Chapter 104: The Buddha's Journey to Uruvilva

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

[0836c13] At that time, the assembly of bhikṣus (比丘 [bi qiu]), having received this teaching from the Buddha, rose from their seats, bowed at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and went wherever they pleased. After the assembly of bhikṣus (比丘 [bi qiu]) had left, the gods of the forest, the gods of the trees, and the gods of the walking path in that place saw that the forest, the trees, and the walking path were empty. They missed the bhikṣus (比丘 [bi qiu]) and went to the Buddha to ask him with this verse:

"We, the gods, are greatly attached,
we see that this forest and these trees are all empty.
Where have the many learned bhikṣu (比丘 [bi qiu]) monks,
the sons of Gautama (瞿曇釋子 [qu tan shi zi]), gone now?"

[0836c13] “ěr shí, bǐ děng zhū bǐ qiū zhòng, cóng fú shòu dé rú shì jiào huì, cóng zuò ér qǐ, dǐng lǐ fú zú, wéi rào sān zā, suí yì ér xíng. shì shí, bǐ děng zhū bǐ qiū zhòng gè suí qù hòu, shì shí bǐ chù yǒu hù lín shén,, hù shù zhī shén,, hù jīng xíng shén, jiàn lín nèi kōng,, jiàn shù xià kōng,, jiàn jīng xíng kōng, sī xīn sī mù zhū bǐ qiū gù, wǎng yì fú suǒ ér shuō cǐ jì, zī wèn fú yán:

“ ‘wǒ děng zhū shén dà liàn mù,　　jiàn cǐ lín shù xī jiē kōng,
　　bǐ duō wén zhòng bǐ qiū sēng,　　qú tán shì zi jīn hé qù?’

[0836c13] "er shi, bi deng zhu bi qiu zhong, cong fu shou de ru shi jiao hui, cong zuo er qi, ding li fu zu, wei rao san za, sui yi er xing. shi shi, bi deng zhu bi qiu zhong ge sui qu hou, shi shi bi chu you hu lin shen,, hu shu zhi shen,, hu jing xing shen, jian lin nei kong,, jian shu xia kong,, jian jing xing kong, si xin si mu zhu bi qiu gu, wang yi fu suo er shuo ci ji, zi wen fu yan:

" 'wo deng zhu shen da lian mu, jian ci lin shu xi jie kong,
bi duo wen zhong bi qiu seng, qu tan shi zi jin he qu?'

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

[0836c21] At that time, the World-Honored One answered the gods who guarded the trees and forest with a verse:

"The assembly has completed the subjugation of their senses,
they are traveling to teach living beings.
Some have gone to Kośala (憍薩羅 [jiao sa luo]),
and some have gone to the city of Vaiśālī (毘耶離城邑 [pi ye li cheng yi]).
Some have gone to the land of Ayodhyā (阿踰闍 [a yu du]),
and some have gone to the great region of Vajra (金剛大地方 [jin gang da de fang]).
They resolve the doubts of others,
and preach the Dharma according to the disposition of each person."

[0836c21] “ěr shí, shì zūn hái yǐ jì sòng ér bào yú bǐ shǒu hù shù lín zhū shén děng yán:

“ ‘zhòng děng diào fú zhū gēn qì,　　yóu xíng jiào huà bǐ zhòng shēng,
　　huò yǒu wǎng yú jiāo sà luó,　　huò xiàng pí yé lí chéng yì,
　　huò yì ā yú dū guó tǔ,　　huò qù jīn gāng dà de fāng,
　　jué duàn yú tā yí huò xīn,　　suí jī zhú qíng wèi shuō fǎ.’

[0836c21] "er shi, shi zun hai yi ji song er bao yu bi shou hu shu lin zhu shen deng yan:

" 'zhong deng diao fu zhu gen qi, you xing jiao hua bi zhong sheng,
huo you wang yu jiao sa luo, huo xiang pi ye li cheng yi,
huo yi a yu du guo tu, huo qu jin gang da de fang,
jue duan yu ta yi huo xin, sui ji zhu qing wei shuo fa.'

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

[0836c27] At that time, when the World-Honored One's rainy season retreat in the city of Vārāṇasī (波羅㮈城 [bo luo nai cheng]) was over, after some time, he again told the bhikṣus (比丘 [bi qiu]) to travel to other places to teach as opportunities arose. The World-Honored One traveled from the city of Vārāṇasī (波羅捺城 [bo luo na cheng]) and gradually reached the village of Uruvilvā (優婁頻螺聚落 [you lou pin luo ju luo]), the place where the Tathāgata (如來 [ru lai]) had practiced asceticism. There was a great brāhmaṇa (婆羅門 [po luo men]) in the village named Paśupati (兵將 [bing jiang]). He reached that village and traveled along the old road for the sake of teaching.

[0836c27] “ěr shí shì zūn bō luó nài chéng xià ān jū jìng, suí duō shǎo shí, rán hòu zhòng gào zhū bǐ qiū děng, shǐ gèng yóu fāng suí yuán jiào huà. ér shì zūn cóng bō luó nà chéng, yóu xíng jiàn zhì yōu lóu pín luó jù luò zhī suǒ, shì xī rú lái xíng kǔ xíng chù. qí cūn yǒu yī dà pó luó mén, míng yuē bīng jiāng, dá dào bǐ cūn, cóng jiù wǎng lái dào lù ér xíng, wèi jiào huà gù.

[0836c27] "er shi shi zun bo luo nai cheng xia an ju jing, sui duo shao shi, ran hou zhong gao zhu bi qiu deng, shi geng you fang sui yuan jiao hua. er shi zun cong bo luo na cheng, you xing jian zhi you lou pin luo ju luo zhi suo, shi xi ru lai xing ku xing chu. qi cun you yi da po luo men, ming yue bing jiang, da dao bi cun, cong jiu wang lai dao lu er xing, wei jiao hua gu.