长部第 17 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · King Mahāsudassana · 1/3

Long Discourses 17Long Discourses 17King MahāsudassanaKing Mahāsudassana

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying between a pair of sal trees in the sal forest of the Mallas at Upavattana near Kusinārā at the time of his full extinguishment.At one time the Buddha was staying between a pair of sal trees in the sal forest of the Mallas at Upavattana near Kusinārā at the time of his full extinguishment.Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“Sir, please don’t be fully extinguished in this little hamlet, this jungle hamlet, this branch hamlet.“Sir, please don’t be fully extinguished in this little hamlet, this jungle hamlet, this branch hamlet.There are other great cities such asThere are other great cities such asCampā, Rājagaha, Sāvatthī, Sāketa, Kosambī, and Varanasi.Campā, Rājagaha, Sāvatthī, Sāketa, Kosambī, and Varanasi.

Let the Buddha be fully extinguished there.Let the Buddha be fully extinguished there.There are many well-to-do aristocrats, brahmins, and householders there who are devoted to the Buddha. They will perform the rites of venerating the Realized One’s corpse.”There are many well-to-do aristocrats, brahmins, and householders there who are devoted to the Buddha. They will perform the rites of venerating the Realized One’s corpse.”“Don’t say that, Ānanda! Don’t say that“Don’t say that, Ānanda! Don’t say that

this is a little hamlet, a jungle hamlet, a branch hamlet.this is a little hamlet, a jungle hamlet, a branch hamlet.

1. The Capital City of Kusāvatī1. The Capital City of Kusāvatī

Once upon a time, there was a king named Mahāsudassana whose dominion extended to all four sides, and who achieved stability in the country.Once upon a time, there was a king named Mahāsudassana whose dominion extended to all four sides, and who achieved stability in the country.His capital was this Kusinārā, which at the time was named Kusāvatī.His capital was this Kusinārā, which at the time was named Kusāvatī.It stretched for twelve leagues from east to west, and seven leagues from north to south.It stretched for twelve leagues from east to west, and seven leagues from north to south.

The royal capital of Kusāvatī was successful and prosperous, populous and full of people, with plenty of food.The royal capital of Kusāvatī was successful and prosperous, populous and full of people, with plenty of food.It was just like Āḷakamandā, the royal capital of the gods, which is successful and prosperous, populous and full of spirits, with plenty of food.It was just like Āḷakamandā, the royal capital of the gods, which is successful and prosperous, populous and full of spirits, with plenty of food.Kusāvatī was never free of ten sounds by day or night, namely:Kusāvatī was never free of ten sounds by day or night, namely:

the sound of elephants, horses, chariots, drums, clay drums, arched harps, singing, horns, gongs, and handbells; and the cry, ‘Eat, drink, be merry!’ as the tenth.the sound of elephants, horses, chariots, drums, clay drums, arched harps, singing, horns, gongs, and handbells; and the cry, ‘Eat, drink, be merry!’ as the tenth.Kusāvatī was encircled by seven ramparts:Kusāvatī was encircled by seven ramparts:one made of gold, one made of silver, one made of beryl, one made of crystal, one made of ruby, one made of emerald, and one made of all precious things.one made of gold, one made of silver, one made of beryl, one made of crystal, one made of ruby, one made of emerald, and one made of all precious things.

It had four gates,It had four gates,made of gold, silver, beryl, and crystal.made of gold, silver, beryl, and crystal.At each gate there were seven pillars, three fathoms deep and four fathoms high,At each gate there were seven pillars, three fathoms deep and four fathoms high,

made of gold, silver, beryl, crystal, ruby, emerald, and all precious things.made of gold, silver, beryl, crystal, ruby, emerald, and all precious things.It was surrounded by seven rows of palm trees,It was surrounded by seven rows of palm trees,made of gold, silver, beryl, crystal, ruby, emerald, and all precious things.made of gold, silver, beryl, crystal, ruby, emerald, and all precious things.

