Chapter 7: The Chapter on the Discussion of Praise

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

At that time, the virtue of the Śākya king increased day and night. His treasury was full, and his kingdom was famous for its wisdom. The accumulation of gold and jewels and various necklaces of goodness came to him like the great abyss of the autumn sea.

The elephants, horses, and carriages were like the decorated chariots of heaven. They were all good and well-trained, and they came to the stables on their own. The sugarcane, rock candy, ghee, milk, and grain all increased in flavor and strength.

All calamities were eliminated, and enemies surrendered. Old relatives were even more respectful, and epidemics and famines disappeared. The cool wind was gentle, and the timely rain was fine and moist. The sky was bright and brilliant, and it was a very beautiful and solemn scene.

The entire kingdom grew prosperous and flourished. All goodness gathered together, and everything inauspicious withered away. Because of the prince's virtue, everything became harmonious. Because of this harmony, his fame spread everywhere.

His senses were perfectly formed, and his physical signs were wonderful to behold. He was like the new moon growing to its full capacity on the fifteenth day of the month. All the kings and elders offered him tribute. They offered him sandalwood chariots and golden deer as mounts.

Elephant ivory, gold, silver, and various jewels were combined. The chariots and colts were precious treasures. Children would play and laugh with them. There were silver geese and cranes with coral beaks.

As he grew older, they presented him with tribute. They offered him golden and precious games to entertain the prince. At a young age, he was already respectful to his elders. His patience was greater than the earth, and his respect was greater than Mount Sumeru (須彌 [xu mi]).

His mind was as profound as the sea and as broad as emptiness. As he passed his childhood, he entered a time of beauty. The various skills and techniques that people in the world learn, the prince was able to learn without any daily effort.

At the age of sixteen, his body was strong and healthy. He was skilled in both literary and martial arts, and his talents surpassed all the other members of the Śākya clan (諸釋 [zhu shi]). When the king saw the prince's virtues, which were more and more unique each day, and that he was the most powerful among his brothers, like a brave lion.

The king suddenly remembered the words of Āyí (阿夷 [a yi]). He thought, "How can I let him abandon his great virtues and enter the mountains to practice the path with diligence and hardship?" His heart was filled with doubt, and he summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

He thought of a plan to prevent his son from entering the mountains to study. The ministers were humble and respectful, like the ministers of the god Indra (天帝 [tian di]). They accepted the emperor's command and thought of a plan. After thinking for a while, they respectfully said: "We have heard your command, but it is difficult to keep your son here all of a sudden.

It is possible to cross the sea, the sun can lose its brightness, and the moon can abandon its coolness, but it is difficult to violate the prince's vow. Yes, O heavenly king, you should use skillful means. If you use skillful means, you will surely succeed. Even if you don't succeed, you will not have any regrets. If you abandon skillful means, it will be difficult to succeed.

We have heard of the ancient immortals who lived on air and water. They toiled and suffered, and their skin and bones were connected. They were as heavy as Mount Tai, but when the wind of desire blew, their love and hatred trembled, like trees shaken by the wind.

The beautiful halls, the colors, sounds, smells, and wonderful decorations of flowers and fragrance were like heavenly maidens. Even the greatest joy and the most captivating female musicians and the five desires (五欲 [wu yu]) could deceive the immortal ascetics.

The colors, sounds, smells, tastes, and fine touches that the mind delights in and the five senses crave. You must use a strong and powerful net of desire to bind the prince's mind, and then you will have no worries." The king agreed with this idea and immediately summoned beautiful women.

They were all sixteen years old or older and had beautiful and wonderful looks. Sixty-four kinds of charming and seductive looks were complete. He immediately brought these women to fill the prince's palace. They were well-trained, calm, and had a sense of shame. They were among the palace maidens, like the moon among the stars.

The prince hid his brilliant light and did not delight in the five desires (五欲 [wu yu]). His mouth never spoke any impolite words. His eyes did not look at the colors, just as a starving man would not look at entertainment. The palace maidens were ashamed, like darkness fleeing from the light.

When the king heard this, he could not rest on his bed. He immediately ordered all the beautiful and lovely women in the kingdom to come. "Anyone who has a wonderful daughter must bring her to the assembly. If anyone violates this command, a heavy punishment will be imposed."

