长部第 21 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · Sakka’s Questions · 1/4

Long Discourses 21Long Discourses 21Sakka’s QuestionsSakka’s Questions

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans, where east of Rājagaha there is a brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, north of which, on Mount Vediyaka, is Indra’s hill cave.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans, where east of Rājagaha there is a brahmin village named Ambasaṇḍā, north of which, on Mount Vediyaka, is Indra’s hill cave.Now at that time Sakka, the lord of gods, grew eager to see the Buddha.Now at that time Sakka, the lord of gods, grew eager to see the Buddha.

He thought,He thought,“Where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”“Where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”Seeing that the Buddha was at Indra’s hill cave,Seeing that the Buddha was at Indra’s hill cave,

he addressed the gods of the thirty-three,he addressed the gods of the thirty-three,“Good fellows, the Buddha is staying in the land of the Magadhans at Indra’s hill cave.“Good fellows, the Buddha is staying in the land of the Magadhans at Indra’s hill cave.What if we were to go and see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”What if we were to go and see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”

“Yes, lord,” replied the gods.“Yes, lord,” replied the gods.Then Sakka addressed the centaur Pañcasikha,Then Sakka addressed the centaur Pañcasikha,“Dear Pañcasikha, the Buddha is staying in the land of the Magadhans at Indra’s hill cave.“Dear Pañcasikha, the Buddha is staying in the land of the Magadhans at Indra’s hill cave.

What if we were to go and see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”What if we were to go and see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”“Yes, lord,” replied the centaur Pañcasikha. Taking his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood-apple, he went as Sakka’s attendant.“Yes, lord,” replied the centaur Pañcasikha. Taking his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood-apple, he went as Sakka’s attendant.Then Sakka went at the head of a retinue consisting of the gods of the thirty-three and the godling centaur Pañcasikha.Then Sakka went at the head of a retinue consisting of the gods of the thirty-three and the godling centaur Pañcasikha.

As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the heaven of the gods of the thirty-three and landed on Mount Vediyaka north of Ambasaṇḍā.As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the heaven of the gods of the thirty-three and landed on Mount Vediyaka north of Ambasaṇḍā.Now at that time a dazzling light appeared over Mount Vediyaka and Ambasaṇḍā, as happens through the glory of the gods.Now at that time a dazzling light appeared over Mount Vediyaka and Ambasaṇḍā, as happens through the glory of the gods.People in the villages round about, terrified, shocked, and awestruck, said,People in the villages round about, terrified, shocked, and awestruck, said,

“Mount Vediyaka must be on fire today, blazing and burning!“Mount Vediyaka must be on fire today, blazing and burning!Oh why has such a dazzling light appeared over Mount Vediyaka and Ambasaṇḍā?”Oh why has such a dazzling light appeared over Mount Vediyaka and Ambasaṇḍā?”Then Sakka addressed the centaur Pañcasikha,Then Sakka addressed the centaur Pañcasikha,

“My dear Pañcasikha, it is hard for one like me to get near the Realized Ones while they are on retreat practicing absorption, enjoying absorption.“My dear Pañcasikha, it is hard for one like me to get near the Realized Ones while they are on retreat practicing absorption, enjoying absorption.But if you were to charm the Buddha first, then I could go to see him.”But if you were to charm the Buddha first, then I could go to see him.”“Yes, lord,” replied the centaur Pañcasikha. Taking his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood-apple, he went to Indra’s hill cave. When he had drawn near, he stood to one side, thinking,“Yes, lord,” replied the centaur Pañcasikha. Taking his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood-apple, he went to Indra’s hill cave. When he had drawn near, he stood to one side, thinking,

“This is neither too far nor too near; and he’ll hear my voice.”“This is neither too far nor too near; and he’ll hear my voice.”

1. Pañcasikha’s Song1. Pañcasikha’s Song

Standing to one side, Pañcasikha played his arched harp, and sang these verses on the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the perfected ones, and sensual love.Standing to one side, Pañcasikha played his arched harp, and sang these verses on the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the perfected ones, and sensual love.“O Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā, my Darling Sunshine,“O Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā, my Darling Sunshine,I pay homage to your father Timbaru,I pay homage to your father Timbaru,

through whom was born a lady so fine,through whom was born a lady so fine,to fill me with a joy I never knew.to fill me with a joy I never knew.As sweet as a breeze to one who’s sweating,As sweet as a breeze to one who’s sweating,

or when thirsty, a sweet and cooling drink,or when thirsty, a sweet and cooling drink,so dear are you, Aṅgīrasi, to me—so dear are you, Aṅgīrasi, to me—just like the teaching is to all the saints!just like the teaching is to all the saints!

