佛本行集經

Chapter 20: YASODHARA SEES OMINOUS DREAMS

(Part 2)

At that time, the royal preceptor had a son named Udayin (rendered in the Sui translation as “Eloquent Discernment”), who was intelligent, wise, and gifted in debate. King Suddhodana then sent a messenger to summon Udayin. When Udayin arrived, the King asked:

“Udayin, you are intelligent and resourceful. You may now attend upon Prince Siddhartha. Employ every possible means to set the Prince’s mind at ease and make him delight in dwelling within the palace. Do not allow the Prince to grow weary of it, leave the palace, and renounce the household life.”

The King summoned all the Sakya clansmen to assemble and said:

“All you members of the royal clan, I fear that Prince Siddhartha is determined not to remain at home. What means can you now employ to help me and cause the Prince to abandon his intention of renouncing the household life?”

The King and the royal clan stationed outside the eastern city gate five hundred valiant and resourceful youths skilled in warfare, all exceedingly courageous. These warriors possessed strength that few could rival. Each youth had five hundred chariots revolving around him, and each chariot was in turn surrounded by five hundred strong men.

So too, in due order, five hundred men were stationed at each of the southern, western, and northern gates, guarding them as described above. Elder statesmen of the Sakya clan were also stationed on alert at every crossroads and along all the large and small streets in the city, jointly keeping watch over the Prince. King Suddhodana further deployed a special force of five hundred exceptionally elite warriors, clad in armor and mounted on elephants or horses, to patrol all four sides of the city.

Guards were posted at every palace gate throughout both day and night.

At that time, the chief royal consort Mahaprajapati Gautami gathered all the palace women and instructed them:

“You should know that from this day onward you must not sleep by day or night. Hang luminous jewels atop the banner poles so that the night will not be dark. Everywhere light lamps fueled with clarified butter or wax, and always cover them with lantern cages so that they do not go out.

The palace gates must be closed and secured with the utmost care; outside the appointed times, no one may open them to enter or leave. Adorn your bodies magnificently and put on jeweled necklaces. Join hands to form a circle around the Prince and do not let him pass beyond you.

Whether holding bows, swords, knives, spears, or other such weapons, whether standing or sitting guard, remain constantly vigilant by day and night. Do not be negligent and allow the Prince to depart. If the Prince renounces the household life, our palace will become empty and desolate, bereft of every pleasure.”

Udayin, the son of the royal preceptor, was appointed the Prince’s personal attendant. When he entered the palace, he saw the Prince seated in the middle of the main hall, absorbed in contemplation, while all the palace women remained silent. Seeing such a cheerless scene, Udayin said to them:

“You are all gifted in speech, skilled at pleasing others, and able to turn sorrow into joy. Your appearances are beautiful and lovely, unequaled in the world, and every one of you possesses such talents. Why have you now cast those talents aside and chosen to stand in silence?

You must make this palace as lively and magnificent as the palace of Uttarakuru in the north. Furthermore, you could become the chief queens or consorts of Vaisravana, the great world-protecting heavenly king of the north; how then could you fail to enliven a palace in the human realm? Palace women, why do you allow the Prince to remain aloof from sensual desire?

Even true sages could be made by you to become infatuated with the five sensual pleasures; how much more, then, could you captivate this Sakya Prince in the human realm? Palace women, you speak gently and cleverly, can transform anger into joy, and understand the minds of men. As women, you possess many favorable qualities capable of unsettling men’s minds.

Even women who see you may give rise to sensual desire; how, then, could men fail to be infatuated with you? It is utterly impossible that any man in the world could live among you without giving rise to sensual desire.”

Then the youth Udayin spoke in verse:

“Thus, you palace women should recognize your own power to captivate and employ the excellent qualities you already possess. I see that every one of you is endowed with such qualities. If you do not cause the Prince, while dwelling beside you, to give rise to sensual desire, I shall not be pleased. Each of you must strive by every means to cause the Prince to arouse defiled desire. Do not let him become disenchanted and depart.

