試藝品第三
Chapter 3: Testing Skills
「於是太子，與諸官屬，即迴還宮。至年十七，妙才益顯，晝夜憂思，未曾歡樂，常念出家。王問其僕：『太子云何？』其僕答言：『太子日日憂悴，未甞歡樂。』王復愁憂召諸群臣：『太子憂思，今當如何？』有一臣言：『令習兵馬。』或言：『當習手搏射御。』或言：『當令案行國界，使觀施為，散諸意思。』有一臣言：『太子已大，宜當娶妻以迴其志。』王為太子，採擇名女，無可意者。有小國王，名須波佛(漢言善覺)，有女名裘夷，端正皎潔天下少雙，八國諸王，皆為子求，悉不與之。白淨王聞即召善覺，而告之曰：『吾為太子，娉取卿女。』善覺答言：『今女有母，及諸群臣國師梵志，當卜所宜，別自啟白。』
At that time, the Crown Prince, accompanied by his attendants, returned to the palace. By the age of seventeen, his remarkable talents had become even more evident, yet day and night he remained deeply troubled, never finding joy, and constantly thought of leaving home life.
The king asked his servants, "How is the Crown Prince doing?" His servants replied, "The Crown Prince grows more sorrowful each day and never experiences happiness."
The king, worried, summoned his ministers and said, "The Crown Prince is deeply troubled—what should we do now?" One minister suggested, "Have him train in military affairs." Another said, "He should practice wrestling, archery, and horsemanship." Another proposed, "Let him travel through the kingdom, observe the daily activities, and distract his mind." Yet another minister said, "The Crown Prince is now grown; it would be fitting to arrange a marriage to redirect his thoughts."
So the king sought out famed beauties for the Crown Prince, but none pleased him. There was a minor king named Subahu(meaning "Excellent Enlightenment" in Chinese), who had a daughter named Gopi, of striking beauty and purity, unmatched in the world. The kings of eight nations sought her hand for their sons, but he refused them all.
When King Shuddhodana heard of this, he summoned Subahu and said to him, "I wish to arrange for my son to marry your daughter." Subahu replied, "The girl still has her mother, as well as the ministers, royal preceptors, and brahmins to consult. They must determine what is appropriate. I shall report back after consulting them."
「善覺歸國，愁憂不樂，絕不飲食。女即問王：『體力不安？何故不樂？』父言：『坐汝令吾憂耳。』女言：『云何為我？』父言：『聞諸國王來求索汝，吾皆不許。今白淨王，為太子求汝，若不許者，恐見誅罰，適欲與者，諸國怨結。以是之故，令吾憂慼！』女言：『願父安意，此事易耳。我却七日，自處出門。』善覺聽之，表白淨王：『女即七日，自出求處國中勇武技術最勝者，爾乃為之。』白淨王念：『太子處宮，未曾所習，今欲試藝，當如何乎？』
When Shan Jue returned to his kingdom, he was deeply worried and unhappy, refusing to eat or drink. His daughter asked the king, "Is Your Majesty unwell? Why are you so troubled?" Her father replied, "It is because of you that I am worried." The daughter asked, "How is it because of me?" Her father said, "I have heard that various kings have come to seek your hand in marriage, and I have refused them all. Now King Shuddhodana has come to ask for you on behalf of the crown prince. If I refuse, I fear we may face punishment. If I agree, other kingdoms will bear grudges against us. This is why I am so distressed!" The daughter replied, "Father, please be at ease. This matter is simple. Let me wait seven days, and then I shall go out and decide for myself." Shan Jue agreed and told King Shuddhodana, "In seven days, my daughter will go out herself and seek the man in the kingdom who is most skilled in martial arts and abilities. Only such a man shall she wed." King Shuddhodana thought, "The crown prince has lived in the palace and never learned such skills. Now that he is being tested in the arts, what shall we do?"
「至其時日，裘夷從五百侍女，詣國門上，諸國術士，普皆雲集，觀最妙技禮樂備者，我乃應之。王勅群臣，當出戲場觀諸技術。王語優陀：『汝告太子：「為爾娶妻，當現奇藝。」』優陀受教往告太子：『王為娶妻，令試禮樂，宜就戲場。』太子即與優陀、難陀、調達、阿難等五百人，執持禮樂射藝之具，當出城門，安置一象，當其城門，決有力者。調達先出，見象塞門，扠之一拳，應時即死。難陀尋至，牽著道側。太子後來，問其僕曰：『誰抂殺象？』答言：『調達殺之！』『誰復移者？』答言：『難陀！』菩薩慈仁，徐前接象，舉擲城外，象即還穌更生如故。
When the appointed day arrived, Queen Kutila, accompanied by five hundred maidservants, came to the city gate. All the skilled masters from across the land had gathered there, and she said, "I will respond to the one who displays the finest arts, rites, and music." The king then ordered his ministers, "Let us go to the arena to witness the various skills." The king said to Udayin, "Tell the prince: 'For your marriage, you must display your extraordinary talents.'" Udayin received the command and went to inform the prince, saying, "The king wishes you to take a wife and has asked you to demonstrate your skills in rites and music. You should proceed to the arena." The prince, accompanied by Udayin, Nanda, Devadatta, Ananda, and five hundred others, carried the instruments of rites, music, and archery as they set out for the city gate. An elephant was placed at the gate to test the strength of those who passed. Devadatta came out first and, seeing the elephant blocking the gate, struck it with his fist, killing it instantly. Nanda arrived next and dragged the carcass to the side of the road. The prince came last and asked his attendants, "Who unjustly killed the elephant?" They replied, "Devadatta killed it." "And who moved it?" they answered, "Nanda." The Bodhisattva, compassionate and gentle, stepped forward calmly, lifted the elephant with ease, and tossed it beyond the city walls. The elephant immediately revived, as sound as before.
