佛本行集經

Chapter 53: THE JATAKA OF SIKHIN BUDDHA

(Part 2)

Seeing the hunter approaching with a club in hand, the deer king spoke to the doe in verse:

The doe then looked up at the hunter approaching before her and spoke this verse:

The hunter asked the doe:

—How is this deer king related to you?

The doe replied:

—This deer king is my husband, and we cherish and revere each other deeply. Therefore, I thought, “May we not suffer the separation of those who love one another.” So please kill me first and only afterward kill the deer king.

The hunter then thought, “This virtuous wife is truly rare. Though she is a deer, her fidelity is so profound!”

The hunter was greatly pleased with the doe and answered in verse:

The hunter went to the trap and released the deer king. Seeing her husband set free, the doe was so delighted and overjoyed throughout her whole body that she could not contain herself. She again addressed the hunter in verse:

The Buddha told Udayin:

—You should know that the deer king of that time was none other than I myself in a former life. The doe was Yasodhara in a former life. Even then Yasodhara followed me and endured great suffering and hardship; how much more so today, when she followed me in practicing severe austerities. She was able to do what people in the world could not do.

As for Rahula, because he was tormented by karmic causes from the past, he remained in his mother’s womb for six years. For the sake of the bodhisattva, Yasodhara endured sorrow and did not adorn herself. When the Tathagata had completed six years of ascetic practice and attained unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, King Suddhodana was still sending messengers to follow the news. When a messenger saw the Buddha, the Blessed One, rise from his seat, he hurried back to the royal palace and reported to King Suddhodana:

—Your Majesty, today the Prince has fulfilled his purpose and risen from his seat. He is no longer practicing austerities.

When King Suddhodana heard this report, he immediately dispatched other messengers and instructed them:

—You must go to the Prince. When you arrive, convey these words from me: “Since you are no longer practicing austerities, return quickly to govern the kingdom and become a wheel-turning sage king endowed with the seven treasures.”

The two messengers respectfully received the royal command and, following the king’s instructions exactly, went to the Prince. Upon arriving, they bowed with their heads at the Prince’s feet, withdrew to one side, and addressed him:

—Excellent, O Prince! The great King Suddhodana has sent your servants here to convey his words to you: “Since you are no longer practicing austerities, return quickly to govern the kingdom and become a wheel-turning sage king endowed with the seven treasures.”

After hearing the two messengers speak, the Blessed One recited this verse:

At that time Yasodhara, dwelling in the palace, heard that the Prince had ceased practicing austerities. She hoped that before long he would surely return to assume the throne and become a wheel-turning sage king who governed the people. She further thought, “When the Prince becomes a wheel-turning sage king, I shall become his chief queen.” Therefore, delight and joy filled her entire body, and she could not contain herself. She anointed her body with various fragrant oils, put on precious garments, adorned herself with jeweled necklaces, ate only food of the finest flavor, and slept upon a jeweled couch furnished with soft bedding. She did all this while awaiting the Prince’s return.

Rahula had remained in his mother’s womb for six years. When the karmic retribution from his past had been exhausted, it was also the very time when Yasodhara began nourishing herself. Thus Rahula was born. When Rahula was born, everyone in the palace hurried to report to King Suddhodana:

—How extraordinary, Your Majesty! Yasodhara has only now given birth to a child!

When the king heard this report, he became extremely angry and said:

—It has been six years since my son, the Prince, renounced secular life and went forth. Yet Yasodhara has only now given birth to a child. How could such a thing be?

At that time Devadatta of the Sakya clan said:

—That child is mine.

The great King Suddhodana became even more enraged. He immediately summoned everyone in the royal family and declared:

—You should all know that Yasodhara has neither protected the good name of my son, the Prince, nor protected my good name, nor preserved her own honor. She has wantonly disgraced our noble clan. What should we do today to punish her?

All the royal kinsmen then said with one voice:

—Yasodhara has disgraced our family. We must punish her according to the royal law of torture and humiliation.

At that assembly, one minister proposed:

—Her hair should be cut off! She should be beaten with clubs until wounds cover her body.

Another minister proposed:

—Her ears and nose should be cut off and thrown away!

Another minister proposed:

—Both her eyes should be gouged out!

Another minister proposed:

—Her body should be pierced through and impaled upon a tree!

Another minister proposed:

—She should be thrown down a dry well!

