佛所行讚出城品第五
Chapter 5: Leaving the Palace
王復增種種， 勝妙五欲具，
晝夜以娛樂， 冀悅太子心。
太子深厭離， 了無愛樂情，
但思生死苦， 如被箭師子。
王使諸大臣， 貴族名子弟，
年少勝姿顏， 聰慧執禮儀，
晝夜同遊止， 以取太子心，
如是未幾時， 啟王復出遊。
服乘駿足馬， 眾寶具莊嚴，
與諸貴族子， 圍遶俱出城。
譬如四種華， 日照悉開敷，
太子耀神景， 羽從悉蒙光。
出城遊園林， 修路廣且平，
樹木花果茂， 心樂遂忘歸。
路傍見耕人， 墾壤殺諸虫，
其心生悲惻， 痛踰刺貫心。
又見彼農夫， 勤苦形枯悴，
蓬髮而流汗， 塵土坌其身。
耕牛亦疲困， 吐舌而急喘，
太子性慈悲， 極生憐愍心。
慨然興長歎， 降身委地坐，
觀察此眾苦， 思惟生滅法。
嗚呼諸世間， 愚癡莫能覺，
安慰諸人眾， 各令隨處坐。
自蔭閻浮樹， 端坐正思惟，
觀察諸生死， 起滅無常變。
心定安不動， 五欲廓雲消，
有覺亦有觀， 入初無漏禪。
離欲生喜樂， 正受三摩提，
世間甚辛苦， 老病死所壞。
終身受大苦， 而不自覺知，
厭他老病死， 此則為大患。
我今求勝法， 不應同世間，
自嬰老病死， 而反惡他人。
如是真實觀， 少壯色力壽，
新新不暫停， 終歸磨滅法。
不喜亦不憂， 不疑亦不亂，
不眠不著欲， 不壞不嫌彼，
寂靜離諸蓋， 慧光轉增明。
爾時淨居天， 化為比丘形，
來詣太子所， 太子敬起迎，
問言：「汝何人？」 答言：「是沙門。
畏厭老病死， 出家求解脫，
眾生老病死， 變壞無暫停。
故我求常樂， 無滅亦無生，
怨親平等心， 不務於財色。
所安唯山林， 空寂無所營，
塵想既已息， 蕭條倚空閑，
精麤無所擇， 乞求以支身。」
即於太子前， 輕舉騰虛逝。
太子心歡喜， 惟念過去佛，
建立此威儀， 遺像見於今。
端坐正思惟， 即得正法念，
當作何方便？ 遂心長出家。
歛情抑諸根， 徐起還入城，
眷屬悉隨從， 謂止不遠逝。
內密興愍念， 方欲超世表，
形雖隨路歸， 心實留山林，
猶如繫狂象， 常念遊曠野。
太子時入城， 士女挾路迎，
老者願為子， 少願為夫妻，
或願為兄弟， 諸親內眷屬。
若當從所願， 諸集悕望斷，
太子心歡喜， 忽聞斷集聲，
若當從所願， 斯願要當成，
深思斷集樂， 增長涅槃心。
身如金山峰， 𦟛臂如象手，
其音若春雷， 紺眼譬牛王。
無盡法為心， 面如滿月光，
師子王遊步， 徐入於本宮。
猶如帝釋子， 心敬形亦恭，
往詣父王所， 稽首問和安，
并啟生死畏， 哀請求出家。
一切諸世間， 合會要別離。
是故願出家， 欲求真解脫。
父王聞出家， 心即大戰懼，
猶如大狂象， 動搖小樹枝。
前執太子手， 流淚而告言：
「且止此所說， 未是依法時，
少壯心動搖， 行法多生過。
奇特五欲境， 心尚未厭離，
出家修苦行， 未能決定心。
空閑曠野中， 其心未寂滅，
汝心雖樂法， 未若我是時。
汝應領國事， 令我先出家，
棄父絕宗嗣， 此則為非法。
當息出家心， 受習世間法，
安樂善名聞， 然後可出家。」
太子恭遜辭， 復啟於父王：
「惟為保四事， 當息出家心。
保子命常存， 無病不衰老，
眾具不損減， 奉命停出家。」
父王告太子： 「汝勿說此言，
如此四事者， 誰能保令無？
汝求此四願， 正為人所笑。
且停出家心， 服習於五欲。」
太子復啟王： 「四願不可保，
應聽子出家， 願不為留難。
子在被燒舍， 如何不聽出？
分析為常理， 孰能不聽求？
脫當自磨滅， 不如以法離，
若不以法離， 死至孰能持？」
父王知子心， 決定不可轉，
但當盡力留， 何須復多言？
更增諸婇女， 上妙五欲樂，
晝夜苦防衛， 要不令出家。
國中諸群臣， 來詣太子所，
廣引諸禮律， 勸令順王命。
太子見父王， 悲感泣流淚，
且還本宮中， 端坐默思惟。
宮中諸婇女， 親近圍遶侍，
伺候瞻顏色， 矚目不暫瞬。
猶若秋林鹿， 端視彼獵師，
太子正容貌， 猶若真金山。
伎女共瞻察， 聽教候音顏，
敬畏察其心， 猶彼林中鹿。
漸已至日暮，
太子處幽夜， 光明甚輝耀，
如日照須彌。 坐於七寶座，
薰以妙栴檀， 婇女眾圍遶，
奏犍撻婆音， 如毘沙門子，
眾妙天樂聲。 太子心所念，
第一遠離樂， 雖作眾妙音，
亦不在其懷。 時淨居天子，
知太子時至， 決定應出家，
忽然化來下， 厭諸伎女眾，
