Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
This is the Chinese Buddhist Canon known as the Taisho, or more specifically the “Taisho Revised Tripitaka” (Takakusu Junjiro 1988). The collection consists of thousands of scrolls including foundational texts such as Agamas, Mahayana Sutras, Vinaya, Abhidharma, Tantras, Jatakas and Avadanas (former birth stoeries), commentaries, histories, catalog...
Chapter 34: The Search for a Suitor and the Contests of Skills
[full title]: Abhinishkramana-sutra, Scroll 12 (nr. 34)
[full title]: Abhiniṣkramaṇa-sūtra 佛本行集經 [fú běn xíng jí jīng] (fu ben xing ji jing)
[parallels]: Sanskrit title and date 587-595 from Lancaster (Lancaster 2004, 'K 802') English translations: Beal, 1875
[parallels]: Beal, S. 1875, The romantic legend of Sakya Buddha: from the Chinese-Sancrist; Trubner and Co., London
[primary source]: Jñānagupta, translator, 《佛本行集經》 'Fo Ben Xing Ji Jing (Abhiniṣkramaṇasūtra),' in Taishō shinshū Daizōkyō 《大正新脩大藏經》, in Takakusu Junjiro, ed., (Tokyo: Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō Kankōkai, 1988), Vol. 3, No. 190
[colophon]: 佛本行集經 隋 闍那崛多譯 共 60 卷 Fo Ben Xing Ji Jing (Abhiniṣkramaṇasūtra) Translated by Jñānagupta in 60 scrolls in the Sui
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0708b19] “The secret messenger sent by King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang], jìngfànwáng) to observe the Prince focused on the Prince’s eyes and who he spoke to among the women. The messenger learned everything in detail. After knowing, he immediately went to the King and reported, ‘O King! You should know that there is a Shakya minister, Mahānāma (摩訶那摩 [mo he na mo], móhēnàmó), whose daughter came last. The Prince (太子 [tai zi], tàizǐ) spoke with her, exchanging words several times and even smiling. They stayed there for a short time, chatting playfully. The Prince and that woman were both pleased with each other, and their eyes met in conversation.’ When King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang], jìngfànwáng) heard the report of his secret observer, he thought to himself, ‘Does the Prince (太子 [tai zi], tàizǐ) want that woman?’
[0708b19] “時淨飯王所遣密使察太子者,一心覩於太子眼目其所瞻矚,共於諸女相當語對,而彼密使委悉皆知.知已即時往詣王所,而白王言: ‘大王! 當知,有釋大臣摩訶那摩,其女後來太子共語,數番往復,兼且微笑,停住少時,調戲言語.太子彼女二顏俱悅,彼此答對,四目相當.’ 時淨飯王聞彼密觀如是語已,心內思惟: ‘太子意欲得彼女耶?’
[0708b19] “shí jìng fàn wáng suǒ qiǎn mì shǐ chá tài zi zhě, yī xīn dǔ yú tài zi yǎn mù qí suǒ zhān zhǔ, gòng yú zhū nǚ xiāng dāng yǔ duì, ér bǐ mì shǐ wěi xī jiē zhī. zhī yǐ jí shí wǎng yì wáng suǒ, ér bái wáng yán: ‘dà wáng! dāng zhī, yǒu shì dà chén mó hē nà mó, qí nǚ hòu lái tài zi gòng yǔ, shù fān wǎng fù, jiān qiě wēi xiào, tíng zhù shǎo shí, diào xì yán yǔ. tài zi bǐ nǚ èr yán jù yuè, bǐ cǐ dá duì, sì mù xiāng dāng.’ shí jìng fàn wáng wén bǐ mì guān rú shì yǔ yǐ, xīn nèi sī wéi: ‘tài zi yì yù dé bǐ nǚ yé?’