“Palace women, have you not heard that in former times, in the kingdom of Kasi, there was a seer named Devadana (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘Born from Conditions Above’), who was beguiled by the courtesan Sundari? That seer possessed majestic virtue no different from that of the devas, and even the devas dared not interfere with him. Yet, beguiled by the courtesan Sundari, he followed her on foot into the city of Kasi.

“Again, in former times there was a seer named Pratyeka, who from childhood until adulthood had never engaged in sexual desire. One day, a courtesan named Santa (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘Tranquil and Still’) beguiled him, causing him to lose all his meditative concentration and the five supernormal powers.

“Again, in former times there was a seer named Visvamitra (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘Transformation Branch’), who had practiced austerities for many years and had once gone without food for ten years. At that time there was an exceedingly beautiful courtesan named Mekhana (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘The One’), and this seer too was beguiled by her.

“Seers possessing such supernormal powers were for the most part beguiled by courtesans and drawn into worldly sensual affairs. How much more so Prince Siddhartha, who is now in the prime of youth, vigorous and strong, with a delicate body, the son of a great king, and thoroughly versed in all affairs! You should therefore devote all your hearts and strength to attending him, causing the Prince to become enamored while dwelling beside you. Do not allow the royal lineage to become extinct.”

Having heard these words of encouragement from Udayin, the son of the royal preceptor, the palace women together approached the Prince and performed all manner of seductive arts to bewilder his mind further. Some danced; some sang and chanted verses praising the pleasures of the five desires in sweet voices; some played music; some made jokes and contorted their faces into strange forms; some produced a hundred kinds of sounds and recited various phrases; some displayed graceful ways of walking before the Prince; some presented him with many different kinds of beautiful fresh flowers; some blended a hundred fragrances and anointed the Prince’s body; some blew upon their fingers to imitate all kinds of birdsong; and some addressed the Prince:

“O prince of the noble lineage, please listen to these playful words of worldly love.”

Hearing such amorous jesting within the palace, the Prince reflected: “Sentient beings in the world are oppressed by suffering—the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, death, and so forth. Though these afflict and disturb them so greatly, they do not seek to escape suffering or find refuge. What skillful means should I now employ to transcend birth, old age, sickness, and death in the world?”

The palace women continued presenting every kind of song, dance, music, and amorous enticement, yet upon seeing them the Prince did not give rise to the slightest pleasure. At that time, one palace woman took a garland of mallika flowers in her own hands, approached, and placed it around the Prince’s neck. The Prince gazed steadily at her without blinking. Then he removed the mallika garland with his own hands, held it, and cast it outside through a window.

At that time Udayin, the son of the royal preceptor, saw the Prince sitting upright, mindfully contemplating, unattached to the conditioned objects of the world and unenthralled by beautiful forms, pleasing sounds, fragrances, sweet flavors, and the like. Seeing this, the intelligent and wise Udayin admonished the Prince with many words:

“Great and holy Prince, the King sent me here to be your companion and bring you pleasure. I now wish to ask you something; please grant me permission. Why, as I see it, is your mind unattached to worldly affairs?”

He then spoke in verse:

After speaking this verse, Udayin continued:

“Great and holy Prince, now that I am your friend, we must discuss good and bad matters together. If one sees something unusual arise but disregards and overlooks it, one cannot be called a friend. Therefore, today I wish to speak heart-to-heart with you in the spirit of a sincere friend.

Please accept my words. You are now in the prime of youth, vigorous and strong, yet it seems to me that you do not wish to enjoy worldly pleasures. You desire to keep away from the palace women and do not wish to live near them.

What is there about them to despise? The minds of ordinary worldly people naturally incline in this direction. The way of love is fundamental, and women’s bodies are meant to be cherished and enjoyed by noble men.

If you are resolved to abandon the pleasures of the five desires, then for these women the wealth, honor, and splendor of the palace will be nothing but punishment. Please comfort the palace women with gentle and affectionate words, causing joy to arise in their hearts.”

