Overall Teaching

The Bodhisattva gets permission from the king to leave home, but later the king and the Śākyas prepare to prevent him from leaving by placing armies at the exits of the palace and bolting the door closed. When the Bodhisattva declares his intent to leave the gods come and pay homage to him. He requests Chanda to get the horse Kaṇṭhaka, and eventually he convinces him to do so. With the god’s cooperation the Bodhisattva leaves home. He exchanges his clothes for robes and cuts his hair. Chanda relays the news of what happened to the people in the palace, who the gods made fall asleep at the time of the departure.

Summary

1.     The Bodhisattva decided that it was necessary to get the king’s permission before he left home. As he entered the king’s quarters the king woke as the light from the Bodhisattva was bright like sunlight.

a. When the king came face to face with the Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva announced that it was time for him to leave home and asked not to be hindered but to be forgiven.

b. The king replied that he would do anything to keep the Bodhisattva at home. The Bodhisattva replied that he could stay if the king could give him freedom from old age, eternal youth, health, and life. The king replied that this was impossible, even for sages who live for aeons.

c. As an alternative the Bodhisattva asked the king to grant him freedom from rebirth if he must die. The king then let go of his attachment and bid his son leave and fulfil his wishes. The prince then returned to his bed.

2.     The elders of the Śākyas and the king decided that they should guard the Bodhisattva to prevent him from leaving by placing five hundred chariots, each with five hundred infantrymen at each gate, and at intersections and highways. The king himself kept watch at the palace gate.

a. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī told the servants to keep the lights on and entertainments all night and to lock all doors with guards. She said that the prince should be confronted but unharmed. The girls who surrounded the prince were armed with spears. She said that if he were to leave the palace would lose joy and the royal lineage would be interrupted.

3.     The yakṣa generals, such as Pāñcika and the sons of Hārītī, declared that they should make offerings to the Bodhisattva on the night that he would leave, and the Four Great Kings said that they must help him by carrying the hooves of his horse with their hands. The yakṣas said that no one could lift a Bodhisattva, but Vaiśravaṇa said that this only applies to those with pride: those with love and respect for the Bodhisattva will find him as light as cotton. Vaiśravaṇa said he will walk in front while they carry the horse.

a. When Śakra announced that the prince would leave that night, the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three declared that they would cause all people in Kapilavastu to fall asleep and to silence all creatures, and create a divine road in mid-air for him to travel across. Other deities said they would venerate the Bodhisattva, open the gates, make the consorts look unappealing, and cause the Bodhisattva to awaken.

4.     As the Bodhisattva rested in the music hall he reflected on his four past aspirations:

a.     May I liberate beings from saṃsāra and craving.

b.    May I shine the light of Dharma to remove beings’ ignorance.

c.     May I bring down the banner of pride that believes in a self with the noble path.

d.    May I show disturbed beings the Dharma of tranquillity through knowledge.

5.     After the gods made the consorts appear more unappealing, they asked the Bodhisattva how he could be delighted living amid a cemetery: the Bodhisattva looked around and agreed that it was like a cemetery with most of them look quite repulsive and disgusting.

6.     The Bodhisattva lamented the plight of sentient beings and how they are childish with many similes, e.g. childish beings play like children toying with their own excrement. He also reflected upon the impurity of his own body and reflected upon how beings have bodies that are filled with filth, and wondered how anyone could be attached to it.

a. When he was reflecting the gods asked the god Dharmacārin wondered whether he was dawdling and not going to leave as he promised, but Dharmacārin said indeed the Bodhisattva had developed detachment and would leave.

b. The Bodhisattva, ascending to the palace roof, saw Indra and all of the other gods, who all removed their diadems and crowns and bowed before the Bodhisattva. 

7.     At midnight the Bodhisattva called upon Chanda and asked him to bring the horses. After being asked where he is going, considering how delightful he is, the Bodhisattva replied that for trillions of years he has trained in the perfections and now the time has come for him to release being from old age and death.

a. Chanda said that when the king consulted sages they revealed that he would either become the universal monarch or a buddha, saying that despite being impossible to deny the prophecy the Bodhisattva already possesses all the good fortune sought by those who practice austerities: beautiful palaces, gardens, consorts, and beautiful and favourable features, so he should enjoy himself while he is young and leave home when he is older.

b. The Bodhisattva replied that sense pleasures are impermanent and turbulent, resulting only in suffering, lasting only for a moment and disappearing like a hallucination; like the head of a viper, desires are dangerous to touch.

c. Chanda replied by asking why ascetics undergo difficulties like becoming emaciated. He insisted that he should instead become a universal monarch with good dignity, and enjoy the pleasures of the palace.

d. The Bodhisattva replied by saying that in previous births he experienced countless sufferings, beatings, and death because of desire and not knowing the Dharma and having wrong views. Knowing impermanence and no-self, he is no longer attached to objects and will instead become a king over all phenomena and the Dharma.

e. Chanda asked whether he could see how beautiful the maidens were, and how lovely the music in the palace was, with its flowers, ornaments, finest cuisine, beverages, and so forth. He asked where he could go, when staying here he has nicely scented clothing. He again insisted that he stay, revel, and later retreat to the forest.

f.  The Bodhisattva replied that for aeons he has enjoyed the greatest sense pleasures, become a universal monarch before, became a great deva ruling over heavens, been the lord of demons, and asked how now he can again be satisfied with inferior pleasures. He insisted that this world is full of misery and that beings here blindly suffer the onslaught of their desires. He resolved that after he crosses the ocean of saṃsāra he will establish beings on the dry land free from old age and death.

g. Chanda asked whether his resolve was based on conviction, and the Bodhisattva replied that it was impossible to move as Mount Meru. Chanda asked how he can be certain. The Bodhisattva replied that even if he were attacked or struck by lightning he would never want to be a householder again.

h. The gods who were watching praised him saying that devoid of compassion he protects and grants fearlessness to beings, untouched by the world like a lotus rising from the water.