The golden palms had trunks of gold, and leaves and fruits of silver.The golden palms had trunks of gold, and leaves and fruits of silver.The silver palms had trunks of silver, and leaves and fruits of gold.The silver palms had trunks of silver, and leaves and fruits of gold.The beryl palms had trunks of beryl, and leaves and fruits of crystal.The beryl palms had trunks of beryl, and leaves and fruits of crystal.

The crystal palms had trunks of crystal, and leaves and fruits of beryl.The crystal palms had trunks of crystal, and leaves and fruits of beryl.The ruby palms had trunks of ruby, and leaves and fruits of emerald.The ruby palms had trunks of ruby, and leaves and fruits of emerald.The emerald palms had trunks of emerald, and leaves and fruits of ruby.The emerald palms had trunks of emerald, and leaves and fruits of ruby.

The palms of all precious things had trunks of all precious things, and leaves and fruits of all precious things.The palms of all precious things had trunks of all precious things, and leaves and fruits of all precious things.When those rows of palm trees were blown by the wind they sounded graceful, tantalizing, sensuous, lovely, and intoxicating,When those rows of palm trees were blown by the wind they sounded graceful, tantalizing, sensuous, lovely, and intoxicating,like a quintet made up of skilled musicians who had practiced well and kept excellent rhythm.like a quintet made up of skilled musicians who had practiced well and kept excellent rhythm.

And any addicts, carousers, or drunkards in Kusāvatī at that time were entertained by that sound.And any addicts, carousers, or drunkards in Kusāvatī at that time were entertained by that sound.

2. The Seven Treasures2. The Seven Treasures2.1. The Wheel-Treasure2.1. The Wheel-Treasure

King Mahāsudassana possessed seven treasures and four blessings.King Mahāsudassana possessed seven treasures and four blessings.What seven?What seven?On a fifteenth day sabbath, King Mahāsudassana had bathed his head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath.On a fifteenth day sabbath, King Mahāsudassana had bathed his head and gone upstairs in the royal longhouse to observe the sabbath.

And the heavenly wheel-treasure appeared to him, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail.And the heavenly wheel-treasure appeared to him, with a thousand spokes, with rim and hub, complete in every detail.Seeing this, the king thought,Seeing this, the king thought,‘I have heard that when the heavenly wheel-treasure appears to a king in this way, he becomes a wheel-turning monarch.‘I have heard that when the heavenly wheel-treasure appears to a king in this way, he becomes a wheel-turning monarch.

Am I then a wheel-turning monarch?’Am I then a wheel-turning monarch?’Then King Mahāsudassana, rising from his seat and arranging his robe over one shoulder, took a ceremonial vase in his left hand and besprinkled the wheel-treasure with his right hand, saying:Then King Mahāsudassana, rising from his seat and arranging his robe over one shoulder, took a ceremonial vase in his left hand and besprinkled the wheel-treasure with his right hand, saying:‘Roll forth, O wheel-treasure! Triumph, O wheel-treasure!’‘Roll forth, O wheel-treasure! Triumph, O wheel-treasure!’

Then the wheel-treasure rolled toward the east. And the king followed it together with his army of four divisions. In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.Then the wheel-treasure rolled toward the east. And the king followed it together with his army of four divisions. In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.And any opposing rulers of the eastern quarter came to him and said,And any opposing rulers of the eastern quarter came to him and said,‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’

The king said,The king said,‘Do not kill living creatures. Do not steal. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not lie. Do not drink liquor. Maintain the current level of taxation.’‘Do not kill living creatures. Do not steal. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not lie. Do not drink liquor. Maintain the current level of taxation.’And so the opposing rulers of the eastern quarter became his vassals.And so the opposing rulers of the eastern quarter became his vassals.

Then the wheel-treasure, having plunged into the eastern ocean and emerged again, rolled toward the south. …Then the wheel-treasure, having plunged into the eastern ocean and emerged again, rolled toward the south. …Having plunged into the southern ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the west. …Having plunged into the southern ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the west. …Having plunged into the western ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the north, followed by the king together with his army of four divisions.Having plunged into the western ocean and emerged again, it rolled toward the north, followed by the king together with his army of four divisions.