Udayin spoke in verse:

At that time, the Prince, seated near Udayin, the son of the royal preceptor, heard these words. With skillful speech and a voice filled with sorrow, like rolling thunder shrouded in clouds, or like a gifted musician producing a deep and solemn melody, he replied to Udayin:

“Udayin, I know that you are my good and virtuous friend. With wholesome intentions you admonish me and illuminate my understanding. I also understand that your concern for me is intimate and profound. I shall not oppose your wishes. Since you perceive such faults in me, I shall now respond in accordance with your intention. Yet it is not that I do not know how to enjoy the world’s five sensual pleasures. I have examined all worldly affairs and understand them clearly. Because I see that the world is impermanent and subject to decay, and because this world is fearful, my heart takes no delight in it.”

He then spoke in verse:

After speaking this verse, the Prince again said to Udayin:

“You should observe these palace women, whose lovely beauty will be seized by old age. When each beholds the others then, their hearts will take no joy. You will see that only a fool would wish to become infatuated among them.”

He then spoke in verse:

The Prince and Udayin, the son of the royal preceptor, continued their exchange and discussion. When the Prince saw the sunlight fade, he entered the inner palace and joined the palace women in enjoying the five sensual pleasures with great delight, while they gathered and stood all around him. That night, Yasodhara, the Prince’s chief consort, sensed that she had conceived.

On that same night, the Prince’s maternal aunt, Gautami Mahaprajapati, dreamed in her sleep of a lordly white bull bellowing within the city and then slowly departing, with no one able to bar its way. Also that night, King Suddhodana dreamed that in the center of the city an Indra banner was erected, adorned with many precious things and jeweled necklaces. Resembling Mount Sumeru, king of mountains, it sprang from the earth and stood suspended in space.

Dazzling light radiated from this Indra banner throughout the four directions. Great clouds arose in the four directions, converged over the banner, and released a violent rain whose waters poured down and washed the banner clean. All kinds of beautiful flowers also rained from space around the Indra banner.

Innumerable strains of melodious music arose spontaneously without anyone playing them. A perfectly pure white canopy, with precious jewels for its handle and pure gold for its framework, exquisitely fashioned and beautiful, came of itself and spread above the Indra banner, sheltering it on all four sides. Then the four Great Heavenly Kings and their retinues came to the city, opened its gates, and escorted the Indra banner away.

On that same night, Yasodhara, utterly exhausted, slept deeply and dreamed twenty exceedingly terrifying dreams. Her body and mind trembled in fear and unease. Finding them strange and horrifying, she suddenly awoke.

The Prince then asked Yasodhara:

“Why, beloved, have you suddenly awakened from sleep, trembling, gasping, and terrified? Beloved, why are you so afraid? We are not now in a charnel ground, nor are we lying among corpses. We are not in the mountains or in a wilderness. We are in the royal palace in the city of Kapilavastu, protected by immeasurable and boundless armed forces. This place is entirely secure: there is no danger from wild beasts, nor any fear of bandits coming to cause harm. This place is exceedingly peaceful and pleasant, with nothing to fear. Yet I see that your heart is deeply frightened, sorrowful, and anxious. What caused you suddenly to awaken?”

Yasodhara, the Prince’s chief consort, shed tears like rain and, sorrowful, frightened, and choking with emotion, addressed the Prince:

“Great and holy Prince, tonight in my dreams I saw twenty transformations. I beg you to listen as I recount them.

“Prince, in my dream I saw the entire great earth quake on every side.

“Prince, next I saw the Indra banner topple to the ground.

“Prince, next I saw the sun, moon, and stars fall from the sky.

“Prince, next I saw an exceedingly pure and beautiful canopy. I took shelter beneath it, and it lovingly protected and covered me. Suddenly Chandaka, the son of a maidservant, came by force, seized my canopy, and carried it away.

“Prince, next I saw a knife cut away and carry off the precious jewels adorning my hair knot.

“Prince, next I saw all the jeweled necklaces upon my body swept away by water.

“Prince, next I saw my incomparably beautiful countenance suddenly become ugly.

“Prince, next I saw my hands and feet suddenly separate from my body.

“Prince, next I saw my body suddenly become naked.

“Prince, next I saw the bed upon which I have always sat while attending you suddenly topple to the ground.

“Prince, next I dreamed that the bed upon which you and I sleep together and enjoy pleasure suddenly had all four of its legs break and collapse.

“Prince, next I dreamed of a great mountain composed entirely of precious substances, with four sharp sides and towering exceedingly high. Suddenly it was consumed by fire, and the mountain collapsed to the ground.