[0708b19] "shi jing fan wang suo qian mi shi cha tai zi zhe, yi xin du yu tai zi yan mu qi suo zhan zhu, gong yu zhu nu xiang dang yu dui, er bi mi shi wei xi jie zhi. zhi yi ji shi wang yi wang suo, er bai wang yan: 'da wang! dang zhi, you shi da chen mo he na mo, qi nu hou lai tai zi gong yu, shu fan wang fu, jian qie wei xiao, ting zhu shao shi, diao xi yan yu. tai zi bi nu er yan ju yue, bi ci da dui, si mu xiang dang.' shi jing fan wang wen bi mi guan ru shi yu yi, xin nei si wei: 'tai zi yi yu de bi nu ye?'
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0708b27] “King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang], jìngfànwáng) then chose a propitious day with a good constellation (好吉宿良善之日 [hao ji su liang shan zhi ri], hàojísùliángshànzhīrì). He summoned the Brahmin national preceptor (國師婆羅門 [guo shi po luo men], guóshīpóluómén) and sent him to the house of the Shakya minister Mahānāma. He said to him, ‘I have heard that you have a daughter. She can now become the consort for my Prince (太子 [tai zi], tàizǐ).’
“When the national preceptor heard the King’s words, he went to the house of the Shakya minister Mahānāma and said, ‘Mahānāma, the King has given this order.’
“The Shakya minister replied to the national preceptor, ‘Our Shakya clan (釋迦法 [shi jia fa], shìjiāfǎ) has this tradition: if a man has skills (技能 [ji neng], jìnéng) that surpass all others, we marry our daughter to him. If he has no skills, we do not give him our daughter. The great King’s Prince (大王太子 [da wang tai zi], dàwángtàizǐ) has grown up in the deep palace, indulged in pleasure and play, and has never studied. He has no skills. He is not proficient in archery, astronomy, military books (兵書戎仗 [bing shu rong zhang], bīngshūrǒngzhàng), all kinds of fighting, or wrestling. Why should I give my daughter to an unskilled person?’
[0708b27] “時淨飯王看好吉宿良善之日,即喚國師婆羅門來,使向釋種摩訶那摩大臣之家,而作是言: ‘知卿有女,今可與我太子作妃.’ 是時國師聞王語已,即詣釋種摩訶那摩大臣之家,作如是言: ‘摩訶那摩王勅如是.’ 時釋大臣報國師言: ‘我釋迦法,相承如是,若有技能勝一切者,於彼人邊即嫁女與；若無技能,不得與女.大王太子生長深宮,耽媔嬉戲,未曾學習,無有技能,弓射天文,兵書戎仗,一切戰鬪,捔力拳搥,悉未工閑,我何故今無藝人邊而嫁女與?’
[0708b27] “shí jìng fàn wáng kàn hǎo jí sù liáng shàn zhī rì, jí huàn guó shī pó luó mén lái, shǐ xiàng shì zhǒng mó hē nà mó dà chén zhī jiā, ér zuò shì yán: ‘zhī qīng yǒu nǚ, jīn kě yǔ wǒ tài zi zuò fēi.’ shì shí guó shī wén wáng yǔ yǐ, jí yì shì zhǒng mó hē nà mó dà chén zhī jiā, zuò rú shì yán: ‘mó hē nà mó wáng chì rú shì.’ shí shì dà chén bào guó shī yán: ‘wǒ shì jiā fǎ, xiāng chéng rú shì, ruò yǒu jì néng shèng yī qiè zhě, yú bǐ rén biān jí jià nǚ yǔ； ruò wú jì néng, bù dé yǔ nǚ. dà wáng tài zi shēng zhǎng shēn gōng, dān mián xī xì, wèi céng xué xí, wú yǒu jì néng, gōng shè tiān wén, bīng shū róng zhàng, yī qiè zhàn dòu, jué lì quán chuí, xī wèi gōng xián, wǒ hé gù jīn wú yì rén biān ér jià nǚ yǔ?’