悉皆令睡眠。 容儀不歛攝，
委縱露醜形， 惛睡互低仰，
樂器亂縱橫。 傍倚或反側，
或復似投深， 纓絡如曳鎖，
衣裳絞縛身。 抱琴而偃地，
猶若受苦人， 黃綠衣流散，
如摧迦尼華。 縱體倚壁眠，
狀若懸角弓， 或手攀窓牖，
如似絞死尸。 頻呻長欠呿，
魘呼涕流涎， 蓬頭露醜形，
見若顛狂人。 華鬘垂覆面，
或以面掩地， 或舉身戰掉，
猶若獨搖鳥。 委身更相枕，
手足互相加， 或顰蹙皺眉，
或合眼開口， 種種身散亂，
狼籍猶橫屍。 時太子端坐，
觀察諸婇女： 「先皆極端嚴，
言笑心諂𭶑， 妖豔巧姿媚，
而今悉醜穢。 女人性如是，
云何可親近？ 沐浴假緣飾，
誑惑男子心。 我今已覺了，
決定出無疑。」
The king then added many more superior and exquisite sensual pleasures, hoping to delight the prince's heart with day and night entertainment.
The prince deeply detested and rejected them, feeling no joy or attachment at all. He only contemplated the suffering of birth and death, like a lion pierced by an arrow.
The king sent his ministers, noble sons and famous youths, with handsome young faces, wise and well-mannered, to accompany the prince day and night, hoping to win his heart.
Not long after, the prince requested the king's permission to go out again. Riding a swift-footed horse, adorned with precious ornaments, he went out of the city surrounded by the noble youths.
Like four kinds of flowers blooming under the sun, the prince's radiant presence illuminated his followers.
They left the city to wander in gardens and groves, on broad and level paths, among lush trees, flowers, and fruits, so delightful that he forgot to return.
By the roadside, he saw farmers tilling the soil, killing many insects. His heart was filled with compassion, the pain sharper than a piercing arrow.
He also saw those farmers, toiling with withered, weary bodies, their hair disheveled, sweat streaming, their bodies covered in dust.
The plowing oxen were also exhausted, tongues hanging out, panting heavily. The prince, by nature compassionate, felt profound pity and sorrow.
He sighed deeply, lowered himself, and sat on the ground, observing all this suffering, contemplating the nature of arising and ceasing.