「調達到場，撲眾力士，莫能當者，諸名勇力，皆為摧辱。王問其僕：『誰為勝者？』答言：『調達。』王告難陀：『汝與調達二人相撲。』難陀受教即撲，調達頓躃悶絕，以水灌之，有頃乃穌。王復問言：『誰為勝者？』其僕答言：『難陀得勝。』王告難陀：『與太子決。』難陀白王：『兄如須彌，難陀如芥子，實非其類。』拜謝而退。
Devadatta stepped forward and wrestled with all the strong men, none of whom could withstand him. Every renowned fighter was defeated and humiliated. The king asked his attendants, "Who won?" They replied, "Devadatta." The king then told Nanda, "You and Devadatta shall wrestle." Nanda, following the command, engaged with Devadatta, who was immediately thrown to the ground, knocked unconscious. They poured water on him, and after a while, he revived. The king again asked, "Who won?" His attendants replied, "Nanda won." The king then told Nanda, "Now compete with the crown prince." Nanda said to the king, "My elder brother is like Mount Sumeru, while I am like a mustard seed. I am truly no match for him." He paid his respects and withdrew.
「復以射決，先安鐵鼓，十里置一，至于七鼓，諸名射者，其箭力勢，不及一鼓，調達放發，徹一中二，難陀徹二，箭貫三鼓，其餘藝士，無能及者。太子前射，挽弓皆折，無可手者。告其僕曰：『吾先祖有弓，今在天廟，汝取持來。』即往取弓，二人乃勝，令與眾人無能舉者。太子張弓，弓聲如雷。傳與大眾，莫能引者。太子攬牽彈弓之聲，聞四十里，彎弓放箭，徹過七鼓，再發穿鼓入地，泉水涌出，三發貫鼓著鐵圍山，一切眾會歎未曾有。諸來決藝，悉皆受折慚辱而去。
「復有力人王，最於後來，壯健非常勇猛絕世，謂調達、難陀為不足擊，當與太子共決技耳。被辱去者，審呼能報，踊躍歡喜，語力人王：『卿之雄傑世無當者，決力取勝，必自如意。』皆隨從還，觀與太子決於勝負。調達、難陀奮其威武，便前欲擊。太子止言：『此非為人，大力魔王耳。卿不能制，必受其辱。吾自當之。』父王聞此，念太子幼，深為愁怖；諸來觀者，謂勝太子。時力人王，蹹地勇起，奮臂舉手，前撮太子，太子應時，接撲著地，地為大動。眾會重辱，散去忽滅。太子殊勝，椎鍾擊鼓，彈琴歌頌，騎乘還宮。
「優陀語善覺言：『太子技藝，事事殊特。卿女裘夷，今為所在？』善覺答言：『從五百侍女在城門上。』優陀白太子言：『宜現奇特。』太子脫身珠瓔，欲遙擲之。優陀言：『眾女大多，今擲與誰？』太子言：『珠瓔著頸則是其人。』尋便擲珠，即著裘夷。一切眾女，皆稱：『妙哉！甚為奇特，世之希有。』於是善覺，嚴辦送女，詣太子宮，眾伎侍從，凡二萬人，晝夜娛樂，絕世之音。太子志意，不以為歡，常欲棄捨，靜修道業，濟度眾生。
「王問其僕：『太子迎妃以來，意志云何？』僕答王言：『憂思不樂，身體羸瘦，轉不如前。』王心愁憂，即召群臣：『太子不悅，當如之何？』諸臣議言：『宜復娉娶，增其伎樂。』儻能迴志，樂於世間，即復為娉妙女，一名眾稱味，二名常樂意。其一夫人者，二萬婇女，三夫人者，凡有六萬婇女，端正妙好，天女無異。王問裘夷：『太子今有六萬婇女，伎樂供養，太子寧樂乎？』答言：『太子夙夜專精志道，不思欲樂。』王聞憂慘，召諸群臣復共議言：『今供太子，盡世珍奇，而故專志未曾歡樂。必如阿夷言乎？』諸臣答言：『六萬婇女，極世之樂，不以為歡，宜使出遊觀於治政，以散道意。』
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