“Prince, next I dreamed that an exceedingly beautiful tree within King Suddhodana’s palace was suddenly swept away by the wind.

“Prince, next I dreamed that the bright full moon among the stars within this palace suddenly disappeared.

“Prince, next I dreamed that the sun within this palace, shining brilliantly and radiating thousands upon thousands of rays in every direction, suddenly disappeared, leaving the world dark without the slightest light.

“Prince, next I dreamed that a burning torch within this city’s palace moved outside the city.

“Prince, next I dreamed that the deity who had always protected this city, whose entire body was adorned with jeweled necklaces and whose handsome appearance inspired affection, stood outside the city gate and suddenly wept and lamented in grief.

“Prince, next I dreamed that the city of Kapilavastu suddenly became a terrifying wilderness, dark as night, in which the heart could find no joy.

“Prince, next I dreamed that the waters of the ponds in Kapilavastu suddenly became turbid, while every flower, fruit, branch, and leaf on the city’s trees fell and completely covered the ground.

“Prince, next I dreamed that all the warriors, clad in armor and holding swords and staves, surrounded all four sides of the city and together ran in pursuit of you.

“Prince, I dreamed of these twenty events, and my heart is deeply anxious and terrified, beset by doubt and unease. I do not know what omens they portend. Will their consequences be auspicious or inauspicious? Is my life about to end? Or is my loving union with you about to be severed? Thus my heart pounded like a drum and shook with uncontrollable fear, causing me suddenly to start awake from sleep.”

Hearing this, the Prince thought: “Before long I shall abandon worldly life and renounce the household. For this reason, Yasodhara has today seen such exceedingly terrifying signs in her dreams.” The Prince then said to Yasodhara:

“Beloved consort Yasodhara, even if you saw a thousand Indra banners topple to the ground, what harm could they do you? Even if you saw a thousand suns, moons, and stars fall to the earth, what painful effect could they have upon you? Even if you saw a thousand canopies forcibly carried away by Chandaka, the maidservant’s son, these were merely acts of seizure seen in a dream.

What relation have they to waking reality, and why should your mind be troubled? You should not grieve. You are my most honored chief consort.

Do not dwell upon such thoughts and become frightened. Such false and illusory dream omens naturally occur in the world. Do not harbor fear; simply rest peacefully and sleep as usual.

You are my one chief consort, still in the bloom of youth and graceful in bearing. I fear that such fright may injure your health. Yasodhara, you have known only comfort and happiness and have never suffered hardship.”

Hearing the Prince explain matters in this way, she set her mind at ease and lay down to sleep again. Wishing to comfort and soothe Yasodhara, the Prince lay down beside her, and together they delighted in the five sensual pleasures. That night the Prince also had five great dreams:

The first dream: The Prince saw himself lying upon a bed formed by the great earth, with Mount Sumeru as a pillow beneath his head, his left hand resting upon the eastern ocean, his right hand upon the western ocean, and both feet upon the southern ocean.

The second dream: The Prince saw a blade of grass called “Establishment” grow from his navel, its tip reaching the Akanistha Heaven, the highest realm of form.

The third dream: The Prince saw four brilliantly colored birds fly from the four directions and alight beneath his two feet, whereupon they naturally became entirely white.

The fourth dream: The Prince saw four white animals with completely black heads come and lick him from his heels to his knees.

The fifth dream: The Prince saw a mountain of excrement, exceedingly high, vast, and broad. He walked in meditation upon its summit without being defiled by the filth.

Chapter 21: LEAVING THE ROYAL PALACE TO RENOUNCE THE HOUSEHOLD LIFE

(Part 1)

At that time, while the Prince slept in the palace at night, an official responsible for protecting the palace instructed the patrol guards:

“When making your rounds and keeping watch, each of you must say ‘Kimbila’ (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘fearsome’), or say ‘Muktira’ (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘escape’), or say ‘Angana’ (rendered in the Sui translation as ‘coming forth from within’). You must remain here at all times.”

The patrolmen replied:

“Yes, we shall remain here at all times.”