In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.In whatever place the wheel-treasure stood still, there the king came to stay together with his army.And any opposing rulers of the northern quarter came to him and said,And any opposing rulers of the northern quarter came to him and said,‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’‘Come, Great King! Welcome, Great King! We are yours, Great King, instruct us.’

The king said,The king said,‘Do not kill living creatures. Do not steal. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not lie. Do not drink liquor. Maintain the current level of taxation.’‘Do not kill living creatures. Do not steal. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not lie. Do not drink liquor. Maintain the current level of taxation.’And so the opposing rulers of the northern quarter became his vassals.And so the opposing rulers of the northern quarter became his vassals.

And then the wheel-treasure, having triumphed over this land surrounded by ocean, returned to the royal capital. There it stood still by the gate to the royal compound at the High Court as if fixed to an axle, illuminating the royal compound.And then the wheel-treasure, having triumphed over this land surrounded by ocean, returned to the royal capital. There it stood still by the gate to the royal compound at the High Court as if fixed to an axle, illuminating the royal compound.Such is the wheel-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the wheel-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.

2.2. The Elephant-Treasure2.2. The Elephant-Treasure

Next, the elephant-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Next, the elephant-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.It was an all-white sky-walker with psychic power, touching the ground in seven places, a king of elephants named Sabbath.It was an all-white sky-walker with psychic power, touching the ground in seven places, a king of elephants named Sabbath.Seeing him, the king was impressed,Seeing him, the king was impressed,

‘This would truly be a fine elephant vehicle, if he would submit to taming.’‘This would truly be a fine elephant vehicle, if he would submit to taming.’Then the elephant-treasure submitted to taming, as if he was a fine thoroughbred elephant that had been tamed for a long time.Then the elephant-treasure submitted to taming, as if he was a fine thoroughbred elephant that had been tamed for a long time.Once it so happened that King Mahāsudassana, testing that same elephant-treasure, mounted him in the morning and traversed the land surrounded by ocean before returning to the royal capital in time for breakfast.Once it so happened that King Mahāsudassana, testing that same elephant-treasure, mounted him in the morning and traversed the land surrounded by ocean before returning to the royal capital in time for breakfast.

Such is the elephant-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the elephant-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.

2.3. The Horse-Treasure2.3. The Horse-Treasure

Next, the horse-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Next, the horse-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.It was an all-white sky-walker with psychic power, with head of black and mane like woven reeds, a royal steed named Thundercloud.It was an all-white sky-walker with psychic power, with head of black and mane like woven reeds, a royal steed named Thundercloud.Seeing him, the king was impressed,Seeing him, the king was impressed,

‘This would truly be a fine horse vehicle, if he would submit to taming.’‘This would truly be a fine horse vehicle, if he would submit to taming.’Then the horse-treasure submitted to taming, as if he was a fine thoroughbred horse that had been tamed for a long time.Then the horse-treasure submitted to taming, as if he was a fine thoroughbred horse that had been tamed for a long time.Once it so happened that King Mahāsudassana, testing that same horse-treasure, mounted him in the morning and traversed the land surrounded by ocean before returning to the royal capital in time for breakfast.Once it so happened that King Mahāsudassana, testing that same horse-treasure, mounted him in the morning and traversed the land surrounded by ocean before returning to the royal capital in time for breakfast.

Such is the horse-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the horse-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.

2.4. The Jewel-Treasure2.4. The Jewel-Treasure

Next, the jewel-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Next, the jewel-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.It was a beryl gem that was naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked, transparent, clear, and unclouded, endowed with all good qualities.It was a beryl gem that was naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked, transparent, clear, and unclouded, endowed with all good qualities.And the radiance of that jewel spread all-round for a league.And the radiance of that jewel spread all-round for a league.