After setting this strict limit, he brought out even more necklaces. He allowed them to take the necklaces as they wished and enter the palace to become palace maidens. Various decorations and all the gardens and pools were prepared. Countless women gathered, and they all received the necklaces.

The prince's virtue was like the sun, and no one could face his eyes. He held his mind steady, and there was nothing that could defile it. A daughter of the Śākya clan (釋種女 [shi zhong nu]), who held a staff, had a face like a heavenly maiden. Her heart was as patient as the earth, and her face was as bright as the full moon.

She was a descendant of an ancient holy king and was a fitting jewel among women. Her virtues were vast and covered the world, and she eliminated worries like heavenly joy. She was dignified and wise, and her form and appearance were radiant. She was the most excellent in reputation, and therefore, her name was Chúchēng (除稱 [chu cheng]).

She held a patala flower in her hand, and her eyes were like the petals of a dark blue lotus. With both hands, she held the beautiful flower and went to her mother with joy. "O mother, I am decorated, and I want to go to the palace to see the prince of the Śākya clan (釋太子 [shi tai zi]). My heart is naturally in love with him."

The mother immediately said to her daughter, "I would rather be punished than allow you to go." "O mother, please allow me to go." After she had pleaded with her parents again, they allowed her to follow her wish. She respectfully and humbly said goodbye to her compassionate parents.

She went with her entourage, like water constantly flowing toward the sea. When she arrived at the king's palace, she saw the prince from afar. For the past five hundred lives, she had been the prince's wife. Wherever she was born, she was the most excellent among women.

Because of the past-life connection, she gazed at the prince. Her face opened up with a joyful expression, like a water lotus flower in the sun. Her footsteps were slow and steady, without any sound. It was like all the rivers flowing into the sea and becoming still.

There was a woman among the crowd who sang two songs. The melody was very beautiful and fit the situation at that time. "A wonderful woman has come, holding a dark blue lotus flower. She remembers the good deeds of her past life, and this is to awaken her."

In her past life, she offered a famous flower to the Buddha Dīpaṅkara (定光佛 [ding guang fu]). She held the beautiful flower, which was like the goddess of fortune. The Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) suddenly heard the name of the Buddha Dīpaṅkara (定光佛 [ding guang fu]). His heart was moved. He slowly raised his eyes and looked around.

He spoke, saying, "Bring me the flower in your hand." His words were a blessing to everyone, like taking the medicine of ambrosia. She immediately brought the flower as he had said and offered it to the Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]). She stood on the left side of the Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]), like a bright star next to the moon.

The prince looked at her necklace and saw that it did not fit her. He took off his bright jeweled necklace and threw it around her neck. The bright jeweled necklace adorned the woman's appearance, making her beautiful and peerless. It made the light of the pearl even brighter.

It was like the god Indra (天帝釋 [tian di shi]) standing in a purple and dark blue palace. It was also like the moon on the fifteenth day of the month with all the stars. The entire palace was filled with joy, and they all spoke in unison. They said, "She is truly his fiancée." Everyone was very happy.

The sound of their singing and praising was heard by the king for a while. When the king heard it, he was very happy and rewarded them with many precious treasures.

The king immediately sent for the girl's parents. He gave them countless precious treasures. He summoned a wise Brahmin (梵志 [fan zhi]) to choose an auspicious day. He smoothed the ground with perfumed paste and decorated it with various flowers.

He used blessed ghee to satisfy the fire god (火神 [huo shen]). He poured water on the prince's hands, and the parents gave him their daughter. She became the prince's wife, the most excellent among women. She was by the prince's side, like the moon and stars.

