法苑珠林 8.97

8.97

At that time, the Ikṣvāku king of the Solar clan summoned a state preceptor, a great brāhmaṇa, and spoke to him, saying: “Great Brāhmaṇa, where are my four princes now?” The state preceptor replied: “Great King, you should know: the four sons of the king have already departed the country and gone to the north, and have even begotten handsome sons and daughters.” Then King Ikṣvāku, out of love for his princes, wished in his mind to see them, was delighted in his heart, and uttered these words: “Those princes are able to establish state policies and govern and transform [their realm] exceedingly well.” Because those princes were able (śakya), their lineage surname was established as Śākya. Because the Śākyas dwelt beneath the shade of the lush branches of a great tree (śāka), they were therefore called Śākya (spelled as she-yi-qi). Because they initially dwelt at the abode of the sage Kapila, the city was named after it, hence called Kapilavastu. Later, after three sons of King Ikṣvāku passed away, only one son remained, named Nikura (in the language of the Sui: Biecheng). The Dīrghāgama says: “They dwelt in a forest of straight trees, also called the Śāka forest. The surname was derived from the forest.” Furthermore, when the father king heard that his four sons were upright and handsome, he said: “These are truly Śākyas (the capable ones).”