Once it so happened that King Mahāsudassana, testing that same jewel-treasure, mobilized his army of four divisions and, with the jewel hoisted on his banner, set out in the dark of the night.Once it so happened that King Mahāsudassana, testing that same jewel-treasure, mobilized his army of four divisions and, with the jewel hoisted on his banner, set out in the dark of the night.Then the villagers around them set off to work, thinking that it was day.Then the villagers around them set off to work, thinking that it was day.Such is the jewel-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the jewel-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.

2.5. The Woman-Treasure2.5. The Woman-Treasure

Next, the woman-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Next, the woman-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.She was attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. She was neither too tall nor too short; neither too thin nor too fat; neither too dark nor too light. She outdid human beauty without reaching heavenly beauty.She was attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. She was neither too tall nor too short; neither too thin nor too fat; neither too dark nor too light. She outdid human beauty without reaching heavenly beauty.And her touch was like a tuft of cotton-wool or kapok.And her touch was like a tuft of cotton-wool or kapok.

When it was cool her limbs were warm, and when it was warm her limbs were cool.When it was cool her limbs were warm, and when it was warm her limbs were cool.The fragrance of sandal floated from her body, and lotus from her mouth.The fragrance of sandal floated from her body, and lotus from her mouth.She got up before the king and went to bed after him, and was obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely.She got up before the king and went to bed after him, and was obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely.

The woman-treasure did not betray the wheel-turning monarch even in thought, still less in deed.The woman-treasure did not betray the wheel-turning monarch even in thought, still less in deed.Such is the woman-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the woman-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.

2.6. The Householder-Treasure2.6. The Householder-Treasure

Next, the householder-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Next, the householder-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.The power of clairvoyance manifested in him as a result of past deeds, by which he sees treasure troves, both owned and ownerless.The power of clairvoyance manifested in him as a result of past deeds, by which he sees treasure troves, both owned and ownerless.He approached the king and said,He approached the king and said,

‘Relax, Your Majesty. I will take care of the treasury.’‘Relax, Your Majesty. I will take care of the treasury.’Once it so happened that the wheel-turning monarch, testing that same householder-treasure, boarded a boat and sailed to the middle of the Ganges River. Then he said to the householder-treasure,Once it so happened that the wheel-turning monarch, testing that same householder-treasure, boarded a boat and sailed to the middle of the Ganges River. Then he said to the householder-treasure,‘Householder, I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’‘Householder, I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’

‘Well then, Great King, draw the boat up to one shore.’‘Well then, Great King, draw the boat up to one shore.’‘It’s right here, householder, that I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’‘It’s right here, householder, that I need gold, both coined and uncoined.’Then that householder-treasure, immersing both hands in the water, pulled up a pot full of gold, both coined and uncoined, and said to the king,Then that householder-treasure, immersing both hands in the water, pulled up a pot full of gold, both coined and uncoined, and said to the king,

‘Is this sufficient, Great King? Has enough been done, Great King, enough offered?’‘Is this sufficient, Great King? Has enough been done, Great King, enough offered?’The king said,The king said,‘That is sufficient, householder. Enough has been done, enough offered.’‘That is sufficient, householder. Enough has been done, enough offered.’

Such is the householder-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the householder-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.

2.7. The Commander-Treasure2.7. The Commander-Treasure

Next, the commander-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Next, the commander-treasure appeared to King Mahāsudassana.He is astute, competent, intelligent, and capable regarding who should be ushered in to the king’s presence, who should be ushered out, and who should be kept by his side.He is astute, competent, intelligent, and capable regarding who should be ushered in to the king’s presence, who should be ushered out, and who should be kept by his side.He approached the king and said,He approached the king and said,

‘Relax, Your Majesty. I shall issue instructions.’‘Relax, Your Majesty. I shall issue instructions.’Such is the commander-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.Such is the commander-treasure that appeared to King Mahāsudassana.These are the seven treasures possessed by King Mahāsudassana.These are the seven treasures possessed by King Mahāsudassana.

3. The Four Blessings3. The Four Blessings