[0708b27] "shi jing fan wang kan hao ji su liang shan zhi ri, ji huan guo shi po luo men lai, shi xiang shi zhong mo he na mo da chen zhi jia, er zuo shi yan: 'zhi qing you nu, jin ke yu wo tai zi zuo fei.' shi shi guo shi wen wang yu yi, ji yi shi zhong mo he na mo da chen zhi jia, zuo ru shi yan: 'mo he na mo wang chi ru shi.' shi shi da chen bao guo shi yan: 'wo shi jia fa, xiang cheng ru shi, ruo you ji neng sheng yi qie zhe, yu bi ren bian ji jia nu yu; ruo wu ji neng, bu de yu nu. da wang tai zi sheng zhang shen gong, dan mian xi xi, wei ceng xue xi, wu you ji neng, gong she tian wen, bing shu rong zhang, yi qie zhan dou, jue li quan chui, xi wei gong xian, wo he gu jin wu yi ren bian er jia nu yu?'
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0708c09] “When the national preceptor heard this, he returned to the King and fully reported the words. King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang], jìngfànwáng) was troubled upon hearing this. He thought, ‘Mahānāma’s words are in accordance with the law; what he says to me is truthful and not false.’ Although he thought this, the King was inwardly distressed and silently confused, looking as if he were sitting in contemplative meditation.
“The Prince (太子 [tai zi], tàizǐ) at that time saw that his father’s face had lost its color and was distressed, looking like he was in contemplative meditation. Seeing this, he slowly went to the King and asked, ‘I wonder, Father King (父王 [fu wang], fùwáng), for what reason are you so troubled and sitting alone in contemplation?’
“After he said this, King Śuddhodana replied to the Prince, ‘My son, you need not ask me about this.’
“The Prince asked a second time, and the Father King again stopped him. The Prince asked a third time, ‘Father King (大王 [da wang], dàwáng), you must tell me the reason and relieve the doubt in my heart.’
“When King Śuddhodana saw the Prince ask this for a third time, he told the Prince everything he had been told before. When the Prince (太子 [tai zi], tàizǐ) understood, he asked his father, ‘Father King, do you know if there is anyone in your city who can come out and compete with me in skills?’
“When King Śuddhodana heard this, he was filled with great joy and excitement. He then asked the Prince (太子 [tai zi], tàizǐ) again, ‘Excellent, Prince! Can you truly compete in skills?’ The Prince replied, ‘O great King, please listen! I truly can. O great King, you must quickly gather all the Shakya youths to compete with me in all kinds of skills.’
[0708c09] “是時國師聞是語已,還至王所,將如是語,具白於王.時淨飯王聞此語已,心懷愁惱,如是思惟: ‘摩訶那摩此語如法,向我實論無一虛妄.’ 雖作是念,而王內心,悵怏默然迷悶而住,其狀如似坐禪思惟.太子是時,見父王面,失於容色,悵怏不歡,猶如坐禪思惟一種,見是事已,漸至王所,而問王言: ‘未審父王! 以何緣故,如是愁惱,獨坐思惟?’ 作是語已,時淨飯王答太子言: ‘子不須問我如此事.’ 太子再問,父王重止.太子如是三問: ‘父王大王! 要須報我所以,解我心疑.’ 時淨飯王三見太子問如是事,即向太子如前所說.太子知已,問父王言: ‘父王頗知,父王城內,有人能出與我共試技藝已不?’ 時淨飯王聞此語已,即大歡喜,踊躍遍身,不能自勝,即更重審問於太子,作如是言: ‘善哉太子! 汝實能捔諸技藝不?’ 太子答言: ‘大王善聽! 我今實能.大王! 但當速集諸釋一切童子,共我捔試諸有技藝.’
