At that time, there was a Brahmin’s son named Udaayin. He was wise, intelligent, and eloquent. The king summoned him and said:
“The prince is in this world but does not seek enjoyment. Before long, he may express a desire to leave home and learn the sacred path. You must become his friend and speak to him of the joys of living according to desire. Persuade him to abandon any thoughts of renouncing the world.”
Udaayin accepted the king’s command and constantly accompanied the prince, never leaving his side. Together, they indulged in music and dance.
Some time later, the prince again expressed a desire to go outside. The king, thinking that Udaayin was now the prince’s companion, permitted the outing.
“The prince will no longer be inclined to renounce the world,” the king thought.
The Ruins of Kapilavastu (Northern India) The ruins believed to be the remains of Kapilavastu, the city where the Buddha lived before renouncing the world, are scattered, and their exact location is now unknown. Several sites are identified as the ruins of Kapilavastu.
The prince went out with Udaayin and many officials. Incense was burned, flowers were scattered, music was played, and dances were performed. They departed through the western gate.
Devaloka thought:
“The prince saw the sufferings of old age and illness, and word of this reached the king. The king knows the prince did not find pleasure in the world after seeing these sufferings. Now, we must show him death. However, if others see this and tell the king, he will become angry, and we will be punished. We will show this only to the prince and Udaayin.”
Devaloka transformed into a dead man. A dead man was placed on a litter, with incense and flowers scattered over the body. The people wept as they sent off the procession. Only the prince and Udaayin saw this.
The prince asked Udaayin:
“What is this man?”
Following the king’s command, Udaayin did not answer. The prince asked three times, but Udaayin remained silent. Then, the Devaloka used their supernatural power to control Udaayin’s mind, compelling him to answer:
“This is a dead man.”
The prince asked:
“What is a dead man?”
Udaayin replied:
“Death means that the body no longer responds, the spirit leaves, and all bodily functions cease. This person, while alive, indulged in desires and loved wealth but did not know impermanence. All of these things vanished at the moment of death. Although he had parents, relatives, friends, and servants, no one follows him after death. He is like a tree or a plant. Such is the pitiable state of those who die.”
The prince, hearing this, was greatly frightened and asked Udaayin:
“Is this the fate of only this man, or do all people die?”
“All people become like this,” Udaayin replied.
The prince then turned his chariot around and returned to the palace.
The king summoned Udaayin and asked:
“Did the prince enjoy his outing?”
“Shortly after leaving the city, we encountered a dead man on the road. I do not know where he came from. Only the prince and I saw him.”
Upon hearing this, the king thought:
“Only the prince and Udaayin saw this, no one else. It must have been the gods who revealed it. None of the servants who accompanied them is to blame. The prophet’s prediction was correct.”
The king was deeply saddened and sent messengers daily to tell the prince:
“This kingdom belongs to you. Why do you always carry such a heavy heart and refuse to enjoy life?”
The king commanded his ministers:
“The prince has already gone out through the eastern, southern, and western gates, but he has not yet gone out through the northern gate. This time, he must leave through the northern gate. Decorate the path beautifully and make sure that no old people, sick people, or funeral processions are allowed on the way.”
In his heart, the king prayed:
“O gods, when the prince goes out, please do not show him anything inauspicious. Do not plant sorrow or worry in his heart.”
The prince again told the king that he wished to go out. The king arranged for Udaayin and many officials to accompany him. They left through the northern gate and arrived at a garden. The prince dismounted from his horse and sat properly under a tree. He dismissed the many people who had come with him, calmed his mind, and meditated on the sufferings of old age, sickness, and death.
At that moment, Devaloka appeared before the prince, disguised as a monk. The monk wore the robes of the Dharma, held a begging bowl and staff. The prince asked:
“Who are you?”
“I am a bhikkhu,” replied the figure.
“What is a bhikkhu?” asked the prince.
“A bhikkhu is one who has cut off worldly desires, attained enlightenment, and is no longer reborn. The things of this world are fleeting and ever-changing, but the path I follow transcends these impurities. I am not swayed by what I see, startled by what I hear, enticed by scents, indulged by tastes, or confused by sensations. I do not wander in the false teachings of the world, but I have reached the shore of liberation.”
Bhikkhus in Thailand
Having said this, the figure rose into the sky and disappeared through divine power. The prince mounted his horse and returned to the palace.
The king asked Udaayin:
“Did the prince enjoy his outing?”
“This time, we encountered nothing inauspicious along the way. However, when the prince reached the garden and sat under a tree, a man approached. His head was shaved, and his robes were dyed. The prince spoke with him for a while, and after their conversation, the man flew into the sky. I do not know what was said, but the prince seemed pleased while talking with him. However, after returning to the palace, the prince has sunk even deeper into melancholy.”
The king did not understand that this was a good sign.
“The prince will soon declare his desire to renounce the world and follow the sacred path,” the king feared, and he mourned deeply.
(End of Section 1-3)
[Translation]
Siro Inuzuka
This text was created by using ChatGPT-4o to translate a modern Japanese translation into English, and then making some modifications. There may be errors in the English expressions. Please correct any mistakes.
[Explanation]
Shinichi Kusano / Siro Inuzuka
The Mysterious Man, Udaayin
There are several individuals named Udaayin, leading to frequent confusion. Siddhartha’s companion was also called Udaayin, and after Siddhartha became the Buddha, both the Udaayins became monks and his disciples. It’s understandable that they are often mistaken for one another.
One of the Udaayins met a very dramatic end: after giving a sermon to a couple about the sin of adultery, he was killed by the wife, who was herself guilty of the act. However, it’s unclear if this Udaayin is the same as the one in this story.
Udaayin in this story is a young man blessed with wealth, status, looks, and wisdom. Being chosen to accompany the melancholy prince suggests he was a cheerful character.
Buddha Has Multiple Characters
The theme of this story is “sparrows can’t understand the aspirations of phoenixes and swans.” The father-king cannot understand the prince, but this is inevitable. It’s only natural for a father to want his son to stay by his side.
The prince depicted here is not a superhuman, as seen in other stories
For example, in this episode, the Buddha, right after birth, can walk and even chant. However, in this story, he is portrayed as naive – a sheltered young noble unfamiliar with the world.
The life of the Buddha is a collection of various episodes, some grounded in reality and others shaped by legend. You might think that this story feels closer to the truth, but that is merely a common perspective.
Modern Thai temple mural (detail)
[Cooperation]
Shinichi Kusano
●Japanese
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