Like a cure when you’re struck by fever dire,Like a cure when you’re struck by fever dire,or food to ease the hunger pain,or food to ease the hunger pain,come on, Bhaddā, please put out my fire,come on, Bhaddā, please put out my fire,

quench me like water on a flame.quench me like water on a flame.As elephants burning in the heat of summer,As elephants burning in the heat of summer,sink down in a lotus pond to rest,sink down in a lotus pond to rest,

so cool, full of petals and of pollen—so cool, full of petals and of pollen—that’s how I would plunge into your breast.that’s how I would plunge into your breast.Like elephants bursting bonds in rutting season,Like elephants bursting bonds in rutting season,

beating off the pricks of lance and pikes—beating off the pricks of lance and pikes—I just don’t understand what is the reasonI just don’t understand what is the reasonI’m so crazy for your shapely thighs!I’m so crazy for your shapely thighs!

For you, my heart is full of passion,For you, my heart is full of passion,I’m in a besotted state of mind.I’m in a besotted state of mind.There is no going back, I’m just not able,There is no going back, I’m just not able,

I’m like a fish that’s hooked up on the line.I’m like a fish that’s hooked up on the line.Come on, my Bhaddā, hold me, fair of thighs!Come on, my Bhaddā, hold me, fair of thighs!Embrace me, maid of captivating eyes!Embrace me, maid of captivating eyes!

Take me in your arms, my lovely lady,Take me in your arms, my lovely lady,that’s all I’d ever want or could desire.that’s all I’d ever want or could desire.Ah, then my desire was such a small thing,Ah, then my desire was such a small thing,

my sweet, with your curling wavy hair;my sweet, with your curling wavy hair;now, like to arahants an offering,now, like to arahants an offering,it’s grown so very much from there.it’s grown so very much from there.

Whatever the merit I have forgedWhatever the merit I have forgedby giving to such perfected beings—by giving to such perfected beings—may that, my altogether gorgeous,may that, my altogether gorgeous,

ripen in togetherness with you.ripen in togetherness with you.Whatever the merit I have forgedWhatever the merit I have forgedin this vast territory,in this vast territory,

may that, my altogether gorgeous,may that, my altogether gorgeous,ripen in togetherness with you.ripen in togetherness with you.As the Sakyan, absorbed, did meditateAs the Sakyan, absorbed, did meditate

at one, alert, and mindful too,at one, alert, and mindful too,the sage seeking the state free of death—the sage seeking the state free of death—so I, oh my Sunshine, seek for you!so I, oh my Sunshine, seek for you!

And just like the sage would delight,And just like the sage would delight,once he had awakened to the truth,once he had awakened to the truth,so I would delight, my fine lady,so I would delight, my fine lady,

were I to become one with you.were I to become one with you.If Sakka were to grant me one wish,If Sakka were to grant me one wish,as Lord of the Thirty and Three,as Lord of the Thirty and Three,

my Bhaddā, you’re all I would wish for,my Bhaddā, you’re all I would wish for,so strong is the love in me.so strong is the love in me.Like a freshly blossoming sal treeLike a freshly blossoming sal tree

is your father, my lady so wise.is your father, my lady so wise.I pay homage to he, bowing humbly,I pay homage to he, bowing humbly,whose daughter is of such a kind.”whose daughter is of such a kind.”

When Pañcasikha had spoken, the Buddha said to him,When Pañcasikha had spoken, the Buddha said to him,“Pañcasikha, the sound of your strings blends well with the sound of your singing,“Pañcasikha, the sound of your strings blends well with the sound of your singing,so that neither overpowers the other.so that neither overpowers the other.

