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

“That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One!“That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One!Hearing the Buddha’s answer, I’ve gone beyond doubt and got rid of indecision.”Hearing the Buddha’s answer, I’ve gone beyond doubt and got rid of indecision.”And then Sakka, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, said to him,And then Sakka, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, said to him,

“Turbulence, sir, is a disease, a boil, a dart. Turbulence drags a person to be regenerated in one state of existence or another.“Turbulence, sir, is a disease, a boil, a dart. Turbulence drags a person to be regenerated in one state of existence or another.That’s why a person finds themselves in states high and low.That’s why a person finds themselves in states high and low.Elsewhere, among other ascetics and brahmins, I wasn’t even given a chance to ask these questions that the Buddha has answered.Elsewhere, among other ascetics and brahmins, I wasn’t even given a chance to ask these questions that the Buddha has answered.

The dart of doubt and indecision has lain within me for a long time, but the Buddha has plucked it out.”The dart of doubt and indecision has lain within me for a long time, but the Buddha has plucked it out.”“Lord of gods, do you recall having asked this question of other ascetics and brahmins?”“Lord of gods, do you recall having asked this question of other ascetics and brahmins?”“I do, sir.”“I do, sir.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, lord of gods, tell me how they answered.”“If you wouldn’t mind, lord of gods, tell me how they answered.”“It’s no trouble when someone such as the Blessed One is sitting here.”“It’s no trouble when someone such as the Blessed One is sitting here.”“Well, speak then, lord of gods.”“Well, speak then, lord of gods.”

“Sir, I approached those who I imagined were ascetics and brahmins living in the wilderness, in remote lodgings. But they were stumped by my question, and they even questioned me in return:“Sir, I approached those who I imagined were ascetics and brahmins living in the wilderness, in remote lodgings. But they were stumped by my question, and they even questioned me in return:‘What is the venerable’s name?’‘What is the venerable’s name?’So I answered them:So I answered them:

‘Good fellow, I am Sakka, lord of gods.’‘Good fellow, I am Sakka, lord of gods.’So they asked me another question:So they asked me another question:‘But lord of gods, what deed brought you to this position?’‘But lord of gods, what deed brought you to this position?’

So I taught them the Dhamma as I had learned and memorized it.So I taught them the Dhamma as I had learned and memorized it.And they were pleased with just that much:And they were pleased with just that much:‘We have seen Sakka, lord of gods! And he answered our questions!’‘We have seen Sakka, lord of gods! And he answered our questions!’

Invariably, they become my disciples, I don’t become theirs.Invariably, they become my disciples, I don’t become theirs.But sir, I am the Buddha’s disciple, a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”But sir, I am the Buddha’s disciple, a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

2.5. On Feeling Happy2.5. On Feeling Happy

“Lord of gods, do you recall ever feeling such joy and happiness before?”“Lord of gods, do you recall ever feeling such joy and happiness before?”“I do, sir.”“I do, sir.”“But how?”“But how?”

“Once upon a time, sir, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.“Once upon a time, sir, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.In that battle the gods won and the titans lost.In that battle the gods won and the titans lost.It occurred to me as victor,It occurred to me as victor,

‘Now the gods shall enjoy both the nectar of the gods and the nectar of the titans.’‘Now the gods shall enjoy both the nectar of the gods and the nectar of the titans.’But sir, that joy and happiness is in the sphere of the rod and the sword. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.But sir, that joy and happiness is in the sphere of the rod and the sword. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.But the joy and happiness I feel listening to the Buddha’s teaching is not in the sphere of the rod and the sword. It does lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.”But the joy and happiness I feel listening to the Buddha’s teaching is not in the sphere of the rod and the sword. It does lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.”

“But lord of gods, what reason do you see for speaking of such joy and happiness?”“But lord of gods, what reason do you see for speaking of such joy and happiness?”“I see six reasons to speak of such joy and happiness, sir.“I see six reasons to speak of such joy and happiness, sir.While staying right here,While staying right here,

remaining in the godly form,remaining in the godly form,I have gained an extended life:I have gained an extended life:know this, dear sir.know this, dear sir.