[0708c09] “shì shí guó shī wén shì yǔ yǐ, hái zhì wáng suǒ, jiāng rú shì yǔ, jù bái yú wáng. shí jìng fàn wáng wén cǐ yǔ yǐ, xīn huái chóu nǎo, rú shì sī wéi: ‘mó hē nà mó cǐ yǔ rú fǎ, xiàng wǒ shí lùn wú yī xū wàng.’ suī zuò shì niàn, ér wáng nèi xīn, chàng yàng mò rán mí mèn ér zhù, qí zhuàng rú shì zuò chán sī wéi. tài zi shì shí, jiàn fù wáng miàn, shī yú róng sè, chàng yàng bù huān, yóu rú zuò chán sī wéi yī zhǒng, jiàn shì shì yǐ, jiàn zhì wáng suǒ, ér wèn wáng yán: ‘wèi shěn fù wáng! yǐ hé yuán gù, rú shì chóu nǎo, dú zuò sī wéi?’ zuò shì yǔ yǐ, shí jìng fàn wáng dá tài zi yán: ‘zi bù xū wèn wǒ rú cǐ shì.’ tài zi zài wèn, fù wáng zhòng zhǐ. tài zi rú shì sān wèn: ‘fù wáng dà wáng! yào xū bào wǒ suǒ yǐ, jiě wǒ xīn yí.’ shí jìng fàn wáng sān jiàn tài zi wèn rú shì shì, jí xiàng tài zi rú qián suǒ shuō. tài zi zhī yǐ, wèn fù wáng yán: ‘fù wáng pō zhī, fù wáng chéng nèi, yǒu rén néng chū yǔ wǒ gòng shì jì yì yǐ bù?’ shí jìng fàn wáng wén cǐ yǔ yǐ, jí dà huān xǐ, yǒng yuè biàn shēn, bù néng zì shèng, jí gèng zhòng shěn wèn yú tài zi, zuò rú shì yán: ‘shàn zāi tài zi! rǔ shí néng jué zhū jì yì bù?’ tài zi dá yán: ‘dà wáng shàn tīng! wǒ jīn shí néng. dà wáng! dàn dāng sù jí zhū shì yī qiè tóng zi, gòng wǒ jué shì zhū yǒu jì yì.’
[0708c09] "shi shi guo shi wen shi yu yi, hai zhi wang suo, jiang ru shi yu, ju bai yu wang. shi jing fan wang wen ci yu yi, xin huai chou nao, ru shi si wei: 'mo he na mo ci yu ru fa, xiang wo shi lun wu yi xu wang.' sui zuo shi nian, er wang nei xin, chang yang mo ran mi men er zhu, qi zhuang ru shi zuo chan si wei. tai zi shi shi, jian fu wang mian, shi yu rong se, chang yang bu huan, you ru zuo chan si wei yi zhong, jian shi shi yi, jian zhi wang suo, er wen wang yan: 'wei shen fu wang! yi he yuan gu, ru shi chou nao, du zuo si wei?' zuo shi yu yi, shi jing fan wang da tai zi yan: 'zi bu xu wen wo ru ci shi.' tai zi zai wen, fu wang zhong zhi. tai zi ru shi san wen: 'fu wang da wang! yao xu bao wo suo yi, jie wo xin yi.' shi jing fan wang san jian tai zi wen ru shi shi, ji xiang tai zi ru qian suo shuo. tai zi zhi yi, wen fu wang yan: 'fu wang po zhi, fu wang cheng nei, you ren neng chu yu wo gong shi ji yi yi bu?' shi jing fan wang wen ci yu yi, ji da huan xi, yong yue bian shen, bu neng zi sheng, ji geng zhong shen wen yu tai zi, zuo ru shi yan: 'shan zai tai zi! ru shi neng jue zhu ji yi bu?' tai zi da yan: 'da wang shan ting! wo jin shi neng. da wang! dan dang su ji zhu shi yi qie tong zi, gong wo jue shi zhu you ji yi.'
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
[0708c27] “King Śuddhodana ordered that a bell be rung with a loud voice in all the main streets and crossroads of the city of Kapilavastu (迦毘羅城 [jia pi luo cheng], jiāpíluóchéng), proclaiming, ‘From today for seven days, my crown prince, Siddhārtha (悉達太子 [xi da tai zi], xīdá tàizǐ), wishes to display all his skills. If anyone has skills, they should gather to compete with him.’
“After six days had passed, on the seventh day, five hundred of the Shakya youths (釋種諸童子 [shi zhong zhu tong zi], shìzhǒngzhūtóngzǐ), with Siddhārtha at the head, all gathered. After gathering, they went out of the city to a wide field, the place where the youths would display their skills. A Shakya minister then beautifully adorned Yaśodharā (耶輸陀羅 [ye shu tuo luo], yēshūtúoluó) as the ultimate prize and said, ‘The one who is most proficient in all skills will be given this woman as his wife.’