Another minister proposed:

—She should be cast into a blazing fire!

Another minister proposed:

—She should be made to embrace a red-hot iron pillar!

Another minister proposed:

—Her hands and feet should be bound, and a herd of cattle made to trample her to death!

Another minister proposed:

—She should be made to lie upon the ground and a great elephant driven over her.

Another minister proposed:

—She should be sawn apart from head to foot.

Another minister proposed:

—Her body should be cut into eight pieces.

The great King Suddhodana then declared to the ministers:

—Today I command that Yasodhara and her child both be put to death.

By that time the Prince had attained unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, and so he saw Yasodhara and her child facing this calamity. Because of his compassion, he saw every place where beings suffered distress. The heavenly king Vaisravana was not far from the Buddha. Knowing the Tathagata’s intention, that heavenly king immediately presented the Tathagata with a brush, ink, and a palm leaf. The Blessed One then personally wrote a letter to his royal father: “Your Majesty, the child born to Yasodhara is my son. Royal Father, please do not doubt this.”

The heavenly king Vaisravana hurried into the midst of King Suddhodana’s assembled ministers and delivered the letter to the king. With this letter as clear testimony, King Suddhodana examined it and distinctly recognized the handwriting as that of his own son, Prince Siddhartha. Because of this letter, King Suddhodana and all the ministers became well disposed toward Yasodhara.

At that time Yasodhara heard people say, “The great king has issued a decree and is about to have both mother and child killed.” In order to preserve their lives, she hurried to the palace of Mahaprajapati Gautami and reported:

—Excellent, Noble Queen! I am innocent in this matter. This infant is the Prince’s own flesh and blood. I have heard that the Prince will return before long. When the Prince returns, this matter will become clear. If they now intend to kill my child and me, it would truly be an injustice!

When Mahaprajapati heard Yasodhara’s report, she was greatly pleased. She immediately sent a maidservant to invite King Suddhodana to the Asoka Grove. When the king arrived, Mahaprajapati reported to him:

—May Your Majesty kindly consider this matter. Yasodhara of the Sakya clan has now come and said to me, “I am innocent in this matter. This infant is the Prince’s own flesh and blood. If the Prince returns here, the truth or falsity of the matter will naturally become clear.” Therefore, I beg Your Majesty not to order the deaths of mother and child. We must wait for the Prince to return, and then we shall know the truth of the matter.

When King Suddhodana heard Mahaprajapati’s reasonable and fitting words, he told her:

—These words are indeed reasonable. We should follow the Noble Queen’s advice and wait for the Prince to return. Otherwise, there is no way to determine this matter.

Even so, the king was not yet pleased with Yasodhara. He therefore provided her with only a few garments and jeweled necklaces and ordered that she be placed apart to live alone.

Later, Yasodhara again went to Mahaprajapati Gautami and reported:

—Excellent, Noble Queen! Today I wish to go into the garden and perform a sacrifice to the devas in fulfillment of a small vow. I do not know whether the Noble Queen will permit it.

Mahaprajapati and Yasodhara then took Rahula with them, prepared all the necessary offerings, and went to the shrine of the heavenly deity. This deity was named Rudraka, and thus the pleasure garden was also named Rudraka after the deity. In former days, while still a householder, the bodhisattva often came to this garden for recreation and rest. Within the garden was a great stone upon which the bodhisattva had formerly sat. Yasodhara laid Rahula down to rest upon this stone and then pushed the stone into the water, making this vow:

—I now utter a truthful oath without falsehood. I have been with the Prince alone and with no other man. My child is truly the Prince’s own flesh and blood. If these words are not false, may this stone rise to the surface of the water and not sink.

The great stone, in accordance with her oath, rose to the surface of the water and floated like a banana leaf, without sinking.

When everyone saw this, they regarded it as extraordinary. They raised a great commotion and rejoiced without cease, shouting, singing, and dancing, waving the hems and sleeves of their garments, and then playing various kinds of music.

When King Suddhodana heard of this event, joy filled his entire body, and he could not contain himself. He immediately ordered the royal city of Kapilavastu to be cleared of thorns, gravel, stones, earth, and every impure and filthy thing. Fragrant water was sprinkled upon the roads, which were swept, repaired, and leveled.