The high official again said:

“All of you must guard carefully! All of you must guard carefully! From tonight onward, whether you keep watch upon the ground, upon the water, in trees, in caves, beside mountain recesses, or near the palace chambers, all of you may become weary and inclined to sleep.

Tonight, however, you must hold your weapons and together guard every entrance to the palace. You must exert yourselves diligently in keeping watch. Everyone must take turns guarding and no one may sleep.

Why has the King issued such a strict command? Because the King fears that the Prince will abandon this royal palace and renounce the household life. According to the prediction of the royal preceptor Asita, if the Prince can be kept within the palace, he will assuredly become a wheel-turning sage king who rules the four continents beneath heaven.”

After the high official had spoken thus, the first watch passed. At midnight the watchman cried loudly: “May our great and holy lord be honored for ten thousand ages! May our great and holy lord dwell securely and live for ten thousand years!”

After the first watch had passed and midnight approached, though the timekeeper indicated it was not yet midnight, devas from the Pure Abodes descended into the city of Kapilavastu. At that time all the people in the city sank insensible into sleep, from King Suddhodana and his ministers and attendants down to the guard at the Prince’s stable, as well as all the subordinate officials and palace women. All were overcome by weariness and slept deeply.

Among the heavenly assembly was a deva named Dharma Conduct, who entered the inner palace and used his supernormal power to cause the palace women’s adornments and clothing to become disordered and awry. Some had garments slipped from their shoulders but did not readjust them. Some slept with their hands propping up their chins and cheeks.

Some let go of their harps and slept leaning upon them. Some slept embracing drums with both arms. Some, within the chambers, clutched the window bars and slept with half their bodies exposed.

Some slept with their arms wrapped around one another. Some slept without closing their eyes, their two pupils exposed as though staring fixedly. Some rolled about and slept upon their jeweled necklaces.

Some palace women had always been upright in appearance, fully observant of propriety, modest, and perfect in all their conduct; but now, because they slept so deeply, they passed wind noisily and urinated upon themselves, producing a penetrating stench without being aware of it. Some had their jeweled necklaces slip from their bodies. Some scattered their flower garlands or cast off their clothing and slept with eyes rolled upward, no different from corpses, so that an outsider looking in would not have thought them alive.

Some lay on their backs, arms and legs spread wide and mouths gaping as they slept. Some lay in disorder, unable to distinguish head from foot, sleeping upside down beside others. Some put both hands beneath their thighs and clasped them tightly as they slept.

Some trembled like drunkards and slept leaning against the walls. Some nodded forward, nasal mucus and saliva hanging down as they slept. Some squatted with necks drawn in as they slept.

Some slept with faces pale, ashen, and exceedingly ugly. Some slept with hourglass drums hanging from their necks, their straps passing beneath their armpits. Some rested harps upon their necks as they slept.

Some nodded and muttered in their sleep. Some discharged impure feces while asleep. Some lay face down like corpses amid a burial ground.

The Prince suddenly awoke. By the exceedingly brilliant light of candles and torches, some as thick as fists and others as thick as arms, burning throughout the palace, he saw the palace women sleeping in this manner. Some held musical instruments such as cymbals, mouth organs, zithers, lutes, horns, flutes, pipas, pipes, and conches.

Some had their mouths open, with saliva forming white foam, while mucus and drool streamed from others. Seeing these scenes, the Prince reflected: “The appearance of women is merely thus, revealing vile and impure conditions. What is there for me to crave?

Powder and rouge adorn them externally, along with women’s ornaments—jeweled necklaces, garments, flower garlands, bracelets, and bangles—all artificial decorations upon the outside of the body. Fools who do not understand are deceived by these things and, upon seeing female beauty, deludedly give rise to sensual desire. Those who possess wisdom and mindfully contemplate women’s bodies see that their nature is just so: entirely without a sovereign self, like a dream or magical illusion.

No one ought to give rise to heedlessness toward female beauty, yet because the mind is bound by ignorance, people become attached and defiled.”

He then spoke in verse:

At that time, the Prince again concentrated his mind and reflected: “Alas, what a great calamity is the world! Alas, how fearful is the world! What is there to crave?” With compassion and pity for sentient beings, the Prince cried aloud: “This world is bondage, yet fools, like animals whose lives are taken by butchers, do not understand.