[7] fú běn xíng jīng rù yù lùn pǐn dì qī

shì shí shì wáng,　　dé rì yè zēng；　　bǎo cāng guó jìng,
　míng chēng zhì huì.　　jīn bǎo jī jù,　　zhǒng zhǒng yīng luò；
　zhòng shàn lái guī,　　rú qiū hǎi yuān.　　xiàng mǎ chē chéng,
　yóu tiān yán jià；　　xián shàn diào liáng,　　zì rán yì jiù.
　gān zhè shí mì,　　sū rǔ shuǐ jiāng,　　jīng liáng gǔ mǐ,
　qì wèi lì zēng.　　yāng huàn pǔ chú,　　yuàn dí qū fù；
　jiù qīn zēng jìng,　　yì jǐn xiāo wáng.　　liáng fēng hé diào,
　shí yǔ xì rùn；　　kōng zhōng huǎng yù,　　shén hǎo yán bèi.
　jǐn wáng jìng tǔ,　　zhǎng yì fēng mào；　　zhòng shàn pǔ jí,
　bù xiáng kū jié.　　yǐ tài zi dé,　　hé chéng xié ǒu；
　yǐ xié ǒu gù,　　míng chēng pǔ wén.　　zhū gēn chéng jiù,
　xiāng hǎo kě guān；　　yóu yuè chū shēng,　　shí wǔ rì mǎn.
　zhū wáng zhǎng zhě,　　pǔ jìn gòng xiàn；　　zhān tán yáng chē,
　jià yù jīn lù.　　xiàng yá jīn yín,　　zá bǎo hé chéng；
　sù zhēn bǎo cè,　　xiàng zi mǎ jū.　　tóng zi yè nòng,
　xì xiào yú lè；　　bái yín yàn zi,　　shān hú kǒu zī.
　suí qí nián zhǎng,　　zhì xiàn gòng yù；　　jīn bǎo bó yì,
　yǐ gōng tài zi.　　nián zài yòu shǎo,　　wèi shì zūn zhǎng,
　zhòng yú xū mí,　　rěn rǔ guò de.　　yuān shēn yú hǎi,
　yì bó bāo kōng；　　shí guò hái tóng,　　chū rù zài měi.
　shì rén suǒ xí,　　zhòng zhū jì shù；　　tài zi xué néng,
　bù jiā rì láo.　　nián mǎn shí liù,　　tǐ lì jīng jiàn；
　wén wǔ jiān bèi,　　yì guò zhū shì.　　wáng dǔ tài zi,
　dé rì shū yì；　　xiōng dì zhōng měng,　　rú yǒng shī zi.
　wáng hū wù yì,　　ā yí suǒ yán；　　rú hé dāng lìng,
　shě shì hóng dé.　　shè kǔ rù shān,　　jīng qín xué dào；
　xīn jí huái yí,　　zhào zhū chén yì.　　sī jì lìng zi,
　bù rù shān xué；　　zhí qiān zūn jiào,　　rú tiān dì chén.
　chéng dì zhào mìng,　　sī jì shè lǐ；　　chén sī sī xū,
　zhí jìng qǐ yán:　　 “xún chéng mìng zhǐ,　　zi nán zú liú；
　hǎi kě guò jì,　　rì kě shī míng,　　yuè kě shě liáng,
　zi yuàn nán wéi.　　wéi rán tiān wáng,　　yí shè fāng biàn；
　ruò shè fāng biàn,　　wèi shì bì kè.　　jiǎ lìng bù kè,
　wú yí hèn qíng；　　shì lí fāng biàn,　　zé nán shī lì.
　tīng chéng gǔ xiān,　　fú shuǐ qì zhě；　　zhǎng láo kùn xíng,
　pí gǔ xiāng lián.　　zhòng rú tài shān,　　zāo yù fēng chuī；
　ài huì zhàn dòng,　　rú fēng chuī shù.　　yán miào táng shě,
　sè shēng xiāng wèi；　　huá xiāng yán shì,　　zhuàng rú tiān nǚ.
　dì yī shàng lè,　　mí zuì nǚ lè；　　wǔ yù yóu néng,
　mí huò xiān shì.　　fū sè shēng xiāng,　　wèi xì huá chù；
　zhū xīn suǒ xǐ,　　wǔ qíng suǒ tān.　　yǐ yù jiān láo,
　lì qiáng dà wǎng；　　yǐ xì zi xīn,　　nǎi kě wú yōu.”
　wáng rán cǐ yì,　　jí zhào měi nǚ；　　shí wǔ yǐ shàng,
　róng sè miào zhě.　　liù shí sì zhǒng,　　zī mèi jù bèi；
　xún zhì zhū nǚ,　　chōng tài zi gōng.　　jiǔ xué diào jìng,
　zhí cán kuì gē；　　yú cāi nǚ zhōng,　　rú yuè zhòng xīng.
　shè cáng huī guāng,　　bù gān wǔ yù；　　kǒu zhōng bù fā,
　bù xùn zhī yán.