In various places, incense burners were installed and filled with exquisite fragrances. Between the incense burners stood precious vessels filled with perfumed water and branches of fragrant flowers. Between the incense burners and flower vessels, rows of banana trees were planted, from which hung brilliant silk streamers, multicolored banners, and strands of precious jewels that fluttered everywhere.

Canopies of netting hung with golden bells were spread overhead in every direction. Images of the sun, moon, and stars were suspended in the sky, with garlands of jeweled flowers hanging down from them. Yak-tail whisks were also interspersed among them.

When the city of Kapilavastu had been adorned, it was as magnificent as a city of the gandharvas. After the decorations were complete, the king welcomed Rahula into the city. He then summoned the Sakya royal relatives and friends, and only after they had all assembled did he arrange the necessary articles, valuables, food, and drink. He also held a separate birthday celebration for Rahula.

When Yasodhara gave birth, the asura king Rahu briefly covered the light of the moon with his hand and released it again after a short while. Therefore, the Sakya ministers and relatives assembled and discussed the matter: “The child was born at the very time when the asura briefly covered the moon. Therefore, let the child be named Rahula.”

Rahula was handsome and lovable, and everyone who saw him rejoiced. His skin was golden-white, like the color of pure gold. His head was round like a parasol, his nose high and straight like that of a parrot, and his long, slender arms extended below his knees. No part of his body was deficient. All his faculties were perfect; not one was incomplete.

King Suddhodana then selected four nurses for Rahula. What were the duties of these four nurses? One carried him, one bathed him, one nursed him, and one led him about in play. These four nurses cared for him according to the seasons, and before long Rahula had grown in wisdom and stature.

At that time the Blessed One turned the Dharma wheel in the city of Varanasi, and the sound of his teaching was passed upward by the devas of the various heavens until it reached the summit of the Brahma realm. King Suddhodana then heard that the Prince had attained enlightenment. Having attained unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, the Blessed One had gone to the city of Varanasi and turned the great Dharma wheel, teaching the wondrous Dharma to devas and human beings.

King Suddhodana’s longing for the Blessed One then redoubled. He thought, “What skillful means can I use to cause the Prince, out of compassion for his relatives, to return quickly to the city of Kapilavastu?” He then thought, “Whom should I send as a messenger? Who possesses the wisdom and strategy needed for this task?” Again he thought, “Udayin, the royal preceptor’s son, and Chandaka after him: these two have always been close and intimate with Siddhartha from childhood to adulthood and have associated with him. They are capable of going to Siddhartha. I can now send these two as messengers.”

The king immediately summoned Udayin, the royal preceptor’s son, and Chandaka and told them:

—You two should know that today the Prince has attained the fruit of unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. He has gone to the city of Varanasi, turned the Dharma wheel, and expounded the teachings to devas and human beings. You should now go there quickly, read my decree, and convey my wish: “Today the Prince’s practice of austerities has reached its culmination. He has fulfilled his purpose and attained unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. He has turned the unsurpassed Dharma wheel and expounded the teachings to devas and human beings. Excellent, O Prince! Out of compassion for your relatives, please return to the city of Kapilavastu.”

Udayin, the royal preceptor’s son, and Chandaka then reported to the king:

—Your Majesty should know that if Prince Siddhartha does not return, we shall not know what expedient to employ.

The great king said:

—You two need only heed whatever instruction the Prince gives you.

Udayin, the royal preceptor’s son, and Chandaka then reported to the king:

—We shall follow Your Majesty’s instruction and dare not disobey the command.

The two men received the decree, bowed at the king’s feet, and each returned home to take leave of his parents and relatives.

Traveling by stages, the two men reached the Deer Park, the dwelling place of the seers in the country of Varanasi. Upon arriving, they bowed at the feet of the Blessed One, withdrew to one side, and addressed him:

—Today, by command of the great King Suddhodana, we have brought his royal decree here. The decree says: “Excellent, O Prince! Today the Prince has transcended the practice of austerities, fulfilled his vow, attained unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, turned the great Dharma wheel, and expounded the teachings to devas and human beings. Excellent, O Prince! Out of compassion for all your relatives and friends, please return to the city of Kapilavastu.”

After hearing these words, the Blessed One recited this verse:

Udayin, the royal preceptor’s son, and Chandaka then asked:

—What does the Blessed One wish us to do?

The Buddha replied:

—Can you learn the Dharma of going forth, as these disciples of mine have done?

