Chapter 55: Charioteer Channa and Kanthaka Return, Part 2

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

Buddha's Deeds Sutra, Volume 20

Translated by Śramaṇa Jñānagupta from Central India during the Sui Dynasty

fú běn xíng jí jīng juǎn dì èr shí

suí tiān zhú sān cáng dū nà jué duō yì

chē nì děng hái pǐn xià

fu ben xing ji jing juan di er shi

sui tian zhu san cang du na jue duo yi

che ni deng hai pin xia

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0744a29] "At that time, King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang]) spoke again, saying: 'I now pray that all the Four Guardian Kings (四方護世神王 [si fang hu shi shen wang]) who protect all sentient beings will constantly assist my son for his benefit. May the Lord of the Heavens, Śakra (天上帝釋 [tian shang di shi]), the thousand-eyed Lord of the Devas (千眼天主 [qian yan tian zhu]), the husband of Śacī (舍脂 [she zhi]), the Great Mighty Deva King (大力天王 [da li tian wang]), and all the heavenly hosts surrounding him, assist my son in all his endeavors. May all the worldly gods, the wind god, water god, fire god, and earth god (風神水神 [feng shen shui shen]、火神地神 [huo shen de shen]), in the four cardinal and four intermediate directions, also assist him. You, the most excellent, the supreme man, why have you forsaken the four great continents (四大天下 [si da tian xia])? My son has left home with the aspiration for the supreme and wonderful holy fruit (聖果 [sheng guo]). May his desires quickly be fulfilled, and may he soon attain the path of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (阿耨多羅三藐三菩提道 [a nou duo luo san miao san pu ti dao]) and be enlightened.' The King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang]) lay on the ground, using various words to scold Kanthaka (乾陟 [gan zhi]), saying: 'You wicked horse, you have done many things for me, things that brought me joy; why today have you suddenly become unhelpful and brought such harm to the Śākya clan (釋種家 [shi zhong jia])? My prince (太子 [tai zi]) always loved you and was in harmony with my heart, bringing constant joy. Now that you have acted like this, you should be destroyed. Take me to the prince. I will go with my beloved son to practice asceticism. Now that I am separated from my beloved son, my life is in a fleeting moment; I will not live much longer.' And he spoke this verse:

"'Kanthaka (乾陟 [gan zhi]), you horse, go quickly, take me there and turn back. Without my son, my life will be difficult to live, like a gravely ill person without a doctor.'

[0744a29] “shí jìng fàn wáng fù zuò shì yán: ‘wǒ jīn xīn yuàn suǒ yǒu sì fāng hù shì shén wáng, hù zhū zhòng shēng, jīn wèi wǒ zi, chéng lì yì gù, héng xiāng zuǒ zhù. tiān shàng dì shì, qiān yǎn tiān zhǔ, shě zhī zhī fū, dà lì tiān wáng, jí zhū tiān zhòng, zuǒ yòu wéi rào, yuàn wèi wǒ zi, suǒ yǒu xīn qiú, yuàn zuò zuǒ zhù. yòu shì zhū shén, fēng shén shuǐ shén,, huǒ shén de shén, sì fāng sì wéi, bǐ děng zhū shén, jiē zuò zuǒ zhù. rǔ zuì shèng zhě, wú shàng zhàng fū, hé gù qì shě sì dà tiān xià? bǐ zhī wǒ zi, jīn juān jiā chū, zhì mù wú shàng jí miào shèng guǒ, qí suǒ yù qiú, yuàn sù chéng jiù ā nòu duō luó sān miǎo sān pú tí dào, shǐ zǎo zhèng míng.’ qí jìng fàn wáng, wò yú de shàng, yǐ zhǒng zhǒng yǔ, hē zé gān zhì, zuò rú shì yán: ‘rǔ bù shàn mǎ, cóng lái duō zhǒng, wèi wǒ suǒ zuò, ài lè zhī shì； jīn rì hé yuán, hū bù ráo yì, rú shì sǔn hài yú shì zhǒng jiā? wǒ zhī tài zi, héng cháng ài rǔ, yǔ wǒ xīn hé, cháng zuò huān xǐ, rǔ jīn rú shì, rǔ xū fù miè. rǔ kě jiāng wǒ xiàng tài zi chù, wǒ gòng ài zi, gòng xíng kǔ xíng, wǒ jīn lí bié suǒ ài zi gù, mìng zài xū yú, bù jiǔ cún huó.’ ér shuō jì yán:

“ ‘gān zhì rǔ mǎ sù jí xíng,　　jiāng wǒ yì bǐ hái huí fǎn,
　　wǒ wú zi gù mìng nán huó,　　rú zhòng bìng rén bù dé yī.’

