法苑珠林 10.98

10.98

As the Yinguo jing states: At that time, the prince thought to himself: "My age has reached nineteen. Today is the seventh day of the second month; it is fitting that I should now go forth. Thinking of seeking renunciation, now is precisely the time." Having made this thought, his body emitted light that illuminated the palaces of the Four Heavenly Kings up to the Śuddhāvāsa heaven, without letting anyone [in the palace] see this light. At that time, seeing this light, the devas all knew that the time for the prince to leave home had arrived. They immediately descended and came to the prince's presence, bowed their heads at his feet, joined their palms, and said: "The vows and practices cultivated across immeasurable kalpas are now maturing." The prince replied: "It is as you say; now is precisely the time. However, my father the king has ordered the inner and outer officials to maintain a strict guard; wishing to leave, there is no way." The devas said: "We shall ourselves devise expedients to cause the prince to depart without anyone knowing." Thereupon, through divine power, they caused all the palace retinue to fall into a dead sleep. In her sleep, Yaśodharā had three great dreams: first, dreaming that the moon fell to the ground; second, dreaming that her teeth fell out; third, dreaming that she lost her right arm. Having had these dreams, she awoke startled from her sleep in great fear. Having told the prince, she recounted the three dreams in full. The prince said: "The moon is still in the sky, the teeth have not fallen out, and the arm is still there. You should know that all dreams are false and unreal; you should not give rise to groundless terror now." She also told the prince: "According to my own reflection, the matter of these dreams must be an auspicious omen of the prince leaving home." The prince again replied: "Just sleep peacefully and do not give rise to such worries." Having heard this, she then went to sleep. Again, the Puyao jing states: At that time, the bodhisattva observed the courtesans at night: the hundred joints of their bodies were hollow like plantain trees, the nine apertures were impure, with nothing delightful. As the morning star had just appeared, he immediately ordered Chandaka to arise and saddle Kaṇṭhaka. Just as he spoke these words, the Four Heavenly Kings together with countless yakṣas, nāgas, and others, all clad in armour, came from the four directions. Bowing to the bodhisattva, they said: "The men and women in the city are all exhausted; the peacocks and flocks of birds are also sleeping in deep fatigue." Again, the Benqi jing states: The devas all said: "The prince should depart; we fear he might delay. Quickly leave and distance yourself from this heap of great fire!" At that time, after the prince had thought thus, when the late night arrived, the king of the Śuddhāvāsa heaven and the devas of the desire realm filled the sky. They spoke with one voice to the prince, saying: "The inner and outer retinue are all in a stupor of sleep. Now is precisely the time to leave home." At that time, the prince went in person to Chandaka's place. By heavenly power, Chandaka woke of himself, and the prince said to him: "Bring Kaṇṭhaka to me." At that time, hearing these words, Chandaka's whole body trembled with fear, and his heart was filled with hesitation: on the one hand, he did not wish to disobey the prince's command; on the other hand, he feared the severe decree of the king. Reflecting for a long while, shedding tears, he said: "The great king's affectionate decree was like this; moreover, now is not the time for an excursion, nor is it a day for subduing enemies. Why in this late night do you suddenly ask for the horse? Where do you wish to go?" The prince again spoke to Chandaka, saying: "I now wish to subdue the thieves of the defilements and fetters for the sake of all sentient beings; you must not oppose this wish of mine." At that time, Chandaka wailed aloud, wishing to make Yaśodharā and all the retinue awake and aware that the prince was about to leave. By the divine power of the devas, they remained in a stupor as before. Chandaka then led the horse forward. The prince stepped forward slowly and said to Chandaka and Kaṇṭhaka: "All affection and love must inevitably part. The affairs of the worldly realm are easily accomplished, but the causes and conditions of renunciation are extremely difficult to achieve." Hearing this, Chandaka remained silent. Thereupon Kaṇṭhaka no longer snorted or neighed. At that time, seeing the sign of dawn appear, the prince radiated light from his body completely illuminating the ten directions. He roared like a lion: "The manner of renunciation of the past Buddhas—I shall now do likewise." Thereupon the devas upheld the four hooves of the horse and also supported Chandaka, while Śakra, Lord of the Devas, held an umbrella and followed. The devas immediately caused the northern gate of the city to open spontaneously without making a sound. Chandaka grieved again: "The gate is closed and bolted; who will open it?" At that time, all the spirits, asuras, and others opened the gate spontaneously. The prince then departed through the gate. Devas in the sky sang praises and followed him. By dawn, the path traversed was already three yojanas. At that time, the hosts of devas, having followed the prince to this place and having completed their task, suddenly disappeared. The prince next walked on, arriving at the ascetic forest of the sage Bhārgava. He then dismounted, stroked the horse's back, and said: "The difficult deed you were to do has already been accomplished." He also spoke to Chandaka: "Only you alone were able to follow me; this is extremely rare. Now that I have arrived at a quiet place, you may return to the palace together with Kaṇṭhaka." Hearing these words, Chandaka wailed and wept, fell to the ground in a faint, unable to bear it. Thereupon, Kaṇṭhaka, having heard that he was being sent back, bent his knees, licked the prince's feet, and his tears fell like rain: "How can I now abandon the prince and return alone to the palace?" The prince answered: "In the ways of the world, one is born alone and dies alone; how could there be a companion? I have come here now wishing to extinguish all painful afflictions. When the manifold sufferings are severed, then I shall become a companion to all sentient beings." Furthermore, the Fo benxing jing states: At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings protecting the world and Śakra, lord of the devas, knew that the time for the prince to leave home had arrived. Each according to his direction prepared adornments, each leading all his retinue of hundreds of thousands of myriads, preceding and following, making various kinds of music, coming from the four directions. They circumambulated the city of Kapilavastu three times, each joining the palms of their ten fingers, lowering their heads, and bowing their bodies. Facing the prince, they packed the sky. Again, they saw that the Puṣya star coincided with the moon. At that time, the devas proclaimed in a loud voice: "Great Holy Prince! The Puṣya asterism has already coincided; the time has arrived now! If you wish to seek the supreme Dharma, do not remain here!" Hearing this, the prince observed the courtesans: filthy and impure, sleeping without awareness. He pulled their hair with his hand to awaken them, and also kicked the bodies of those courtesans with his foot, but they were unawakened and unaware (the rest is the same as above).