"Alas, all beings in the world, deluded and unaware, are comforted by worldly pleasures, each sitting wherever they please."
He himself sat in the shade of a rose apple tree, sitting upright in deep contemplation, observing the cycle of birth and death, its impermanent rise and fall.
His mind became settled and unmoving, the five sensual desires scattered like clouds. With mindfulness and investigation, he entered the first stage of meditation free from defilements.
Free from desire, he experienced joy and bliss, absorbed in right concentration. "The world is full of suffering, afflicted by aging, sickness, and death.
Enduring great suffering throughout life, yet unaware of it. To detest others' aging, sickness, and death is a great fault.
Now I seek the supreme Dharma, I should not be like ordinary people, who, themselves subject to aging, sickness, and death, yet despise them in others."
With such true insight, he saw youth, strength, and life as constantly changing, ultimately bound to decay.
Neither joyful nor sorrowful, neither doubting nor disturbed, neither sleeping nor clinging to desires, neither harming nor resenting others, serene and free from hindrances, his wisdom grew brighter.
Then a deity from the Pure Abodes transformed into a monk's form and came to where the prince was. The prince respectfully rose to greet him, asking, "Who are you?" He replied, "I am a renunciant.
Fearful of aging, sickness, and death, I left home seeking liberation. All beings are subject to aging, sickness, and death, decaying without pause.
Therefore, I seek eternal bliss, without cessation or birth, with an equal mind toward friend and foe, not pursuing wealth or sensual pleasures.
My only refuge is the mountains and forests, empty and tranquil, free from worldly affairs. Worldly thoughts have ceased, I dwell in solitude and stillness, without discriminating between fine or coarse, begging for food to sustain my body."
Then, right before the prince, he lightly rose and vanished into the sky.
The prince's heart rejoiced, remembering the past Buddhas who established this noble way, their legacy still visible today.
Sitting upright in contemplation, he attained right understanding of the Dharma. "What means should I employ to fulfill my long-held wish to leave home?"
Restraining his emotions and senses, he slowly rose and returned to the city. His attendants followed him, thinking he would not go far.
Secretly, his compassionate resolve grew, desiring to transcend the world. Though his body returned along the road, his heart remained in the mountains and forests, like a wild elephant tied up, always longing to roam the open wilderness.
When the prince entered the city, men and women lined the streets to welcome him. The elderly wished him as a son, the young wished him as a husband, some wished him as a brother, or as a close relative.
"If I were to follow their wishes, all hopes and attachments would be cut off." The prince's heart rejoiced, suddenly hearing the call to end attachments. "If I am to fulfill this wish, this aspiration must be realized." Deeply contemplating the joy of ending attachments, his resolve for Nirvana grew stronger.
His body like a golden mountain peak, his arms strong as an elephant's trunk, his voice like spring thunder, his deep blue eyes like a bull king's. His heart was set on the boundless Dharma, his face like the full moon's radiance. Like a lion king pacing, he slowly entered his palace.
Like a son of a heavenly king, respectful in heart and form, he went to his father the king, bowed and inquired of his well-being, then spoke of the fear of birth and death, pleading earnestly to leave home.
"All beings in the world, though they meet, must part. Therefore, I wish to leave home, to seek true liberation."
When the king heard of his wish to leave home, his heart trembled with great fear, like a great mad elephant shaking a small tree branch.
He took the prince's hand, tears flowing, and said: "Stop this talk, now is not the time for the Dharma. In youth, the mind is easily swayed, practicing the Dharma may bring many faults.
You have not yet grown weary of the wondrous five sensual pleasures. To leave home and practice austerities, your mind is not yet resolved.
In empty, desolate wilderness, your mind may not find peace. Though your heart delights in the Dharma, it is not yet as ready as mine was.
You should govern the kingdom, let me leave home first. To abandon your father and cut off the lineage, this would be improper.
Set aside the thought of leaving home, learn the ways of the world. Enjoy peace, happiness, and good reputation, then you may leave home."
