增支部第 4 集（Sujato 英译）第 114 阅读页 · AN4.114 · A Royal Elephant

Numbered Discourses 4.114Numbered Discourses 4.11412. With Kesi12. With Kesi

A Royal ElephantA Royal Elephant“Mendicants, a royal bull elephant with four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship.“Mendicants, a royal bull elephant with four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship.What four?What four?

A royal bull elephant listens, destroys, endures, and goes fast.A royal bull elephant listens, destroys, endures, and goes fast.And how does a royal bull elephant listen?And how does a royal bull elephant listen?It’s when a royal bull elephant pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to whatever task the elephant trainer has it do,It’s when a royal bull elephant pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to whatever task the elephant trainer has it do,

whether or not it has done it before.whether or not it has done it before.That’s how a royal bull elephant listens.That’s how a royal bull elephant listens.And how does a royal bull elephant destroy?And how does a royal bull elephant destroy?

It’s when a royal bull elephant in battle destroys elephants with their riders, horses with their riders, chariots and charioteers, and foot soldiers.It’s when a royal bull elephant in battle destroys elephants with their riders, horses with their riders, chariots and charioteers, and foot soldiers.That’s how a royal bull elephant destroys.That’s how a royal bull elephant destroys.And how does a royal bull elephant endure?And how does a royal bull elephant endure?

It’s when a royal bull elephant in battle endures being struck by spears, swords, arrows, and axes; it endures the thunder of the drums, kettledrums, horns, and cymbals.It’s when a royal bull elephant in battle endures being struck by spears, swords, arrows, and axes; it endures the thunder of the drums, kettledrums, horns, and cymbals.That’s how a royal bull elephant endures.That’s how a royal bull elephant endures.And how does a royal bull elephant go fast?And how does a royal bull elephant go fast?

It’s when a royal bull elephant swiftly goes in whatever direction the elephant trainer sends it,It’s when a royal bull elephant swiftly goes in whatever direction the elephant trainer sends it,whether or not it has been there before.whether or not it has been there before.That’s how a royal bull elephant goes fast.That’s how a royal bull elephant goes fast.

A royal bull elephant with four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship.A royal bull elephant with four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship.In the same way, a mendicant with four qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.In the same way, a mendicant with four qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.What four?What four?

A mendicant listens, destroys, endures, and goes fast.A mendicant listens, destroys, endures, and goes fast.And how does a mendicant listen?And how does a mendicant listen?It’s when a mendicant pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens when the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One is being taught.It’s when a mendicant pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens when the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One is being taught.

That’s how a mendicant listens.That’s how a mendicant listens.And how does a mendicant destroy?And how does a mendicant destroy?It’s when a mendicant doesn’t tolerate a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought. They don’t tolerate any bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen, but give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.It’s when a mendicant doesn’t tolerate a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought. They don’t tolerate any bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen, but give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them.

That’s how a mendicant destroys.That’s how a mendicant destroys.And how does a mendicant endure?And how does a mendicant endure?It’s when a mendicant endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; rude and unwelcome criticism; and they put up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening.It’s when a mendicant endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles; rude and unwelcome criticism; and they put up with physical pain—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, disagreeable, and life-threatening.

That’s how a mendicant endures.That’s how a mendicant endures.And how does a mendicant go fast?And how does a mendicant go fast?It’s when a mendicant swiftly goes in the direction they’ve never gone before in all this long time; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.It’s when a mendicant swiftly goes in the direction they’ve never gone before in all this long time; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.

That’s how a mendicant goes fast.That’s how a mendicant goes fast.A mendicant with these four qualities … is the supreme field of merit for the world.”A mendicant with these four qualities … is the supreme field of merit for the world.”