But when did you compose these verses on the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the perfected ones, and sensual love?”But when did you compose these verses on the Buddha, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the perfected ones, and sensual love?”“This one time, sir, when you were first awakened, you were staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.“This one time, sir, when you were first awakened, you were staying in Uruvelā at the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.And at that time I was in love with Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā, who they call ‘Darling Sunshine’, the daughter of the centaur king Timbaru.And at that time I was in love with Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā, who they call ‘Darling Sunshine’, the daughter of the centaur king Timbaru.

But the sister desired another.But the sister desired another.It was the one named Sikhaṇḍī, the son of Mātali the chariot handler, who she loved.It was the one named Sikhaṇḍī, the son of Mātali the chariot handler, who she loved.Since I couldn’t win that sister by any means,Since I couldn’t win that sister by any means,

I took my arched harp to Timbaru’s home, where I played those verses.I took my arched harp to Timbaru’s home, where I played those verses.When I finished, Suriyavaccasā said to me,When I finished, Suriyavaccasā said to me,‘Good fellow, I have not personally seen the Buddha. But I did hear about him when I went to dance for the gods of the thirty-three in the Hall of Clear Right.‘Good fellow, I have not personally seen the Buddha. But I did hear about him when I went to dance for the gods of the thirty-three in the Hall of Clear Right.

Since you extol the Buddha, let us meet up today.’Since you extol the Buddha, let us meet up today.’And that’s when I met up with that sister.And that’s when I met up with that sister.But we have not met since.”But we have not met since.”

2. The Approach of Sakka2. The Approach of Sakka

Then Sakka, lord of gods, thought,Then Sakka, lord of gods, thought,“Pañcasikha is exchanging pleasantries with the Buddha.”“Pañcasikha is exchanging pleasantries with the Buddha.”So he addressed Pañcasikha,So he addressed Pañcasikha,

“My dear Pañcasikha, please bow to the Buddha for me, saying:“My dear Pañcasikha, please bow to the Buddha for me, saying:‘Sir, Sakka, lord of gods, with his ministers and retinue, bows with his head at your feet.’”‘Sir, Sakka, lord of gods, with his ministers and retinue, bows with his head at your feet.’”“Yes, lord,” replied Pañcasikha. He bowed to the Buddha and said,“Yes, lord,” replied Pañcasikha. He bowed to the Buddha and said,

“Sir, Sakka, lord of gods, with his ministers and retinue, bows with his head at your feet.”“Sir, Sakka, lord of gods, with his ministers and retinue, bows with his head at your feet.”“So may Sakka with his ministers and retinue be happy, Pañcasikha,” said the Buddha,“So may Sakka with his ministers and retinue be happy, Pañcasikha,” said the Buddha,“for all want to be happy—whether gods, humans, titans, dragons, centaurs, or any of the other diverse creatures there may be.”“for all want to be happy—whether gods, humans, titans, dragons, centaurs, or any of the other diverse creatures there may be.”

For that is how the Realized Ones salute such illustrious spirits.For that is how the Realized Ones salute such illustrious spirits.And being saluted by the Buddha, Sakka entered Indra’s hill cave, bowed to the Buddha, and stood to one side.And being saluted by the Buddha, Sakka entered Indra’s hill cave, bowed to the Buddha, and stood to one side.And the gods of the thirty-three did likewise,And the gods of the thirty-three did likewise,

as did Pañcasikha.as did Pañcasikha.And at that time the uneven places were evened out, the cramped places were opened up, the darkness vanished in the cave and light appeared, as happens through the glory of the gods.And at that time the uneven places were evened out, the cramped places were opened up, the darkness vanished in the cave and light appeared, as happens through the glory of the gods.Then the Buddha said to Sakka,Then the Buddha said to Sakka,

“It’s incredible and amazing that you, the venerable Kosiya, who has so many duties and so much to do, should come here.”“It’s incredible and amazing that you, the venerable Kosiya, who has so many duties and so much to do, should come here.”“For a long time I’ve wanted to come and see the Buddha, but I wasn’t able, being prevented by my many duties and responsibilities for the gods of the thirty-three.“For a long time I’ve wanted to come and see the Buddha, but I wasn’t able, being prevented by my many duties and responsibilities for the gods of the thirty-three.This one time, sir, the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the salaḷa tree hut.This one time, sir, the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the salaḷa tree hut.

Then I went to Sāvatthī to see the Buddha.Then I went to Sāvatthī to see the Buddha.