The prince replied humbly, again addressing his father: "Only if you can guarantee four things, will I set aside the thought of leaving home.
Guarantee that my life will last forever, that I will not fall ill or grow old, that my possessions will not diminish, then I will obey and stop seeking to leave home."
The king told the prince: "Do not speak such words. Who can guarantee these four things? If you seek these four assurances, you will only be laughed at.
Set aside the thought of leaving home, indulge in the five sensual pleasures."
The prince replied again to the king: "Since these four cannot be guaranteed, please allow your son to leave home, do not hinder me.
If your son is in a burning house, why not let him escape? Separation is the constant principle, who can forbid the search for liberation?
If decay and death come naturally, better to leave through the Dharma. If not through the Dharma, when death comes, who can withstand it?"
The king knew his son's mind was firm and unshakable, so he could only try his best to keep him, what more was there to say?
He added more palace maidens, superior sensual pleasures, guarding him day and night, determined not to let him leave home.
The ministers of the kingdom came to where the prince was, citing rituals and laws extensively, urging him to obey the king's command.
The prince saw his father, sad and moved, tears flowing, then returned to his palace, sitting upright in silent contemplation.
The palace maidens drew close, surrounding and attending him, watching his expression intently, their eyes not leaving him for a moment.
Like deer in an autumn forest staring at a hunter, the prince's dignified appearance was like a mountain of pure gold.
The female entertainers watched him closely, awaiting his instruction, observing his expression, respectful yet cautious of his heart, like those forest deer.
Gradually, evening approached.
The prince in the quiet night shone with brilliant light, like the sun illuminating Mount Sumeru. Sitting on a seven-jeweled throne, perfumed with fine sandalwood, surrounded by palace maidens, with Gandharva music playing, like the son of a heavenly king, with divine melodies filling the air.
Yet the prince's heart was set on the supreme joy of renunciation. Though surrounded by beautiful music, it did not touch his heart.
Then a deity from the Pure Abodes, knowing the prince's time had come, that he was determined to leave home, suddenly descended in transformation, causing all the female entertainers to fall into deep sleep.
Their appearances unkempt, lying sprawled, revealing ugly forms, drowsy, heads nodding, musical instruments scattered about.
Some leaned sideways or lay on their backs, some as if fallen into a deep pit, their jewelry like dragging chains, their clothes tangled around their bodies.
One hugged a lute and lay on the ground, like a person in torment, her yellow-green robes in disarray, like crushed flowers.
Another lay against the wall, like a drawn bow, or with hands clutching the window, like a hanged corpse.
Some groaned, yawning long, snoring, drooling, disheveled, revealing ugly forms, looking like madwomen.
Flower garlands covered their faces, some pressed their faces to the ground, some trembled all over, like a solitary shaking bird.
Bodies piled on each other, limbs intertwined, some frowning, brows furrowed, some eyes closed, mouths open, all kinds of disarray, like scattered corpses.
The prince sat upright, observing all the palace maidens: "Before, they were all extremely elegant, with charming smiles and flattering hearts, seductive and skillful in their allure. But now they are all ugly and foul.
Such is the nature of women, how can one be close to them? They bathe and adorn themselves, deceiving and confusing men's hearts. Now I have awakened, determined to leave without doubt."