[0744a29] "shi jing fan wang fu zuo shi yan: 'wo jin xin yuan suo you si fang hu shi shen wang, hu zhu zhong sheng, jin wei wo zi, cheng li yi gu, heng xiang zuo zhu. tian shang di shi, qian yan tian zhu, she zhi zhi fu, da li tian wang, ji zhu tian zhong, zuo you wei rao, yuan wei wo zi, suo you xin qiu, yuan zuo zuo zhu. you shi zhu shen, feng shen shui shen,, huo shen de shen, si fang si wei, bi deng zhu shen, jie zuo zuo zhu. ru zui sheng zhe, wu shang zhang fu, he gu qi she si da tian xia? bi zhi wo zi, jin juan jia chu, zhi mu wu shang ji miao sheng guo, qi suo yu qiu, yuan su cheng jiu a nou duo luo san miao san pu ti dao, shi zao zheng ming.' qi jing fan wang, wo yu de shang, yi zhong zhong yu, he ze gan zhi, zuo ru shi yan: 'ru bu shan ma, cong lai duo zhong, wei wo suo zuo, ai le zhi shi; jin ri he yuan, hu bu rao yi, ru shi sun hai yu shi zhong jia? wo zhi tai zi, heng chang ai ru, yu wo xin he, chang zuo huan xi, ru jin ru shi, ru xu fu mie. ru ke jiang wo xiang tai zi chu, wo gong ai zi, gong xing ku xing, wo jin li bie suo ai zi gu, ming zai xu yu, bu jiu cun huo.' er shuo ji yan:

" 'gan zhi ru ma su ji xing, jiang wo yi bi hai hui fan,
wo wu zi gu ming nan huo, ru zhong bing ren bu de yi.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0744b18] "After King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang]) said these words, he was overcome with bitter suffering due to his love for his son. He lay on the ground, enduring such torment, crying loudly, sometimes thrashing about, sometimes getting up, his voice choked with sobs.

[0744b18] “shí jìng fàn wáng shuō shì yǔ yǐ, yīn ài zi gù, kǔ qiè suǒ bī, wò zài yú de, zuò rú shì děng shòu kǔ nǎo shì, jǔ shēng dà kū, zhà pū zhà qǐ, yán yīn gěng yàn.

[0744b18] "shi jing fan wang shuo shi yu yi, yin ai zi gu, ku qie suo bi, wo zai yu de, zuo ru shi deng shou ku nao shi, ju sheng da ku, zha pu zha qi, yan yin geng yan.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0744b21] "At that time, a wise minister and the State Preceptor, a Brahmin (國師婆羅門 [guo shi po luo men]), saw King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang]) writhing on the ground, falling left and being helped up on the right. His heart was greatly sorrowful, oppressed by grief, and he had no moment of joy. Both his body and mind were afflicted with great anguish. Wishing to comfort the king, they displayed calm expressions and addressed the king, saying: 'Great King! You should now abandon all worries and suffering, and settle your heart. You must think of yourself as strong and not collapse and cry like a common person. Why? Great King! You should know! In the past, there were many kings who abandoned their thrones, like withered flower garlands, and turned their backs to enter the mountains. Also, Great King, Prince Siddhārtha (太子悉達 [tai zi xi da]) is destined by his past karma to undergo such retribution. Great King! You should now remember the prophecy of Ṛṣi Asita (阿私陀仙 [a si tuo xian]) from long ago when he addressed you, saying: "That young boy cannot be bound by the retribution of humans or devas, nor by the position of a Cakravartin king (轉輪聖王 [zhuan lun sheng wang]), and be expected to stay in this world, attached to its pleasures." Great King! If you are now determined to bring the prince back, just command the two of us to go, and we will follow your orders without fail.'