yǎn bù qǐ shì sè,　　yóu è fū yú lè；
　zhū jì nǚ huái cán,　　rú míng táo guāng zǒu.
　fù wáng wén shì yǐ,　　bù ān qǐn yú chuáng；
　yīn gèng lìng jìng nèi,　　yǒu xiāng hǎo lè zhě.
　qí shuí yǒu miào nǚ?　　bì jǐn lái yīng huì；
　ruò yǒu wéi xiàn zhě,　　jiā zhī yǐ zhòng zhé.
　shè cǐ yán xiàn yǐ,　　yì chū zhòng yīng luò；
　zì zhī qǔ yīng luò,　　rù gōng wèi cāi nǚ.
　zhǒng zhǒng yán xiū shì,　　zhū yóu guān yuán chí；
　wú shù zhòng nǚ jí,　　jiē shòu fù yīng luò.
　tài zi dé rú rì,　　mù wú néng dāng zhě；
　zì zhí yì jiào jì,　　zhōng wú néng rǎn wū.
　zhí zhàng shì zhǒng nǚ,　　zī mào rú tiān nǚ；
　xīn rěn rǔ rú de,　　miàn huī rú yuè mǎn.
　gǔ shèng wáng miáo yì,　　xiāng yīng yù nǚ bǎo；
　dé guǎng fù tiān xià,　　chú yōu rú tiān lè.
　chí zhòng yǒu zhì huì,　　xiāng hǎo róng mào guāng；
　míng chēng zuì dì yī,　　shì gù hào chú chēng.
　shǒu zhí bō tán huā,　　yǎn rú gàn lián yè；
　liǎng shǒu fèng hǎo huā,　　huān xǐ yì qí mǔ.
　wéi mǔ jiàn yán shì,　　yì yù rù gōng guān；
　yù jiàn shì tài zi,　　xīn zì rán liàn mù.
　mǔ jí gào nǚ yuē:　　 “níng jīn shòu yù zhé；
　zhōng bù tīng rǔ wǎng.” 　　 “yuàn mǔ bì jiàn tīng.”
　zhòng qǐ fù mǔ yǐ,　　jí tīng suí qí yuàn；
　ài jìng zhí qiān gōng,　　bào cí fù mǔ yǐ.
　jiāng cóng xiǎn rán wǎng,　　rú shuǐ héng qù hǎi；
　zhì yú wáng gōng zhōng,　　dào yáo guān tài zi.
　guò qù wǔ bǎi shì,　　céng wèi tài zi qī；
　qí suǒ shēng zhī chù,　　nǚ zhōng zuì dì yī.
　qián shì yuán qiān gù,　　gù shú shì tài zi；
　yán róng yí kāi fū,　　rú rì shuǐ lián huá.
　jué xíng bù xiáng xù,　　jì rán wú shēng xiàng；
　yóu rú zhòng jiāng liú,　　rù hǎi zé jì dìng.
　zhòng zhōng yǒu yī nǚ,　　zào èr shǒu gē sòng；
　yīn yùn shén hé hǎo,　　yīng shí shùn shì lǐ.
　yǒu nǚ lái shén miào,　　zhí chí gàn lián huā；
　yì wǎng shì shàn xíng,　　gù yǐ xiāng fā wù.
　guò shì shàng míng huá,　　gōng yǎng dìng guāng fú；
　zhí huā shén shū hǎo,　　yóu rú jí lì tiān.
　pú sà hū rán wén,　　dìng guāng fú zhī míng；
　xīn zhōng jí jīng dòng,　　xú jǔ mù biàn shì.
　jí fā shēng wèi yuē:　　 “jìn shǒu zhōng huā lái.”
　yǐ yán zhòng suǒ jiǎo,　　rú fú gān lù yào.
　yīng shēng xún huā jìn,　　yǐ fèng shàng pú sà；
　shì zài pú sà zuǒ,　　rú míng xīng zài yuè.
　tài zi shì yīng luò,　　bù yí qí suǒ fú；
　jí jiě míng zhū yīng,　　zhì yǐ guà nǚ jǐng.
　yú shì míng zhū yīng,　　yán shì nǚ xíng róng；
　shū hǎo wú shuāng bǐ,　　yì fā míng zhū guāng.
　yóu rú tiān dì shì,　　chù yú zǐ gàn bì；
　yì rú shí wǔ rì,　　yuè yǔ zhòng xīng jù.
　hé gōng jǐn huān xǐ,　　jiē gòng tóng jǔ shēng；
　chēng yuē zhēn dé fēi,　　mò bù tóng shén huān.
　rú shì gē chēng shēng,　　sī xū liú wén wáng；
　wáng wén shén huān yuè,　　zhòng cì míng bǎo zhēn.

