince's majestic virtue, and his body suddenly rose from his seat. He bowed down, touching his head to the prince's feet. Having finished bowing, he looked around in the four directions, seized with great shame and embarrassment. When Viśvāmitra felt this shame, in the sky there was a devaputra named Śubhamati who, from the Tuṣita Palace, together with countless and boundless greatest divine kings, always protected the prince. Standing in the sky, hiding his form without appearing, he spoke a gāthā: