佛本行集經

Chapter 54: THE CAUSAL CONDITIONS OF UDĀYIN

(Part 1)

At that time, the Buddha told Śāriputra:

“Śāriputra, I am about to journey through the countries, first going to that beautiful land which is My native home.”

Śāriputra immediately rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, when will the World-Honored One journey through the countries to visit their villages?”

The Buddha told Śāriputra:

“Śāriputra, in this month, after the midmonth poṣadha has been completed, I shall journey through the countries.”

After the World-Honored One had completed the midmonth poṣadha, He set out on foot with the bhikṣus and passed through various countries. When the World-Honored One reached the city of Rājagṛha, after taking His meal He turned and stepped through the outer gate of the city. At that moment, the earth quaked in six ways, moving and moving again, rising and sinking, then rising once more.

King Bimbisāra and the people of Magadha immediately went to the Buddha and then followed Him as He journeyed through the countries, visiting their villages. At that time, immeasurable thousands of koṭis of devas in the sky saw that the Buddha was about to journey through the countries. They all assembled together, their whole bodies overflowing with irrepressible joy and delight. From their mouths came exceedingly beautiful sounds. They sang, whistled merrily, and cried out in celebration; they spun about, waved their sleeves in dance, and scattered celestial garments. They also showered blue lotuses, red lotuses, and great white lotuses over the Buddha, and repeatedly scattered fragrant powders, scented oils, and garlands of fragrant flowers upon Him.

At that time, in every country and region graced by the World-Honored One’s arrival, all the people there reverently honored and made offerings to Him. Wherever the Tathāgata went, He received fine robes, food and drink, medicines, blankets, beds, and cushions. Such things were beyond enumeration; the excellent offerings were complete and lacked nothing. His fame spread throughout the world, yet the Buddha did not become attached to such honor and gain, just as a lotus grows unstained in the mire.

At that time, such was the immeasurable majestic virtue of the World-Honored One that, compared with all the supreme majestic virtues in the world, His was foremost and unsurpassed.

At that time, the Tathāgata—Worthy One, Unsurpassed Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One—whether in this world or another world, among devas, Māras, Brahmās, śramaṇas, brahmins, or throughout all the realms of devas and humans, directly knew everything by spiritual powers. Therefore, for the sake of the world, the World-Honored One taught the Dharma with excellent and correct wording and meaning, perfect in the beginning, middle, and end, enabling sentient beings to fulfill the pure holy life.

When the World-Honored One knew that sentient beings were capable of receiving instruction, He immediately taught and transformed them. Wherever the Buddha-Dharma should be established, He instructed them to establish it, enabling people throughout their various regions to attain accomplishment. Those who should receive the Three Refuges were given the teaching of the Three Refuges.

Those who should receive the Five Precepts were given the teaching of the Five Precepts. Those who should receive the Eight Precepts of the observance day were given that teaching. Those who should receive the teaching of the Ten Wholesome Actions were given that teaching.

Those who should leave the household life were admitted into homelessness. Those who should receive full ordination were given full ordination. Thus, proceeding from place to place along His journey, He reached the city of Kapilavastu and stayed in the flower-grove garden.

When the World-Honored One had returned to Kapilavastu, He dwelt in the Nyagrodha flower grove. Verses describe the exceedingly wondrous events that occurred as He journeyed through the countries:

In every village and city He approached,
As soon as they beheld the Tathāgata, the Great Sacred Teacher,
All the people throughout those regions
Reverently and respectfully came to welcome Him.

Whenever He passed beneath the trees,
Whether the World-Honored One rested, stood, or walked,
Those trees naturally showered down flowers,
And the ground there became radiant with blossoms.

Beneath every canopy of trees the Tathāgata approached,
Wherever the Buddha rested,
The trees naturally dropped their sweet fruit,
And their branches and leaves bent down to His feet.

Some trees were only an arm’s reach high,
Their flowers and fruit intermingled beautifully;
For Gautama, the World-Honored Great Sacred Teacher,
Such responses occurred throughout His journey.

The devas appeared in the sky
And scattered flowers of peerless beauty;
For valiant Gautama, the Great World-Honored One,
Such responses arose through His spiritual majesty.

The devas appeared in the sky
And scattered fragrant flowers whose scent spread everywhere;
For valiant Gautama, the Great and Venerable Sage,
Such was the majestic virtue of His journey.

The devas appeared in the sky
And scattered jeweled-stemmed flowers of exquisite hue;
For valiant Gautama, the eye of devas and humans,
Such was the majestic virtue of His journey.

The devas appeared in the sky
And scattered fragrant powdered aloeswood;
For Gautama, revered by devas and humans of the three realms,
Such responses arose through His majestic virtue.

The devas appeared in the sky
And scattered fragrant powdered gośīrṣa sandalwood;
For valiant Gautama, the Great World-Honored One,
Such was the majestic virtue of His journey.

The whole great earth trembled,
Together with long rivers, great seas, and mountains.
For Gautama, supreme throughout the three realms,
Such responses occurred throughout His journey.

There were also the most beautiful earth-dwelling devas,
Majestic in appearance and strength;
Whether valiant Gautama, the Great World-Honored One,
Walked, stood, or rested, they attended upon the Buddha.

There were also the Four Heavenly Kings, protectors of the world,
Each possessing unsurpassed majestic power;
Whether wondrous Gautama, the Great Venerable Sage,
Walked, stood, or rested, they attended upon the Buddha.

All sentient beings in the world,
Whether named above or not yet named,
Followed and attended upon the World-Honored One
As He journeyed through countries, cities, and towns.

At that time, the two elders Udāyin and Chandaka went together to the Buddha, bowed at His feet, withdrew to one side, and addressed Him:

“World-Honored One, King Śuddhodana has neither faith nor a pure mind, and does not wish to see the bhikṣus…”

Knowing this matter, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus:

“Bhikṣus, who among you is able to go and teach King Śuddhodana, causing him to give rise to a pure mind?”

A bhikṣu in the assembly addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, the elder Śāriputra is able to go to King Śuddhodana and skillfully teach him, causing the king to give rise to faithful reverence.”

Another bhikṣu addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, the elder Maudgalyāyana is able to go to King Śuddhodana and skillfully teach him, causing the king to give rise to faithful reverence.”

Another bhikṣu addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, the elder Mahākāśyapa is able to go and teach him, causing the king to give rise to reverence and faith.”

Another bhikṣu addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, the elder Kātyāyana is able to go and teach him, causing the king to give rise to faithful reverence.”

Another bhikṣu addressed the Buddha:

“In this assembly, the elder Uruvilvā Kāśyapa is able to go and teach him, causing the king to give rise to reverence and faith.”

Another bhikṣu addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, in this assembly the elder Nadī Kāśyapa is able to go and teach him, causing the king to give rise to faithful reverence.”

Another bhikṣu addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, the elder Upasena is able to go to King Śuddhodana and skillfully teach him, causing the king to give rise to reverence and faith.”

The World-Honored One then said to Udāyin:

“Udāyin, can you now go to King Śuddhodana and teach him, causing him to give rise to reverence and faith?”

Udāyin addressed the World-Honored One:

“World-Honored One, I can accomplish this.”

The Buddha then said:

“Udāyin, you should go to King Śuddhodana and skillfully teach him, causing him to give rise to reverence and faith.”

When the elder Udāyin heard the World-Honored One’s instruction, he addressed the Buddha:

“Yes, World-Honored One. I shall respectfully carry out Your instruction.”

Early the next morning, just as the sun appeared, Udāyin put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and went to King Śuddhodana’s palace. Upon arriving, he asked the gatekeeper:

“Worthy sir, do you know where the great King Śuddhodana is now?”

The gatekeeper replied:

“The king is now in the palace hall where affairs of state are administered.”

Udāyin then went to King Śuddhodana. Upon arriving, he stood quietly on the veranda. When the ministers on either side saw Udāyin standing at one side of the veranda, they ordered the guards of the four gates:

“Quickly drive that renunciant away. Do not let him stand here, lest the king see him and become displeased.”

Hearing the ministers’ command, the gatekeepers hurried over to the renunciant. When they arrived, however, they recognized him as the son of the royal preceptor, who in his youth had been a close companion and constant playmate of Prince Siddhārtha. They therefore could not bear to drive him away and returned inside.

The ministers asked the gatekeepers:

“Why did you not drive that renunciant away from here?”

The gatekeepers replied:

“Ministers, he is the son of the royal preceptor. From birth until this very day, he has been an intimate friend who constantly associated and played with Prince Siddhārtha. Therefore, we could not bear to drive him away.”

When King Śuddhodana had finished discussing affairs of state in the palace hall, he rose and was about to leave through the door. The ministers guarded him on both sides as they escorted him into the inner palace. Udāyin then hurried directly forward and took King Śuddhodana by the hand.

The king remained silent and said nothing, merely thinking, “If I now give the order, the gatekeepers will drive this man away.” The gatekeepers, meanwhile, thought, “The ministers themselves should drive him away.” The ministers thought, “The guards of the inner palace should stop him and drive him out.” The inner-palace guards thought, “This man has always been cherished by the great king, and now they are even walking hand in hand.” Because all of them thought in this way, no one was willing to drive him away.

The great King Śuddhodana gradually proceeded into the depths of the palace, ascended the inner hall, and sat upon his golden throne. Seeing that the king had entered the inner palace and gone directly up into the inner hall, the elder Udāyin also entered that hall and stood not far before the king. When King Śuddhodana saw Udāyin standing not far before him, irritation arose in his mind, and he lamented inwardly:

“Alas, how painful! Has my son also become as gaunt and emaciated as this? How distressing! Quickly drive this renunciant away. Who permitted him to enter here?”

The ministers addressed him:

“Great King, in our humble opinion, this should not be done. The great king should not drive this renunciant away. Why? Because he is the son of the royal preceptor and was also the prince’s intimate friend and constant companion from childhood.”

Udāyin then spoke sorrowful verses without offending the king:

For fine grain, one must plow and have good seed;
To seek jewels, one must enter the sea.
My purpose in coming and remaining here
Is only that this matter may soon be accomplished.

Milk cows continually have udders full of milk,
And calves continually remain beside their mothers.
Women continually conceive children,
And childbirth continually brings painful suffering.

Corpses are continually buried in cemeteries,
And grieving relatives continually wail in farewell.
But one who realizes the noble path ends saṃsāra
And is no longer born amid afflictions.

When King Śuddhodana heard Udāyin recite these sorrowful verses, some doubt still remained in his mind. He therefore asked Udāyin:

“Under whom did the Venerable One go forth? Who is your great teacher?” Udāyin answered King Śuddhodana in verse:

Thus, my Teacher was born into your house,
The greatly virtuous sage, the Deva above devas.
For seven generations this house has always given aid,
And its renown has spread throughout the ten directions.

King Śuddhodana then asked the elder Udāyin:

“Excellent, bhikṣu! Under whom did you truly go forth? Does that Teacher possess right faith and the right resolve to cultivate the holy life? When your Teacher sits in solitude beneath a tree, does His mind find peace and joy?”

The elder Udāyin again answered King Śuddhodana in verse:

The king asks under whom I went forth?
That One has right faith and cultivates the holy life.
Wherever He may be, He has no fear;
Sitting beneath a tree, He is always peaceful and joyful.

He fears no other sounds, like a lion;
He is caught by no net, like a mighty wind.
He instructs those who must train, while Himself beyond training;
He relieves the suffering of others, while Himself free from suffering.

King Śuddhodana again asked the elder Udāyin:

“Where is such a bhikṣu now?”

Udāyin replied:

“In answer to the great king’s question, the Tathāgata, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, is now dwelling in the Nyagrodha Grove here in Kapilavastu.”

King Śuddhodana thought, “Udāyin is my son’s disciple. Therefore, I should tell the ministers to invite Udāyin to sit.” He then said:

“Ministers, you should now invite this bhikṣu to take a seat.”

Hearing the king’s command, the ministers replied:

“Great King, we dare not disobey.”

The officials invited Udāyin to sit. King Śuddhodana again told them:

“Ministers, prepare a meal for this bhikṣu.” Hearing the king’s command, the officials brought clean water for Udāyin to wash his hands and then served him food. Udāyin accepted the food but did not eat it, intending to take it back as an offering to the World-Honored One.

King Śuddhodana asked the elder Udāyin:

“Why do you not eat the meal?” Udāyin replied:

“I am saving this food as an offering to the World-Honored One; therefore, I do not eat it.”

King Śuddhodana became still more anguished. Weeping sorrowfully, with tears streaming down his face, he lamented:

“Alas! My son’s body is soft and delicate. Formerly, in the palace He constantly enjoyed pleasures, and His body underwent no hardship. Why does He now suffer so? He even has to send a bhikṣu to beg for food and can eat only after the food has been obtained!”

Having lamented in this way, King Śuddhodana wept and choked with sorrow. He then told Udāyin:

“You may eat this portion. I shall have someone take another portion of food to your Teacher.”

Udāyin again addressed the great king:

“Great King, since I have already resolved to offer this portion to the World-Honored One, no other sentient being who eats it would be able to digest it. Why? Because the World-Honored One surpasses everyone in moral discipline, surpasses everyone in meditative concentration, and also surpasses everyone in wisdom.”

King Śuddhodana then told the ministers:

“You should serve another portion of food to this bhikṣu and instruct him, after he has eaten, to take this portion quickly to the prince.”

The ministers immediately served another portion of food to Udāyin. After Udāyin had eaten, he again addressed the king:

“Indeed, Great King! The Tathāgata, World-Honored One, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One, is reverenced by kings and by immeasurable, boundless multitudes of sentient beings. Therefore, the great king should also go there today.”

After saying this, Udāyin rose from his seat and prepared to leave the royal palace. King Śuddhodana again said to the elder Udāyin:

“Venerable One, go ahead and inform Prince Siddhārtha that before long I shall come to visit Him.”

Udāyin reverently accepted the king’s words. Carrying the portion of food, he left the city and returned to the Nyagrodha Grove. Upon arriving, he addressed the Buddha:

“World-Honored One, I have taught King Śuddhodana and caused him to rejoice. The great king is therefore about to come and visit the World-Honored One.”

As soon as Udāyin had left the royal palace, King Śuddhodana told the ministers:

“Ministers, you should know that Prince Siddhārtha has now arrived in this city. What should we do?”

The ministers replied:

“Excellent, Great King! If other śramaṇas came to the great king’s city, we would still have to make offerings and provide for them. How much more so now that Prince Siddhārtha, who is no different from ourselves, has arrived! How could we remain indifferent and fail to give rise to reverence? We shall follow the great king’s wishes and then go there.”

King Śuddhodana immediately ordered the bell to be rung so that everyone within the city would know. The announcement declared: “I am now about to go and visit the dwelling place of Prince Siddhārtha. Everyone must adorn themselves fully and then follow me.”

(This is the account given by the teachers of the Kāśyapīya school. The teachers of the Mahāsāṃghika school, however, say: “At that time, King Śuddhodana asked Udāyin:

“‘In the bhikṣu’s opinion, what dishes should be prepared as offerings to the prince?’

“Udāyin addressed the great king:

“‘Great King, if you wish to prepare food for the World-Honored One, you should prepare food that is delicious, sweet, pure, and clean.’

“King Śuddhodana then ordered the ministers:

“‘Ministers, you should know that, for the sake of the prince, you must quickly prepare delicious, pure, and clean food.’

“When the ministers heard the king’s command, they replied:

“‘We shall obey the great king’s instruction and dare not depart from it.’

“Together they prepared various exquisite foods and drinks, delicious, fragrant, pure, and clean, and when they had finished, they gave them to Udāyin. After Udāyin had eaten, he carried the freshly prepared exquisite foods and drinks—delicious, fragrant, pure, and clean—out of Kapilavastu and returned to the Nyagrodha Grove. After arriving, the elder addressed the Buddha:

“‘World-Honored One, I have taught King Śuddhodana and caused him to give rise to joy. He is about to come and visit the Buddha. May the Buddha accept this food prepared in accordance with the Dharma.’”)

The bhikṣus then addressed the Buddha:

“How rare, World-Honored One! How was the elder Udāyin able to teach King Śuddhodana and cause him to rejoice? How was he also able to cause the king to prepare exquisite foods and drinks—delicious, fragrant, pure, and clean—and bring them back as offerings to the World-Honored One?”

The Buddha told the bhikṣus:

“Bhikṣus, it is not only today that Udāyin has taught King Śuddhodana and brought delicious food and drink to Me. In the past, he also taught King Śuddhodana, caused him to rejoice, and presented delicious food to Me.”

The bhikṣus again addressed the Buddha:

“How did this occur? We beseech the World-Honored One to explain it clearly for us. We now wish to hear it.”

The Buddha told the bhikṣus:

“I remember that in the distant past, in the country of Vārāṇasī, there was a king of birds named Suphattara—which the Sui translators render as ‘Good Son.’ Together with a flock of eighty thousand birds, he lived harmoniously in that country. The bird king had a mate named Suphattaśrī—which the Sui translators render as ‘Good Woman.’ At that time, after the female bird had mated with the bird king and become pregnant, she suddenly thought, ‘I wish to obtain fragrant, delicious, and pure food and drink like the food now eaten by a human king.’ Fearing that her wish would not be fulfilled, she gradually became sorrowful; her body grew haggard and emaciated, and she trembled so that she could not stand steadily.

When the bird king Good Son saw his wife rolling upon the ground, sorrowful, haggard, and emaciated, trembling and unable to stand steadily, he asked, ‘Why are you rolling upon the ground, your body haggard and emaciated, trembling and unable to stand steadily?’

“The female bird replied, ‘Good indeed, noble one! I am pregnant and have suddenly conceived a desire for exquisite, fragrant, delicious, and pure food such as the king eats.’

“The bird king lamented to his wife, ‘How strange, virtuous wife! How could I obtain such fragrant and delicious food and drink? The royal palace is secluded and deeply guarded and cannot be entered. If I were to go inside, I would fall into their hands and certainly lose my life.’

“The female bird again said to the bird king, ‘Noble one, if today I do not obtain such food and drink, I will surely die, and the embryo will certainly not survive.’

“The bird king again said to the female bird, ‘How strange, virtuous wife! Your day of death must be approaching, for you have conceived a desire for food so difficult to obtain.’ After saying this, the bird king stood sorrowfully and painfully, thinking, ‘In my view, fragrant, delicious, and pure food and drink such as the king’s is truly difficult to obtain.’

“At that time, one bird in the bird king’s flock saw what was happening. It flew to the bird king and said, ‘How strange, noble one! Why do you stand there pondering in such sorrow?’

“The bird king Good Son explained in detail the cause of what had happened. The other bird then said to the bird king Good Son, ‘Excellent, noble one! Do not grieve. I shall now go on your behalf to seek the king’s rare, exquisite, fragrant, and delicious food.’

“The bird king then said, ‘Excellent, good friend! If you are able to accomplish this for me, I shall repay your meritorious service.’

“The bird immediately soared from the bird king’s presence into the sky and flew directly to the palace of King Brahmadatta. It perched in the top of a tree not far from the kitchen and watched the king’s food there. The bird saw that the king’s food had been cooked and that a woman had prepared every kind of exquisite delicacy.

At mealtime, she filled a silver vessel to the brim with food and drink and was about to present it to the king. At that very moment, the bird flew down from the tall tree and landed on the woman’s head, pecking her nose with its beak. Her nostril throbbed painfully from the bird’s peck, and she accidentally dropped the food upon the ground.

The bird quickly seized the food in its beak and flew back to the bird king. After receiving the food, the bird king gave it to his wife, Good Woman. Having obtained the food, she ate her fill, her body became peaceful and at ease, and afterward she gave birth.

“On subsequent days, that bird frequently returned to the royal palace, seized food, and presented it to the bird king. King Brahmadatta repeatedly saw this happen and thought, ‘How strange! Why does this bird constantly come here and defile my food? It also injures my woman with its claws and beak!’ Unable to tolerate this, the king summoned his bird catchers and ordered them:

“‘Quickly go there and capture this bird alive for me.’

“Hearing the king’s command, the bird catchers replied:

“‘We shall obey the great king’s instruction and dare not depart from it.’

“The bird catchers went there, captured the bird alive, and delivered it to King Brahmadatta. King Brahmadatta asked the bird:

“‘Why do you constantly come here and defile my food? Why do you also injure my woman with your claws and beak?’

“The bird replied:

“‘Good indeed, Great King! Please listen as I relate this matter, and you will be pleased.’

“King Brahmadatta rejoiced, for he thought, ‘This is truly rare! How can a bird know how to speak human language?’ Having thought this, the king said to the bird:

“‘Excellent! Excellent! You should explain the meaning of this matter to me so that I may rejoice.’

“The bird then answered King Brahmadatta in verse:

“When King Brahmadatta heard the bird speak in this way, he rejoiced inwardly and said, ‘This is truly rare! Even humans do not cherish and honor their masters as this bird does.’

“After saying this, King Brahmadatta spoke a verse:

If there were ministers such as this,
Who knew how to repay the profound favor of rank and emolument,
They would be as brave and resolute as this bird,
Seeking food for their lord without sparing their own lives.

“After speaking this verse, King Brahmadatta again told the bird:

“‘Excellent, little bird! From now on, you may come here regularly to take delicious food. If anyone obstructs you and refuses to let you have it, come and inform me. I shall give you a portion of my own food to carry back.’

“The Buddha told the bhikṣus:

“You should know that the bird king of that time was I Myself in a former life. The bird that stole the food was the present Udāyin. King Brahmadatta of that time was the present King Śuddhodana. At that time, Udāyin caused the king to rejoice and also sought food on My behalf. Today it is likewise: Udāyin has caused King Śuddhodana to rejoice and has again brought food back for Me.”

Afterward, King Śuddhodana ordered bells and chimes to be sounded, announcing to all the people in Kapilavastu that no one was permitted to visit the prince first. Whoever wished to visit the prince must accompany the king there to pay their respects.