This is the first reason.This is the first reason.When I fall from the heavenly host,When I fall from the heavenly host,leaving behind the non-human life,leaving behind the non-human life,

I shall consciously go to a new womb,I shall consciously go to a new womb,wherever my mind delights.wherever my mind delights.This is the second reason.This is the second reason.

Living happily under the guidanceLiving happily under the guidanceof the one of unclouded wisdom,of the one of unclouded wisdom,I shall practice systematically,I shall practice systematically,

aware and mindful.aware and mindful.This is the third reason.This is the third reason.And if awakening should ariseAnd if awakening should arise

as I practice systematically,as I practice systematically,I shall live as one who understands,I shall live as one who understands,and my end shall come right there.and my end shall come right there.

This is the fourth reason.This is the fourth reason.When I fall from the human realm,When I fall from the human realm,leaving behind the human life,leaving behind the human life,

I shall become a god again,I shall become a god again,supreme in the heaven realm.supreme in the heaven realm.This is the fifth reason.This is the fifth reason.

They are the finest of gods,They are the finest of gods,the glorious Akaniṭṭhas.the glorious Akaniṭṭhas.So long as my final life goes on,So long as my final life goes on,

there my home will be.there my home will be.This is the sixth reason.This is the sixth reason.Seeing these six reasons I speak of such joy and happiness.Seeing these six reasons I speak of such joy and happiness.

My wishes unfulfilled,My wishes unfulfilled,doubting and indecisive,doubting and indecisive,I wandered for such a long time,I wandered for such a long time,

in search of the Realized One.in search of the Realized One.I imagined that asceticsI imagined that asceticsliving in seclusionliving in seclusion

must surely be awakened,must surely be awakened,so I went to sit near them.so I went to sit near them.‘How is there success?‘How is there success?

How is there failure?’How is there failure?’But they were stumped by such questionsBut they were stumped by such questionsabout the path and practice.about the path and practice.

And when they found out that IAnd when they found out that Iwas Sakka, come from the gods,was Sakka, come from the gods,they questioned me instead aboutthey questioned me instead about

the deed that brought me to this state.the deed that brought me to this state.I taught them the DhammaI taught them the Dhammaas I had learned it among men.as I had learned it among men.

They were delighted with that, saying:They were delighted with that, saying:‘We’ve seen Vāsava!’‘We’ve seen Vāsava!’Now since I’ve seen the Buddha,Now since I’ve seen the Buddha,

who helps us overcome doubt,who helps us overcome doubt,today, free of fear,today, free of fear,I pay homage to the awakened one.I pay homage to the awakened one.

Destroyer of the dart of craving,Destroyer of the dart of craving,the Buddha is unrivaled.the Buddha is unrivaled.I bow to the great hero,I bow to the great hero,

the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun.the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun.In the same way that divinity ought be reveredIn the same way that divinity ought be reveredby we gods, dear sir,by we gods, dear sir,

today we shall revere you—today we shall revere you—come, let us revere you ourselves!come, let us revere you ourselves!You alone are the Awakened!You alone are the Awakened!

You are the Teacher supreme!You are the Teacher supreme!In the world with its gods,In the world with its gods,you have no rival.”you have no rival.”

Then Sakka addressed the centaur Pañcasikha,Then Sakka addressed the centaur Pañcasikha,“Dear Pañcasikha, you were very helpful to me, since you first charmed the Buddha,“Dear Pañcasikha, you were very helpful to me, since you first charmed the Buddha,after which I went to see him.after which I went to see him.

I shall appoint you to your father’s position—you shall be king of the centaurs. And I give you Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā, for she loves you very much.”I shall appoint you to your father’s position—you shall be king of the centaurs. And I give you Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā, for she loves you very much.”Then Sakka, touching the ground with his hand, expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times:Then Sakka, touching the ground with his hand, expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times:“Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!“Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”And while this discourse was being spoken, the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in Sakka, lord of gods:And while this discourse was being spoken, the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in Sakka, lord of gods:

“Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”“Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”And also for another 80,000 deities.And also for another 80,000 deities.Such were the questions Sakka was invited to ask, and which were answered by the Buddha.Such were the questions Sakka was invited to ask, and which were answered by the Buddha.

And that’s why the name of this discussion is “Sakka’s Questions”.And that’s why the name of this discussion is “Sakka’s Questions”.