8.     The gods  Śāntamati and Lalitavyūha caused everyone to fall asleep in the palace and the Bodhisattva again asked Chanda to bring the horse Kaṇṭhaka. The Four Great Kings and their retinues, along with Śakra and the gods of the Heaven of the Thirty Three then approached to circumambulated and make offerings to the Bodhisattva as he renounced home.

a. Chanda, however, insisted that this was not the right time to leave, but the Bodhisattva replied that he had made the resolve long ago, and now it is time.

b. The other gods then approached to make offerings to the Bodhisattva. The constellation Puṣya announced that he will ensure that there are no obstacles. All the gods let flowers rain down as the Bodhisattva sat cross-legged and again requested for Chanda to bring Kaṇṭhaka if he has any affection for him.

c. Chanda replied that the gates are firmly shut and bolted, so who could open them. Śakra then opened the gates with just his mind, and Chanda wondered what he would do now to convince the Bodhisattva to stay, wondering what use the vast army guarding the palace was at this time. Billions of gods then told Chanda to get the horse, telling him that they put everyone in the palace to sleep and are making offerings for the Bodhisattva’s going forth.

d. Chanda then told Kaṇṭhaka to neigh as he would be rid by the supreme charioteer of beings, as he adorned him with jasmine coloured hoofs and gold. He then gave the horse to the Bodhisattva, wishing that all his aspirations would be fulfilled and bring all beings happiness.

9.     When the Bodhisattva arose, the earth shook in six ways, and he was led on his way by Śakra and Brahmā. As he proceeded the light that emerged from him filled everyone with delight and made all in the city happy. 

a. As he was leaving the deity of the city told him that if he leaves the palace he will lose all happiness and that the city would lose its magnificence and would become like a wasteland, insisting that he stay and become a universal monarch.

b. The Bodhisattva looked back at the city said he would not return to the city until he attained Buddhahood, or even turn his face to it again, regardless of his posture.

10.  As the Bodhisattva departed the city he was praised by the celestial maidens (apsaras), who noted his great discipline for aeons. They noted that he has sacrificed himself countless times, and remained tranquil in meditation. Moreover, he possesses the four immeasurables and is worthy of being honoured by the gods. Like a king or like Śakra and Brahmā he is firm and conquers all enemies. Like the sun or moon he illumines all, and is immovable and unshakable like Mount Meru, having defeated all demons of death, afflictions, aggregates, and god. Soon to establish the noble eightfold path, they wished that through the merit of praising him they would soon become like him.

a. Having left, he crossed over the lands of the Śākyas, Kroḍyas, and Mallas, and when he was six leagues from Anumaineya in Maineya, he took off his ornaments and gave them to Chanda, telling him to take them and return to the palace: that place is called Chanda’s Return.

b. Considering how long his hair, which was not appropriate for a monk, he cut his hair and the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three collected it for worship: that place is called Receipt of the Hair.

c. Considering that he needed to wear monastic robes, a god of the pure realms manifested as a hunter wearing saffron coloured cloth. The Bodhisattva asked for those robes and he was given them in exchange for the prince’s silken garments: that place is called Memorial of Receiving the Saffron-Coloured Cloth.

d. After the Bodhisattva did this, the gods felt joyous and were happy that the Bodhisattva could soon relieve the world from old age, sickness, and death.

11.  The consorts could not find the Bodhisattva and searched through all three of his palaces. Not finding him they cried and lamented very loudly, throwing fits on the floor.

a. When the king heard this and found out that the prince had left, he had his men search inside the gates but he wasn’t found. Then Mahāprajāpatī collapsed on the ground and told the king to find the prince. The king ordered his messengers on horseback to find him and not turn back until they have.

b. The messengers saw the remains of a rain of flowers outside the Gate of Auspiciousness and eventually met Chanda on the road with Kaṇṭhaka with the god who wore the prince’s garments. They asked him if the prince was killed by the god appearing as a hunter, and Chanda explained what had happened.

c. The men then asked Chanda if they should pursue the prince and Chanda said that they should not, as he is so steadfast, and that he will not return due to his discipline and steadfastness.

d. After no non-god could lift the ornaments, Mahāprajāpatī had them dropped into the pond, which is called the Lake of the Ornaments.

12.  What had happened when Chanda returned was recounted in verse form. Added was the fact that Gopā lamented, saying that she will stay on the ground and not sleep in the bed, practicing austerities until he returned. She also reflected on how the city had become devoid of good qualities since he left. Mahāprajāpatī told Gopā not to lament since he would be fulfilling his supreme vow. Moreover, it is noted that the king also collapsed when he first heard that the prince had left home and that Chanda related to him all that had happened. Chanda also had to reconcile Mahāprajāpatī and Gopā, telling the latter that he believes she will also become just like him.