Although the Blessed One asked them this, they had already cherished admiration for the Buddha and wished to go forth. Taking this opportunity, they said to the Buddha:

—Both of us yearn to go forth.

The Blessed One immediately permitted them to go forth and receive full ordination.

From the time the Blessed One went forth until he attained enlightenment and rose from his seat, he never once turned his face toward his homeland, the city of Kapilavastu. This continued until he had converted the five bhiksus, his virtuous friends and spiritual companions, as well as Yasas’s relatives and good friends, the four elders of the city of Varanasi: first Vimala, second Subahu, third Purna, and fourth Gavampati.

The Venerable Yasas had more than fifty close friends. Elder Purna Maitrayaniputra had a following of thirty-one people. Elder Maha Katyayana had eighty-four thousand disciples. Elder Baviya also had thirty senior disciples and sixty close friends who traveled with him. In the village of Meghiya there was Elder Navikasenayana.

There was also a brahmin who had two daughters, one named Nanda and the other Bala. There were also the brahmin couple Deva; Elder Uruvilva Kasyapa and five hundred matted-hair brahmacarins; Elder Nadi Kasyapa, a matted-hair brahmacarin, with three hundred followers; Elder Gaya Kasyapa with two hundred followers; and Elder Upasena with two hundred and fifty people. There were also five hundred seers practicing austerities in the Forest Grove, for whom the Buddha poured down a rain of Dharma. There were also King Bimbisara, the hundred officials, and the people of Rajagrha, numbering ninety-two nayutas; Elder Maha Kasyapa; Elder Sariputra; Maudgalyayana; and the five hundred disciples of the wandering ascetic Sanjaya.

Only after the Blessed One had converted all these people did he sit facing his homeland, the city of Kapilavastu. Udayin then saw the Blessed One sitting with his face turned toward his homeland, Kapilavastu. The devas then said to Elder Udayin:

—Excellent, Venerable One! Now you may invite the Blessed One to return to his homeland, the city of Kapilavastu, out of compassion for his relatives.

Elder Udayin understood the noble intention that the Tathagata was about to return to his homeland. He rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, adjusted his robes, joined his palms, bent forward, bowed his head, and addressed him in verse:

Now a thousand trees display their splendid hues,
Their floral fragrance pervading the ten directions.
The blossoms open and then bear delicious fruit;
Now is the time for the Blessed One to return to his native land.

This season is wondrous and truly excellent;
Rivers and lakes are blue, their fragrance pure.
Across a thousand fields, a hundred birds sing sweetly;
Now is the season of joy and happiness.

Long ago the Sakyas made this heartfelt vow:
“All the great earth shall belong to us.”
Seeing you go forth, their sorrow only deepened;
Their hopes unfulfilled, their grief grew greater.

The Tathagata should remember his foster mother’s kindness
And, for her sake, give rise to compassion.
If she beholds the Great Sage returning from afar,
She will rejoice and be freed from sorrow.

The weather is warm and gentle now,
A fitting time for the Blessed One to journey at ease.
Thousands upon thousands of relatives await his appearance,
Like the Tisya star awaiting the moon’s return.

The Blessed One then told Udayin:

—Udayin, if the matter is truly so, the two of you should return to the city of Kapilavastu and first inform my Sakya relatives and friends: “The Prince’s practice of austerities is now complete. Out of compassion for his relatives, he will return before long.”

Having received the Buddha’s instruction, Udayin and Chandaka said:

—We respectfully obey the Blessed One’s command.

The two bowed at the Buddha’s feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, took their leave, and departed. Traveling by stages, they reached the city of Kapilavastu and stopped in a settlement within the Nigrodha Grove.

At that time King Suddhodana had adorned a precious chariot drawn by four horses and was leaving the city for the Nigrodha Grove to enjoy that verdant place. From afar, the king saw Elder Chandaka and Elder Udayin, their hair and beards shaved, their bodies clad in kasayas, and alms bowls in their hands. Seeing them, the king asked his ministers:

—Who are those men who have shaved off their hair and beards, wear kasayas, and carry alms bowls in their hands?

The ministers reported to the king:

—These two are disciples of Prince Siddhartha.

King Suddhodana’s heart then became sorrowful, distressed, and joyless. He said:

—My son was handsome and lovable in bearing, like a golden image; people never tired of looking at him. Yet today the bodies of these two men appear like this, and I do not wish to look at them at all! Ministers, drive these two men out of my sight.

