Chapter III - Disgust

1. Outside [the palace] there were gardens, flowing springs, and cool ponds. Various trees with flowers and fruits were planted in rows, casting deep shade.

2. Wondrous birds of different kinds flew and sported about. Four kinds of flowers, on water and land, gave out their fine wafting fragrance with blazing colors.

3. Singing women accordingly played music, and their music and songs attracted the Crown Prince. While the Crown Prince was listening to these sounds, he admired the gardens.

4. Inwardly he felt profound joy and he wanted to make an excursion [outside the palace] and have a look, just as a chained maddened elephant constantly longs for the wilderness.

5. When the king, his father, heard that the Crown Prince wanted to make an excursion to the gardens, he ordered his ministers to display ornamentation and prepare ceremonial plumes.

6. He had the main royal road made level and anyone offensive removed: the aged, the sick and deformed, the weak, and those suffering in poverty. He did not want his young, happy son see anything that would raise disgust.

7. When the adornments were duly prepared, [the prince] stated his request and asked to take leave. On the Crown Prince’s approach, the king patted his head and gazed long at his face. [The king’s] feelings of sadness and joy were intermingled. He gave his verbal permission, but in his mind he held back.

8. As for [the prince’s] high chariot ornamented with a multitude of precious things, the four swift horses paced slowly. He was worthy and virtuous and had expert skills. He was youthful with a beautiful appearance. He wore a fine, pure garment with fresh flowers, and riding in the same chariot was the one who held the reins.

9. The streets were strewn with flowers, and precious drapery covered the sides of the road. Trees lined the road, forming a fence, adorned with precious objects. A profusion of silken parasols and pendant streamers waved in the wind.

10. Spectators crowded all along the road, bowing. Their eyes were bright and they gazed without blinking, resembling lines of blue lotuses.

11. [The prince’s] entire retinue of subjects followed him, just as stars follow the ruler of the constellations. From many mouths came the same sound of admiration, extolling the wonder in the world.

12. Noble and base, rich and poor, young and old and middle-aged—all reverentially did obeisance and wished only for [the prince’s] good fortune.

13. When in the villages and in the fields they heard that the Crown Prince was going out, both the worthy and those of low status did not wait to take leave, and those who were awake did not [take time to] notify those who were asleep.

14. One did not waste time gathering the six domestic animals. Material possessions were not important enough to safeguard and no one made fast the doors. They hurried to the side of the road.

15. In the high pavilions and in the trees on the embankments, in the windows and at the crossroads, pressing together to see his face, they gazed steadily, tirelessly watching.

16. Spectators on high thought they had been dropped to the ground, and those on foot thought they had ascended into the sky. In their singlemindedness they did not realize that both body and spirit were flying, as it were. They reverently watched [the prince], full of respect for his appearance, without any thought of negligence.

17. “His round members and straight limbs, their color is like a lotus in full blossom. Now he has left the grove where he lives, wishing to become a seer of the noble Law.”

18. When the Crown Prince saw the well-kept roads, the adornments, and the crowds of attendants, the fresh brightness of the garments and the carriages, he was pleased and joyful at heart.

19. When the people of the land gazed at the Crown Prince, at his dignified deportment and his excellent attendants, who were like a crowd of royals, they saw that a god had been born as their crown prince.

20. Then the king of the gods of the pure abodes suddenly transformed by the side of the road into an old person, inducing thoughts of disgust. When the Crown Prince saw the old man, he was startled and questioned his charioteer:

21. “What kind of a person is this? His hair is white and his back bent. His eyes are bleary and his body trembles. He is weak and walks with a stick. Did his body change all of a sudden, or did he receive this form quite naturally?”

22. The charioteer hesitated and did not dare answer truthfully. [The god of] the pure abodes increased his divine power, so that [the charioteer] revealed the words of the truth.

23. “His beauty has gone and he has lost his vigor. He has many sorrows and few pleasures. Joys are forgotten and the faculties have become weak. These are the so-called characteristics of old age.

24. “He once was an infant, nourished by his mother’s milk. As a lad he was outgoing. He was handsome and indulged in the five desires. As the years passed, his appearance withered. Now he is destroyed by old age.”

25. The Crown Prince gave a deep sigh and asked the charioteer, “Is he just the only one who has old age, or shall we also be like that?”

26. The charioteer replied, “Your Highness will also know this fate. As time changes, one’s appearance naturally changes. It will certainly happen, without any doubt. There is no strong youth who does not age. The whole world knows [this truth], but still hopes otherwise.”

27. The Bodhisattva had long developed pure actions of wisdom and had widely planted roots of merit. Their agreeable fruition was now ocurring. Hearing the explanation about the suffering of old age, he trembled and his hair stood on end.

28. When thunder makes a loud sound, animals flee in fear. The same was true for the Bodhisattva. Shaken by fear, he sighed deeply.