wáng jí lìng qiú,　　nǚ fù mǔ lái；　　cì yǔ zhēn bǎo,
　bù kě chēng jì.　　zhào míng fàn zhì,　　bo zé liáng chén；
　tú xiāng tǎn de,　　shì yǐ zhòng huā.　　yǐ shén zhòu sū,
　chōng bǎo huǒ shén；　　guàn tài zi shǒu,　　fù mǔ shòu nǚ.
　wèi tài zi fēi,　　nǚ zhōng dì yī；　　zài tài zi cè,
　rú rì yuè xīng.

fú běn xíng jīng juǎn dì yī

[7] fu ben xing jing ru yu lun pin di qi

shi shi shi wang, de ri ye zeng; bao cang guo jing,
ming cheng zhi hui. jin bao ji ju, zhong zhong ying luo;
zhong shan lai gui, ru qiu hai yuan. xiang ma che cheng,
you tian yan jia; xian shan diao liang, zi ran yi jiu.
gan zhe shi mi, su ru shui jiang, jing liang gu mi,
qi wei li zeng. yang huan pu chu, yuan di qu fu;
jiu qin zeng jing, yi jin xiao wang. liang feng he diao,
shi yu xi run; kong zhong huang yu, shen hao yan bei.
jin wang jing tu, zhang yi feng mao; zhong shan pu ji,
bu xiang ku jie. yi tai zi de, he cheng xie ou;
yi xie ou gu, ming cheng pu wen. zhu gen cheng jiu,
xiang hao ke guan; you yue chu sheng, shi wu ri man.
zhu wang zhang zhe, pu jin gong xian; zhan tan yang che,
jia yu jin lu. xiang ya jin yin, za bao he cheng;
su zhen bao ce, xiang zi ma ju. tong zi ye nong,
xi xiao yu le; bai yin yan zi, shan hu kou zi.
sui qi nian zhang, zhi xian gong yu; jin bao bo yi,
yi gong tai zi. nian zai you shao, wei shi zun zhang,
zhong yu xu mi, ren ru guo de. yuan shen yu hai,
yi bo bao kong; shi guo hai tong, chu ru zai mei.
shi ren suo xi, zhong zhu ji shu; tai zi xue neng,
bu jia ri lao. nian man shi liu, ti li jing jian;
wen wu jian bei, yi guo zhu shi. wang du tai zi,
de ri shu yi; xiong di zhong meng, ru yong shi zi.
wang hu wu yi, a yi suo yan; ru he dang ling,
she shi hong de. she ku ru shan, jing qin xue dao;
xin ji huai yi, zhao zhu chen yi. si ji ling zi,
bu ru shan xue; zhi qian zun jiao, ru tian di chen.
cheng di zhao ming, si ji she li; chen si si xu,
zhi jing qi yan: "xun cheng ming zhi, zi nan zu liu;
hai ke guo ji, ri ke shi ming, yue ke she liang,
zi yuan nan wei. wei ran tian wang, yi she fang bian;
ruo she fang bian, wei shi bi ke. jia ling bu ke,
wu yi hen qing; shi li fang bian, ze nan shi li.
ting cheng gu xian, fu shui qi zhe; zhang lao kun xing,
pi gu xiang lian. zhong ru tai shan, zao yu feng chui;
ai hui zhan dong, ru feng chui shu. yan miao tang she,
se sheng xiang wei; hua xiang yan shi, zhuang ru tian nu.
di yi shang le, mi zui nu le; wu yu you neng,
mi huo xian shi. fu se sheng xiang, wei xi hua chu;
zhu xin suo xi, wu qing suo tan. yi yu jian lao,
li qiang da wang; yi xi zi xin, nai ke wu you."
wang ran ci yi, ji zhao mei nu; shi wu yi shang,
rong se miao zhe. liu shi si zhong, zi mei ju bei;
xun zhi zhu nu, chong tai zi gong. jiu xue diao jing,
zhi can kui ge; yu cai nu zhong, ru yue zhong xing.
she cang hui guang, bu gan wu yu; kou zhong bu fa,
bu xun zhi yan.