This world is impure, yet fools delight in it, like a beautifully painted vessel whose interior is filled with feces and urine. This world is temporary and unreal, yet fools flounder and sink within it, like an old elephant mired in mud. This world is a foul and stinking place, yet fools regard it as sweet and fragrant, like pigs lying in a dung pen.

This world deceives, yet fools do not understand and hastily become attached, like dogs gnawing bare bones. This world causes harm, yet fools do not understand and jostle one another in competition, like moths crowding together and plunging into a lamp’s flame. This world is poisonous, yet fools do not understand and cling to it with delight, like fish swallowing hooks.

This world is like a withered yellow flower, yet fools do not understand and delight in drawing near to it, like flowers that grow in moist places but are removed from the water and then scorched by the sun’s heat. This world is unstable, yet fools do not understand and walk upon it, like old oxen sinking into deep mud. This world is like a lofty mountain peak, yet fools do not understand that they will fall into an abyss, like a blind man falling from a high mountaintop into a deep ravine.

This world revolves in cycles, yet fools do not understand and continue flowing through birth and death, like a potter’s wheel beneath his hand. This world is an unending entanglement, yet fools do not understand that it binds them, like dogs chained in fetters and deprived of freedom. This world offers no cool refreshment, yet fools do not understand that fire consumes them, like summer grass dried and burned by oppressive heat.

This world declines, yet fools do not understand that one day it will perish, like the waning moon gradually disappearing. This world brings no benefit, yet fools do not understand that when the karmic rewards of their wholesome roots are exhausted, their wealth passes to others, like the money of one who loses at gambling.”

Having contemplated the bodies of the palace women in this way, the Prince further reflected: “Now that I see matters clearly thus, I must arouse a joyful and courageous mind, strive diligently and energetically, increase merit and virtue, and make a vast vow to save the world. For those who have no one to rescue them, I shall become their protector and helper. For those who have no one to sustain them, I shall become their guardian. For sentient beings without homes, I shall become their houses and dwellings. Today these duties have become clear before my eyes. With this resolve, before long I shall attain perfect fruition. Why is this? It is because of these shameless palace women sleeping so deeply.”

At about midnight, the deva Sakrta saw that the Prince had awakened and slowly approached him, saying:

“Prince, in former times you fully accomplished all matters of truth. Moreover, while in the human realm, you formed this aspiration: ‘May I relinquish this body and be born in the Tusita Heaven.’ Prince, that vow has already been fulfilled. Again, while dwelling in the Tusita Heaven, you vowed to descend to the human realm and be conceived in the womb of the Holy Mother; that vow has now been fulfilled.

While in the womb, you vowed to be born soon; that vow too has been completed. After your birth, you vowed to grow up in the palace, roam freely, and enjoy sensual pleasures; that vow too has already been accomplished. When you reached twenty years of age, you wished to apply yourself diligently to learning the arts and skills; that vow has also been fulfilled.

Upon reaching the prime of life, you wished to enjoy the world’s sensual pleasures; that vow is now being fulfilled. Prince, do not remain absorbed in them. Today the devas and human beings long for you to renounce the household life and cultivate the noble path.”

Hearing the deva Sakrta speak thus, the Prince put on a pair of leather shoes fashioned with many kinds of precious jewels and worth eight hundred billion catties of gold. He then arose, turned to look at his seat and jeweled couch, and proclaimed loudly:

“This is the place where my body has lain for the last time to enjoy the five sensual pleasures. From this day forevermore, I shall never enjoy the five sensual pleasures again.”

At that time, the Prince lifted with his left hand the netted curtain made of many precious materials and stepped out from the palace, walking slowly. After proceeding a short distance within the inner palace, he stopped, joined his palms, faced east, concentrated on recollecting the names of the Buddhas, and raised his head to observe the stars in the sky.

The four world-protecting Great Heavenly Kings and Lord Sakra knew that the time of the Prince’s renunciation was approaching, and therefore came from their own realms with abundant offerings.