29. Steadily and intently gazing on the suffering of old age, he shook his head. “With this suffering of old age in mind, what happiness can a worldling know?

30. “One is destroyed by the signs of old age. They touch all without exception. One may possess youth, beauty, and strength, yet there is no one who does not change. Seeing these characteristics realized in front of one’s eyes, how can one not feel disgust?”

31. The Bodhisattva said to his charioteer, “Quickly turn the chariot and go back! As old age is constantly approaching, what joy could these gardens afford?

32. “My life rushes on like the wind. Turn back to my palace with flying wheels!” With thoughts dwelling upon that object of decay, he returned to an empty tomb, as it were.

33. Touched by the matter and unable to hold back his emotions, he found no rest at all within his home. When the king heard that his son was unhappy, he urged him to make another excursion. He immediately ordered his ministers to make the adornments even more excellent than before.

34. The god further transformed into a sick person, barely clinging to life by the side of the road. He was emaciated but his belly was swollen. As he breathed he gasped deeply. His hands and feet were spasmodic and [the skin was] parched. He wept sadly and groaned.

35. The Crown Prince asked his charioteer, “What kind of a man is this then?” He replied, “This is somone who has disease. His four elements are in disorder. He is weak and fit for nothing. When one turns to one’s side, one relies on someone else.”

36. When the Crown Prince heard the explanation, he immediately felt grief in his heart. He asked, “Is just this man sick, or would others also be like that?”

37. [The charioteer] replied, “For all in this world it is the same. Having a body, one must endure ailment. Yet in one’s foolishness one may enjoy the joys of the court.”

38. When the Crown Prince heard this explanation, he immediately became very afraid. His body trembled and his mind was disturbed, just as the moon appears in rippling waves.

39. “Dwelling in this receptacle of great suffering, how can one be at ease? Alas! People in the world are misled by foolishness and impeded by delusion. Even though the thief of illness may arrive at any time, they have happy thoughts.”

40. Thereupon he turned the chariot and went back, in sadness, thinking of the suffering of illness. [The prince] was like a man who is badly beaten and who curls up and waits for the next blow. He went to rest in his secluded palace and wanted only to turn his back on worldly happiness.

41. When the king again heard that his son had returned, he asked why. He was told, “He has seen a sick person.” The king was afraid, as if he might lose his life. After severely reprimanding the one who was supposed to have cleared the road, his heart was constrained and he was unable to speak.

42. Again [the king] increased the number of singing women. Their music was twice as excellent as before. Rejoicing in those sounds and sights, [the prince] might experience common pleasures and not become weary of family life. Night and day he was offered music and women, but his heart did not even begin to rejoice.

43. The king went out on an excursion himself, and sought even harder for excellent fine gardens. He selected ladies who were charming and who had an utterly licentious manner. They were artful and knew how to be of service. They were attractive, capable of misleading men.

44. He took special care of the royal highway, guarding it against anything unpleasant, and he ordered a fine charioteer to be on the lookout and choose the way as he went.

45. Then the god of the pure abodes further transformed into a dead person. The funeral bier carried by four men appeared in front of the Bodhisattva. No one else noticed anything, but the Bodhisattva and his charioteer saw it.

46. He asked, “What kind of a bier is this? Streamers and flowers, and various decorations! The attendants are all grieving, walking along with disheveled hair and bitterly weeping.”

47. A celestial spirit instructed the charioteer to reply, “This is a dead person. His faculties are ruined and his life has ended. His mind and consciousness have departed. His spirit is gone and his body is parched, as rigid as a dead log.

48. “His relatives and friends were bound by their love before, but now no one is happy to see him. They will abandon him in an empty tomb.”

49. When the Crown Prince heard the word “dead,” he felt grief and his thoughts were constrained. He asked, “Is only this person dead, or does the same apply to all in the world too?”

50. The reply came, “All are the same everywhere. With a beginning there certainly will be an end. Old and young and middle-aged, having a body they all go to ruin.”

51. The Crown Prince was startled and leaned against the front of his chariot. His breathing almost stopped and he sighed, “How mistaken are the people in the world!

52. “They openly see the obliteration of the body, yet negligence arises. In one’s mind it is neither a dead log nor a stone, yet no one ever considers its impermanence.”

53. He immediately ordered [the charioteer] to turn the chariot and go back. “There is no more time for excursions. Life is fragile and death unexpected. Why indulge in an excursion?”

54. But the charioteer had received an order from the king. He was afraid and did not dare turn back. He drove on and swiftly urged on [the horses]. He went straight to the gardens.

55. The streams in the grove were majestic and clean, and the fine trees were all blossoming. Divine birds and wondrous animals flew and ran about, singing joyfully and harmoniously. Their radiance was a joy for one’s ears and eyes. It looked like the Celestial Nanda Garden.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The northern park of Indra, atop Mount Sumeru.