Having spoken, the king proceeded into the flower garden. The ministers then thought, “One of these two is the royal preceptor’s son, and the other was Prince Siddhartha’s attendant.” Thinking thus, they did not drive them away.

After strolling in the garden, King Suddhodana wished to come out again. The ministers feared that if the king saw the two elders, he would become displeased, so they led the two men into an empty house.

The Blessed One then told the bhiksus:

—Bhiksus, quickly prepare your robes and bowls. I am about to journey through and observe the villages, cities, and countries. On that occasion I shall visit my homeland, the city of Kapilavastu, out of compassion for all my relatives.

Elder Sariputra then rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and said:

—How extraordinary, Blessed One! Never before has there been such a thing! Blessed One, now is indeed the time for the Blessed One to journey abroad. How wondrous! Today the Blessed One is about to travel through and observe the various countries; this is truly the proper time!

The Buddha told Sariputra:

—Do you now wish to hear of this matter? I shall tell you. When the Blessed One Sikhin, the Tathagata, the Unsurpassed Perfectly Enlightened One, was about to journey to visit the land of his birth and observe the villages and cities everywhere, many wondrous and delightful circumstances arose.

Sariputra then said to the Buddha:

—Blessed One, now is the proper time. May the Blessed One tell the bhiksus about the Tathagata Sikhin of former times, when he was about to return to the land of his birth and observe its villages and cities, so that the bhiksus may hear and remember it.

The Blessed One then spoke in verse of the Tathagata Sikhin’s journey through various places and his observation of the land of his birth:

As he traveled through every city and village,
When people of old beheld the Tathagata Sikhin Buddha,
Sweet springs arose in every place,
Filled with water possessing the eight excellent qualities.

As he traveled through every city and village,
When people of old beheld the Great Sage, Sikhin Buddha,
Groves of flowers appeared in every place,
Their luxuriant branches and leaves bending to the ground.

In every grove to which he came,
Wherever the Tathagata Sikhin stood,
The trees naturally dropped their delicious fruit,
Their branches and leaves bending down to the earth.

From trees that people could not reach,
Fresh flowers and delicious fruit fell naturally.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

The devas abiding in the sky
Scattered flowers whose fragrance pervaded everywhere.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

The devas abiding in the sky
Scattered seven-jeweled flowers of exquisite hue.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

Nonhuman beings abiding in the sky
Scattered all kinds of lovely celestial garments.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

The devas followed along the Buddha’s path,
Bearing many kinds of wondrously fragrant flowers.
Those flowers sparkled with brilliant light,
And the floral rain covered the road up to the knees.

At that time the weather was warm and mild;
There were no flies, mosquitoes, or venomous creatures.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

The great earth everywhere trembled,
As did all the great oceans and lofty mountains.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

Every pit and hollow became level;
Mountains, hills, and mounds were no longer rugged.
The Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Caused such responsive signs to arise.

The Four Great Heavenly Kings and their celestial hosts,
Supremely majestic and wondrously beautiful,
Attended the Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Standing and sitting here and there around him.

The hosts of the Thirty-Three in the Trayastrimsa Heaven,
With subtle and surpassing spiritual power,
Attended the Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Standing and sitting here and there around him.

Sakra, lord of the devas upon Mount Sumeru’s summit,
Together with all his friends and retinue,
Attended the Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Standing and sitting here and there around him.

There were also devas of the Nirmanarati Heaven,
Whose merit from cultivation was still more wondrous.
They attended the Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Standing and sitting here and there around him.

There were also devas of the Paranirmitavasavartin Heaven,
Radiant with majestic adornments.
They attended the Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Standing and sitting here and there around him.

There were also devas of the Great Brahma palace,
Whose radiance and majestic power shone brilliantly.
They attended the Tathagata Sikhin, the Great Sage and Teacher,
Standing and sitting here and there around him.

Such was the conduct of the Blessed One Sikhin;
He subdued immeasurable hosts of devas and humans.
The Perfectly Enlightened One entered great nirvana,
Forever ending samsara, never to be born again.

The Buddha further said to Sariputra:

—When Sikhin Tathagata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly and Universally Enlightened, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone One, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Devas and Humans, Buddha, Blessed One, was about to return for the first time to visit his homeland, there occurred immeasurable and boundless extraordinary events such as these.