增支部第 7 集（Sujato 英译）第 53 阅读页 · AN7.53 · Nanda’s Mother

Numbered Discourses 7.53Numbered Discourses 7.535. A Great Sacrifice5. A Great Sacrifice

Nanda’s MotherNanda’s MotherSo I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the venerables Sāriputta and Mahāmoggallāna were wandering in the Southern Hills together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.At one time the venerables Sāriputta and Mahāmoggallāna were wandering in the Southern Hills together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.

Now at that time the laywoman Veḷukaṇṭakī, Nanda’s mother, rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of “The Way to the Far Shore”.Now at that time the laywoman Veḷukaṇṭakī, Nanda’s mother, rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of “The Way to the Far Shore”.And at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business.And at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business.He heard Nanda’s Mother reciting, and stood waiting for her to finish.He heard Nanda’s Mother reciting, and stood waiting for her to finish.

Then when her recital was over she fell silent.Then when her recital was over she fell silent.Then, knowing she had finished, Vessavaṇa applauded, saying,Then, knowing she had finished, Vessavaṇa applauded, saying,“Good, sister! Good, sister!”“Good, sister! Good, sister!”

“But who might you be, dearest?”“But who might you be, dearest?”“Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.”“Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.”“Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.”“Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.”

“Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.“Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me.Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me.Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.”Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.”

And when the night had passed the lay woman Nanda’s Mother had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in her own home.And when the night had passed the lay woman Nanda’s Mother had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in her own home.Then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna arrived at Veḷukaṇṭa.Then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna arrived at Veḷukaṇṭa.Then Nanda’s Mother addressed a man,Then Nanda’s Mother addressed a man,

“Please, my man, go to the monastery and announce the time to the Saṅgha, saying:“Please, my man, go to the monastery and announce the time to the Saṅgha, saying:‘Sirs, it’s time. The meal is ready in the home of the lady Nanda’s Mother.’”‘Sirs, it’s time. The meal is ready in the home of the lady Nanda’s Mother.’”“Yes, ma’am,” that man replied, and he did as she said.“Yes, ma’am,” that man replied, and he did as she said.

And then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, went to the home of Nanda’s Mother, where they sat on the seats spread out.And then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, went to the home of Nanda’s Mother, where they sat on the seats spread out.Then Nanda’s Mother served and satisfied them with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.Then Nanda’s Mother served and satisfied them with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.When Sāriputta had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Nanda’s Mother sat down to one side.When Sāriputta had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Nanda’s Mother sat down to one side.

Sāriputta said to her,Sāriputta said to her,“Nanda’s Mother, who told you that the Saṅgha of mendicants was about to arrive?”“Nanda’s Mother, who told you that the Saṅgha of mendicants was about to arrive?”“Sir, last night I rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of ‘The Way to the Far Shore’, and then I fell silent.“Sir, last night I rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of ‘The Way to the Far Shore’, and then I fell silent.

Then the great king Vessavaṇa, knowing I had finished, applauded me,Then the great king Vessavaṇa, knowing I had finished, applauded me,‘Good, sister! Good, sister!’‘Good, sister! Good, sister!’I asked: ‘But who might you be, dearest?’I asked: ‘But who might you be, dearest?’

‘Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.’‘Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.’‘Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.’‘Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.’‘Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.‘Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.

Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me.Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me.Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.’Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.’And so, sir, may the merit and the flourishing of merit of this gift be for the happiness of the great king Vessavaṇa.”And so, sir, may the merit and the flourishing of merit of this gift be for the happiness of the great king Vessavaṇa.”

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazingthat you converse face to face with a mighty and illustrious godling like the great king Vessavaṇa.”that you converse face to face with a mighty and illustrious godling like the great king Vessavaṇa.”“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

there is another.there is another.I had an only son named Nanda who I loved dearly.I had an only son named Nanda who I loved dearly.The rulers forcibly abducted him on some pretext and had him executed.The rulers forcibly abducted him on some pretext and had him executed.

But I can’t recall getting upset when my boy was under arrest or being arrested, imprisoned or being put in prison, killed or being killed.”But I can’t recall getting upset when my boy was under arrest or being arrested, imprisoned or being put in prison, killed or being killed.”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazingthat you purify even the arising of a thought.”that you purify even the arising of a thought.”

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;there is another.there is another.When my husband passed away he was reborn in one of the realms of spirits.When my husband passed away he was reborn in one of the realms of spirits.

He revealed to me his previous incarnation.He revealed to me his previous incarnation.But I can’t recall getting upset on that account.”But I can’t recall getting upset on that account.”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing

that you purify even the arising of a thought.”that you purify even the arising of a thought.”“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;there is another.there is another.

Ever since we were both young, and I was given in marriage to my husband, I can’t recall betraying him even in thought, still less in deed.”Ever since we were both young, and I was given in marriage to my husband, I can’t recall betraying him even in thought, still less in deed.”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazingthat you purify even the arising of a thought.”that you purify even the arising of a thought.”

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;there is another.there is another.Ever since I declared myself a lay follower, I can’t recall deliberately breaking any precept.”Ever since I declared myself a lay follower, I can’t recall deliberately breaking any precept.”

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;there is another.there is another.

Whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.Whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, I enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, I enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

And with the fading away of rapture, I enter and remain in the third absorption, where I meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’And with the fading away of rapture, I enter and remain in the third absorption, where I meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, I enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.”With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, I enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.”

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;there is another.there is another.

Of the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.”Of the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”Then Venerable Sāriputta educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Nanda’s Mother with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.Then Venerable Sāriputta educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Nanda’s Mother with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.