The Heavenly King Dhrtarastra, lord of the gandharva hosts, came from the east with all his retinue of hundreds of thousands of millions, arrayed in order before and behind and playing music together. They circled Kapilavastu three times through the sky, descended to the ground, stood to one side, respectfully joined their palms toward the Prince, and bowed their heads.

The Heavenly King Virudhaka, lord of the kumbhanda hosts, came from the south with all his retinue of hundreds of thousands of millions, arrayed in order before and behind and bearing precious vessels filled with exquisitely fragrant water. They circled Kapilavastu three times through the sky, descended to the ground, stood to one side, respectfully joined their palms toward the Prince, and bowed their heads.

The Heavenly King Virupaksa, lord of the naga kings, came from the west with all his retinue of hundreds of thousands of millions, arrayed in order before and behind and holding superb pearl necklaces. They also manifested clouds of fragrance, clouds of flowers, and even clouds of precious jewels, and caused a gentle, fragrant breeze to blow. They circled Kapilavastu three times through the sky, descended to the ground, stood to one side, respectfully joined their palms toward the Prince, and bowed their heads.

The Heavenly King Vaisravana, lord of the yaksa hosts, came from the north with all his retinue of hundreds of thousands of millions, arrayed in order before and behind. Some held fire jewels or lamps and torches; some held great torches blazing brilliantly; and some among the heavenly assembly were clad in armor and carried bows and arrows, spears, lances, swords, staves, and other weapons. They circled Kapilavastu three times through the sky, descended to the ground, stood to one side, respectfully joined their palms toward the Prince, and bowed their heads.

The heavenly lord Sakra Devendra came from the Trayastrimsa Heaven with all his retinue of hundreds of thousands of millions of devas, arrayed in order before and behind. They brought flower garlands, fragrant oils, and powders. Some devas held jeweled banners, pennants, and canopies, while others held exceedingly beautiful jeweled necklaces. They circled Kapilavastu three times through the sky, descended to the ground, stood to one side, respectfully joined their palms toward the Prince, and bowed their heads.

The Prince surveyed all directions, then raised his gaze to observe the stars in the sky. He saw the four world-protecting Great Heavenly Kings, their bodies adorned with exceedingly beautiful jeweled necklaces and their heads crowned with heavenly diadems, advancing slowly in ordered procession together with their hosts of gandharvas, kumbhandas, yaksas, and naga kings. Each host comprised hundreds of thousands of attendants surrounding them on the left and right, and each came from the east, south, west, or north and stood in its respective direction. He also saw the heavenly lord Sakra Devendra leading hundreds of thousands of devas, assembled in ranks before and behind and filling every side. He further saw that the Ghost constellation was aligned with the auspicious month.

At that time, all the devas proclaimed in loud voices:

“Great and holy Prince, today falls under the Ghost constellation. The time has now arrived. If you wish to seek the supreme Dharma, you should not remain in the worldly realm. O highest king among humankind, arise swiftly! The hour has come. Leave worldly life and renounce the household.”

Thus all the devas guarding him on both sides proclaimed praises, urging him quickly to renounce the household life and not remain in the world.

The Prince gazed into the sky and reflected: “This night is quiet and falls under the Ghost constellation. From the earth to the sky, the devas all stand guard. At this very moment, I am resolved without further hesitation: I must renounce the household life.” Having reflected thus, the Prince called Chandaka, the maidservant’s son who had been born on the same day as he, and said:

“Chandaka, come here quickly and do not disobey my command. Quickly saddle and bridle the horse Kanthaka, who was born on the same day as I, and lead him here before me. Do not let any member of my Sakya family hear the horse neigh.”

Standing beside the Prince and hearing this command, Chandaka raised his face and looked at the sky. Thinking that it was only midnight, doubt arose in his mind. His whole body shuddered, all his hair stood on end, and he became fearful and uneasy. He then addressed the Prince:

“Prince, why do you command me at midnight to saddle and bridle the king of horses, Kanthaka? Is there some danger? Is there an urgent matter? Is there an enemy? Has something auspicious or inauspicious occurred within or outside the city?”

The Prince said to Chandaka:

“Chandaka, I am now pressed urgently by sufferings that terrify me like hostile enemies—how could you understand? Simply saddle and bridle Kanthaka, who was born on the same day as I, and bring him here without delay.”