yan bu qi shi se, you e fu yu le;
zhu ji nu huai can, ru ming tao guang zou.
fu wang wen shi yi, bu an qin yu chuang;
yin geng ling jing nei, you xiang hao le zhe.
qi shui you miao nu? bi jin lai ying hui;
ruo you wei xian zhe, jia zhi yi zhong zhe.
she ci yan xian yi, yi chu zhong ying luo;
zi zhi qu ying luo, ru gong wei cai nu.
zhong zhong yan xiu shi, zhu you guan yuan chi;
wu shu zhong nu ji, jie shou fu ying luo.
tai zi de ru ri, mu wu neng dang zhe;
zi zhi yi jiao ji, zhong wu neng ran wu.
zhi zhang shi zhong nu, zi mao ru tian nu;
xin ren ru ru de, mian hui ru yue man.
gu sheng wang miao yi, xiang ying yu nu bao;
de guang fu tian xia, chu you ru tian le.
chi zhong you zhi hui, xiang hao rong mao guang;
ming cheng zui di yi, shi gu hao chu cheng.
shou zhi bo tan hua, yan ru gan lian ye;
liang shou feng hao hua, huan xi yi qi mu.
wei mu jian yan shi, yi yu ru gong guan;
yu jian shi tai zi, xin zi ran lian mu.
mu ji gao nu yue: "ning jin shou yu zhe;
zhong bu ting ru wang." "yuan mu bi jian ting."
zhong qi fu mu yi, ji ting sui qi yuan;
ai jing zhi qian gong, bao ci fu mu yi.
jiang cong xian ran wang, ru shui heng qu hai;
zhi yu wang gong zhong, dao yao guan tai zi.
guo qu wu bai shi, ceng wei tai zi qi;
qi suo sheng zhi chu, nu zhong zui di yi.
qian shi yuan qian gu, gu shu shi tai zi;
yan rong yi kai fu, ru ri shui lian hua.
jue xing bu xiang xu, ji ran wu sheng xiang;
you ru zhong jiang liu, ru hai ze ji ding.
zhong zhong you yi nu, zao er shou ge song;
yin yun shen he hao, ying shi shun shi li.
you nu lai shen miao, zhi chi gan lian hua;
yi wang shi shan xing, gu yi xiang fa wu.
guo shi shang ming hua, gong yang ding guang fu;
zhi hua shen shu hao, you ru ji li tian.
pu sa hu ran wen, ding guang fu zhi ming;
xin zhong ji jing dong, xu ju mu bian shi.
ji fa sheng wei yue: "jin shou zhong hua lai."
yi yan zhong suo jiao, ru fu gan lu yao.
ying sheng xun hua jin, yi feng shang pu sa;
shi zai pu sa zuo, ru ming xing zai yue.
tai zi shi ying luo, bu yi qi suo fu;
ji jie ming zhu ying, zhi yi gua nu jing.
yu shi ming zhu ying, yan shi nu xing rong;
shu hao wu shuang bi, yi fa ming zhu guang.
you ru tian di shi, chu yu zi gan bi;
yi ru shi wu ri, yue yu zhong xing ju.
he gong jin huan xi, jie gong tong ju sheng;
cheng yue zhen de fei, mo bu tong shen huan.
ru shi ge cheng sheng, si xu liu wen wang;
wang wen shen huan yue, zhong ci ming bao zhen.

wang ji ling qiu, nu fu mu lai; ci yu zhen bao,
bu ke cheng ji. zhao ming fan zhi, bo ze liang chen;
tu xiang tan de, shi yi zhong hua. yi shen zhou su,
chong bao huo shen; guan tai zi shou, fu mu shou nu.
wei tai zi fei, nu zhong di yi; zai tai zi ce,
ru ri yue xing.

fu ben xing jing juan di yi