“King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang], jìngfànwáng) and the Shakya elders (釋種耆舊長德 [shi zhong qi jiu zhang de], shìzhǒngqíjiùzhǎngdé) arrived first. Countless people of various clans, men, women, boys, and girls, all gathered at the competition ground to watch the Prince and all the Shakya youths compete in skills to see who was the best.
[0708c27] “時淨飯王勅迦毘羅城內,街巷四衢道頭,悉教振鐸大聲唱令: ‘從今以去,計至七日,我之儲宮悉達太子,今欲出其所有諸技,若有解者,悉令聚集,共捔試看.’ 時六日過,至第七日,五百釋種諸童子等,悉達為首,並皆聚集.聚集訖已,相共出城,至一寬地,是諸童子,出技能處.時釋大臣即好莊嚴耶輸陀羅,為上勝垛,作如是言: ‘誰能善通一切技藝,最勝上者,即以此女與其作妻.’ 時淨飯王共諸釋種耆舊長德,於先而至,復有無量無邊雜姓男子女人童男童女,皆悉聚集,詣彼試場寬地之所,欲觀太子,及諸釋種一切童子,捔試技能,誰最為勝?
[0708c27] “shí jìng fàn wáng chì jiā pí luó chéng nèi, jiē xiàng sì qú dào tóu, xī jiào zhèn duó dà shēng chàng lìng: ‘cóng jīn yǐ qù, jì zhì qī rì, wǒ zhī chǔ gōng xī dá tài zi, jīn yù chū qí suǒ yǒu zhū jì, ruò yǒu jiě zhě, xī lìng jù jí, gòng jué shì kàn.’ shí liù rì guò, zhì dì qī rì, wǔ bǎi shì zhǒng zhū tóng zi děng, xī dá wèi shǒu, bìng jiē jù jí. jù jí qì yǐ, xiāng gòng chū chéng, zhì yī kuān de, shì zhū tóng zi, chū jì néng chù. shí shì dà chén jí hǎo zhuāng yán yé shū tuó luó, wèi shàng shèng duǒ, zuò rú shì yán: ‘shuí néng shàn tōng yī qiè jì yì, zuì shèng shàng zhě, jí yǐ cǐ nǚ yǔ qí zuò qī.’ shí jìng fàn wáng gòng zhū shì zhǒng qí jiù zhǎng dé, yú xiān ér zhì, fù yǒu wú liàng wú biān zá xìng nán zi nǚ rén tóng nán tóng nǚ, jiē xī jù jí, yì bǐ shì chǎng kuān de zhī suǒ, yù guān tài zi, jí zhū shì zhǒng yī qiè tóng zi, jué shì jì néng, shuí zuì wèi shèng?
[0708c27] "shi jing fan wang chi jia pi luo cheng nei, jie xiang si qu dao tou, xi jiao zhen duo da sheng chang ling: 'cong jin yi qu, ji zhi qi ri, wo zhi chu gong xi da tai zi, jin yu chu qi suo you zhu ji, ruo you jie zhe, xi ling ju ji, gong jue shi kan.' shi liu ri guo, zhi di qi ri, wu bai shi zhong zhu tong zi deng, xi da wei shou, bing jie ju ji. ju ji qi yi, xiang gong chu cheng, zhi yi kuan de, shi zhu tong zi, chu ji neng chu. shi shi da chen ji hao zhuang yan ye shu tuo luo, wei shang sheng duo, zuo ru shi yan: 'shui neng shan tong yi qie ji yi, zui sheng shang zhe, ji yi ci nu yu qi zuo qi.' shi jing fan wang gong zhu shi zhong qi jiu zhang de, yu xian er zhi, fu you wu liang wu bian za xing nan zi nu ren tong nan tong nu, jie xi ju ji, yi bi shi chang kuan de zhi suo, yu guan tai zi, ji zhu shi zhong yi qie tong zi, jue shi ji neng, shui zui wei sheng?