[0744b21] “ěr shí, yǒu yī zhì huì dà chén bìng jí guó shī pó luó mén děng, jiàn jìng fàn wáng, wǎn zhuǎn yú de, zuǒ dào yòu fú, xīn dà chóu dú, bēi kǔ chán pò, yì bù zàn huān, shēn xīn yī shí shēng dà rè nǎo. qí děng yù kāi jiě wáng yì gù, gù xiàn yán sè, zì wú yōu chóu, gòng bái wáng yán: ‘dà wáng! jīn zhě yí kě shě zhū yōu chóu kǔ nǎo, dìng yú zì xīn, xū zuò jiàn xiǎng, bù yīng rú shì mèn jué zì pū, yóu rú fán rén tì qì liú lèi. suǒ yǐ zhě hé? dà wáng! dāng zhī! rú xī guò qù, duō yǒu zhū wáng, qì shě wáng wèi, rú wēi huá mán, bèi ér rù shān. yòu fù dà wáng, tài zi xī dá sù yuán dāng shòu rú shì yè bào. dà wáng! jīn zhě yīng yì wǎng xī ā sī tuó xiān yù shòu qí jì, bái dà wáng yán: “bǐ tóng zi zhě, bù kě jū yǐ rén tiān guǒ bào, bìng jí zhuǎn lún shèng wáng zhī wèi, ér qī dài zhī, shǐ lìng tān ài zàn zhù yú shì.” dà wáng! jīn zhě ruò jué dìng yù huàn dà zi hái, dàn chì wǒ děng èr rén lìng qù, dāng suí wáng mìng zhōng bù gǎn wéi.’

[0744b21] "er shi, you yi zhi hui da chen bing ji guo shi po luo men deng, jian jing fan wang, wan zhuan yu de, zuo dao you fu, xin da chou du, bei ku chan po, yi bu zan huan, shen xin yi shi sheng da re nao. qi deng yu kai jie wang yi gu, gu xian yan se, zi wu you chou, gong bai wang yan: 'da wang! jin zhe yi ke she zhu you chou ku nao, ding yu zi xin, xu zuo jian xiang, bu ying ru shi men jue zi pu, you ru fan ren ti qi liu lei. suo yi zhe he? da wang! dang zhi! ru xi guo qu, duo you zhu wang, qi she wang wei, ru wei hua man, bei er ru shan. you fu da wang, tai zi xi da su yuan dang shou ru shi ye bao. da wang! jin zhe ying yi wang xi a si tuo xian yu shou qi ji, bai da wang yan: "bi tong zi zhe, bu ke ju yi ren tian guo bao, bing ji zhuan lun sheng wang zhi wei, er qi dai zhi, shi ling tan ai zan zhu yu shi." da wang! jin zhe ruo jue ding yu huan da zi hai, dan chi wo deng er ren ling qu, dang sui wang ming zhong bu gan wei.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0744c06] "At that time, King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang]) replied, saying: 'If you two know the right time, you can quickly go to the prince. If not, my life will not be auspicious, and I will be tormented by all kinds of suffering.' The minister and the State Preceptor, a Brahmin (國師婆羅門 [guo shi po luo men]), heard the command of King Śuddhodana (淨飯王 [jing fan wang]). They immediately set off to go to the prince, and they spoke this verse:

"'The prince is destined for such karma. The king should remember Asita's (私陀 [si tuo]) words from the past. He prophesied that he would not be attached to the heavens or the Cakravartin (轉輪 [zhuan lun]) position, preferring human pleasures of the five desires (五欲樂 [wu yu le]).'

[0744c06] “shí jìng fàn wáng jí bào zhī yán: ‘rǔ děng èr rén, ruò zhī shí zhě, kě sù jí wǎng zhì tài zi biān, ruò bù ěr zhě, wǒ jīn shēn mìng wú yǒu jí xiáng, wèi zhū kǔ nǎo zhī suǒ chán bī.’ shì shí dà chén bìng jí guó shī pó luó mén děng, wén jìng fàn wáng rú shì chì yǐ, jí gòng fā xíng, yì tài zi suǒ, ér shuō jì yán:

“ ‘tài zi yīng shòu rú shì yè,　　wáng dāng niàn xī sī tuó yán,
　　jì bǐ bù tān tiān zhuǎn lún,　　níng lè rén jiān wǔ yù lè.’