爾時淨居天， 來下為開門。
太子時徐起， 出諸婇女間，
踟蹰於內閣， 而告車匿言：
「吾今心渴仰， 欲飲甘露泉，
被馬速牽來， 欲至不死鄉。
自知心決定， 堅固誓莊嚴，
婇女本端正， 今悉見醜形。
門戶先關閉， 今已悉自開，
觀此諸瑞相， 第一義之筌。」
車匿內思惟， 應奉太子教，
脫令父王知， 復應深罪責。
諸天加神力， 不覺牽馬來，
平乘駿良馬， 眾寶鏤乘具。
高翠長髦尾， 局背短毛耳，
鹿腹鵝王頸， 額廣圓瓠鼻，
龍咽臗臆方， 具足驎驥相。
太子撫馬頸， 摩身而告言：
「父王常乘汝， 臨敵輒勝怨，
吾今欲相依， 遠涉甘露津。
戰鬪多眾旅， 榮樂多伴遊，
商人求珍寶， 樂從者亦眾。
遭苦良友難， 求法必寡朋，
堪此二友者， 終獲於吉安。
吾今欲出遊， 為度苦眾生，
汝今欲自利， 兼濟諸群萌，
宜當竭其力， 長驅勿疲惓。」
勸已徐跨馬， 理轡倐晨征，
人狀日殿流， 馬如白雲浮。
束身不奮迅， 屏氣不噴鳴，
四神來捧足， 潛密寂無聲。
重門固關鑰， 天神令自開。
敬重無過父， 愛深莫踰子，
內外諸眷屬， 恩愛亦纏綿。
遣情無遺念， 飄然超出城，
清淨蓮花目， 從淤泥中生。
顧瞻父王宮， 而說告離篇，
不度生老死， 永無遊此緣。
一切諸天眾， 虛空龍鬼神，
隨喜稱善哉， 唯此真諦言。
諸天龍神眾， 慶得難得心，
各以自力光， 引導助其明。
人馬心俱銳， 奔逝若流星，
東方猶未曉， 已進三由旬。
At that moment, the Pure Abode Deities descended to open the gates for him.
The Prince arose calmly, passing through the ranks of palace maidens. He paused within the inner chamber and spoke to Channa: "My heart now thirsts, longing to drink from the nectar spring. Bring forth the horse swiftly—I seek the land of immortality. My resolve is firm, my vow steadfast and solemn. These maidens, once fair, now appear to me as forms of decay. The gates, once barred, now open of their own accord. These signs reveal the true meaning, the pointer to the ultimate truth."
Channa pondered inwardly—he ought to obey the Prince's command, yet feared his father the King would learn of it and hold him deeply accountable. But the deities, with their divine power, caused him to lead the horse forth without hesitation.
A noble steed it was, adorned with treasures, with a high crest and long flowing tail, a compact back and short-haired ears, a deer-like belly, a goose-king's neck, a broad forehead and round gourd-shaped nose, a dragon's throat, square chest and flanks—possessing all marks of an exceptional horse.
The Prince stroked the horse's neck, caressed its body, and declared: "My father the King has often ridden you to victory in battle. Now I rely on you to journey far to the nectar shore. In worldly combat, many companions follow; in pursuit of pleasure, crowds gather. Merchants seeking treasure attract many followers. But in hardship, true friends are rare; in seeking the Dharma, companions are few. Those who can endure these two—hardship and the solitary quest— will ultimately attain peace and good fortune. I now set forth to liberate suffering beings. If you wish your own benefit while aiding all living creatures, exert your strength to the fullest; press onward without weariness."
Having urged the horse, he mounted gently, took the reins, and departed at dawn. His form flowed like the sun's chariot; the horse floated like a white cloud. Restrained in movement, not rushing; holding its breath, not snorting or neighing. Four deities came to lift its hooves, in secrecy and perfect silence. Heavy gates, firmly locked, were opened by heavenly beings.
No reverence surpasses that for a father; no love runs deeper than for a son. All relatives, within and without, are bound by tender affection. Yet he cast aside all attachments, without a trace of lingering thought, and soared beyond the city walls. Like a pure lotus blossom rising from muddy waters, he gazed back at his father's palace and spoke his parting words: "Until I transcend birth, aging, and death, I shall not return."
All hosts of deities, dragons, and spirits in the sky rejoiced and praised, crying, "Excellent! These are words of truth." The heavenly and dragon spirits, celebrating this rare resolve, each shone with their own light to guide and illuminate his path.
With hearts sharp and intent, man and horse sped forth like a shooting star. Before the east had brightened with dawn, they had traveled three yojanas.
佛所行讚卷第一
The Acts of the Buddha, Volume 1