[0744c06] "shi jing fan wang ji bao zhi yan: 'ru deng er ren, ruo zhi shi zhe, ke su ji wang zhi tai zi bian, ruo bu er zhe, wo jin shen ming wu you ji xiang, wei zhu ku nao zhi suo chan bi.' shi shi da chen bing ji guo shi po luo men deng, wen jing fan wang ru shi chi yi, ji gong fa xing, yi tai zi suo, er shuo ji yan:

" 'tai zi ying shou ru shi ye, wang dang nian xi si tuo yan,
ji bi bu tan tian zhuan lun, ning le ren jian wu yu le.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0744c13] "After the minister and the State Preceptor (國師 [guo shi]) said these words, they set off together. The horse Kanthaka (乾陟 [gan zhi]), having heard the bitter and scolding words from above, became deeply sorrowful and afflicted with great anguish. Because of this anguish, he had no moment of joy and soon died. After his death, he was immediately reborn in the Heaven of the Thirty-three Devas (三十三天 [san shi san tian]). After being reborn there, he later learned that the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) had attained the Way. He then left that heaven and was reborn in the Napo (那波 [na bo]) city in Central India (中天竺國 [zhong tian zhu guo]). In that city, there was a Brahmin (婆羅門 [po luo men]) family who practiced the Six Dharmas (六法 [liu fa]). He was born as a son in that family. As he grew up, he eventually came to the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]). The Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) knew that he had been a horse in a past life and had died and been reborn in heaven. At that time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) told the story of the horse's past life. After hearing the dharma, he exhausted his defilements, attained liberation, and entered Nirvāṇa (般涅槃 [ban nie pan]).

[0744c13] “shí bǐ dà chén jí guó shī děng, shuō shì yǔ yǐ, xiāng yǔ jù xíng, qí mǎ gān zhì, chù chù wén yú rú shàng kǔ qiè hē zé yán yǐ, yì shén yōu chóu, shēng dà rè nǎo. yǐ rè nǎo gù, wú zàn shí huān； xīn jì bù huān, jí biàn mìng jǐn. mìng jǐn zhī hòu, yīng shí shàng shēng sān shí sān tiān. jì shēng bǐ tiān, hòu zhī rú lái dé chéng dào yǐ, jí cóng bǐ tiān, shě lái xià shēng zhōng tiān zhú guó yú nà bō chéng, qí chéng yǒu yī pó luó mén zhǒng, jù xíng liù fǎ, jí wèi bǐ jiā, ér zuò zi xī, nǎi zhì jiàn dà, zhì rú lái biān. rú lái zhī bǐ wǎng xī zhī shí zuò yú mǎ shēn, mìng zhōng shēng tiān, shí fú jí shuō bǐ mǎ yīn yuán, jì wén fǎ yǐ, lòu jǐn jiě tuō, rù bān niè pán.

fú běn xíng jí jīng guān zhū yì dào pǐn dì èr shí sì

[0744c13] "shi bi da chen ji guo shi deng, shuo shi yu yi, xiang yu ju xing, qi ma gan zhi, chu chu wen yu ru shang ku qie he ze yan yi, yi shen you chou, sheng da re nao. yi re nao gu, wu zan shi huan; xin ji bu huan, ji bian ming jin. ming jin zhi hou, ying shi shang sheng san shi san tian. ji sheng bi tian, hou zhi ru lai de cheng dao yi, ji cong bi tian, she lai xia sheng zhong tian zhu guo yu na bo cheng, qi cheng you yi po luo men zhong, ju xing liu fa, ji wei bi jia, er zuo zi xi, nai zhi jian da, zhi ru lai bian. ru lai zhi bi wang xi zhi shi zuo yu ma shen, ming zhong sheng tian, shi fu ji shuo bi ma yin yuan, ji wen fa yi, lou jin jie tuo, ru ban nie pan.

fu ben xing ji jing guan zhu yi dao pin di er shi si