长部第 26 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · The Wheel-Turning Monarch · 2/3

and presented him to the king, saying,and presented him to the king, saying,‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others.’‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others.’The king said to that person,The king said to that person,

‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others?’‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others?’‘It’s true, Your Majesty.’‘It’s true, Your Majesty.’‘What was the reason?’‘What was the reason?’

‘Your Majesty, I can’t survive.’‘Your Majesty, I can’t survive.’So the king provided some money to that person, saying,So the king provided some money to that person, saying,‘With this money, my man, keep yourself alive, and provide for your mother and father, partners and children. Work for a living, and establish an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.’‘With this money, my man, keep yourself alive, and provide for your mother and father, partners and children. Work for a living, and establish an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied that man.‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ replied that man.People heard about this:People heard about this:‘It seems the king is providing money to anyone who steals from others!’‘It seems the king is providing money to anyone who steals from others!’

It occurred to them,It occurred to them,‘Why don’t we steal from others?’‘Why don’t we steal from others?’So then another man stole something from others.So then another man stole something from others.

They arrested himThey arrested himand presented him to the king, saying,and presented him to the king, saying,‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others.’‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others.’

The king said to that person,The king said to that person,‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others?’‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others?’‘It’s true, Your Majesty.’‘It’s true, Your Majesty.’

‘What was the reason?’‘What was the reason?’‘Your Majesty, I can’t survive.’‘Your Majesty, I can’t survive.’Then the king thought,Then the king thought,

‘If I provide money to anyone who steals from others, it will only increase the stealing.‘If I provide money to anyone who steals from others, it will only increase the stealing.I’d better make an end of this person, finish him off, and chop off his head.’I’d better make an end of this person, finish him off, and chop off his head.’Then he ordered his men,Then he ordered his men,

‘Well then, lads, tie this man’s arms tightly behind his back with a strong rope. Shave his head and march him from street to street and square to square to the beating of a harsh drum. Then take him out the south gate and make an end of him, finish him off, and chop off his head.’‘Well then, lads, tie this man’s arms tightly behind his back with a strong rope. Shave his head and march him from street to street and square to square to the beating of a harsh drum. Then take him out the south gate and make an end of him, finish him off, and chop off his head.’‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ they replied, and did as he commanded.‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ they replied, and did as he commanded.People heard about this:People heard about this:

‘It seems the king is chopping the head off anyone who steals from others!’‘It seems the king is chopping the head off anyone who steals from others!’It occurred to them,It occurred to them,‘We’d better have sharp swords made. Then when we steal from others, we’ll make an end of them, finish them off, and chop off their heads.’‘We’d better have sharp swords made. Then when we steal from others, we’ll make an end of them, finish them off, and chop off their heads.’

They had sharp swords made. Then they started to attack villages, towns, and cities, and to infest the highways.They had sharp swords made. Then they started to attack villages, towns, and cities, and to infest the highways.And they chopped the heads off anyone they stole from.And they chopped the heads off anyone they stole from.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty became widespread. When poverty was widespread, theft became widespread. When theft was widespread, swords became widespread. When swords were widespread, killing living creatures became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom killing was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty became widespread. When poverty was widespread, theft became widespread. When theft was widespread, swords became widespread. When swords were widespread, killing living creatures became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom killing was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.

Those people lived for 80,000 years, but their children lived for 40,000 years.Those people lived for 80,000 years, but their children lived for 40,000 years.Among the humans who lived for 40,000 years, a certain person stole something from others.Among the humans who lived for 40,000 years, a certain person stole something from others.They arrested himThey arrested him

and presented him to the king, saying,and presented him to the king, saying,‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others.’‘Your Majesty, this person stole from others.’The king said to that person,The king said to that person,

‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others?’‘Is it really true, my man, that you stole from others?’‘No, Your Majesty,’ he said, deliberately lying.‘No, Your Majesty,’ he said, deliberately lying.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty, theft, swords, and killing became widespread. When killing was widespread, lying became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom lying was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty, theft, swords, and killing became widespread. When killing was widespread, lying became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom lying was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.

Those people who lived for 40,000 years had children who lived for 20,000 years.Those people who lived for 40,000 years had children who lived for 20,000 years.Among the humans who lived for 20,000 years, a certain person stole something from others.Among the humans who lived for 20,000 years, a certain person stole something from others.Someone else reported this to the king,Someone else reported this to the king,

‘Your Majesty, the person named so-and-so stole from others,’ he said, going behind his back.‘Your Majesty, the person named so-and-so stole from others,’ he said, going behind his back.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty, theft, swords, killing, and lying became widespread. When lying was widespread, backbiting became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom backbiting was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty, theft, swords, killing, and lying became widespread. When lying was widespread, backbiting became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom backbiting was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.

Those people who lived for 20,000 years had children who lived for 10,000 years.Those people who lived for 20,000 years had children who lived for 10,000 years.Among the humans who lived for 10,000 years, some were beautiful, some were ugly.Among the humans who lived for 10,000 years, some were beautiful, some were ugly.And the ugly beings, coveting the beautiful ones, had relations with the wives of others.And the ugly beings, coveting the beautiful ones, had relations with the wives of others.

And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty, theft, swords, killing, lying, and backbiting became widespread. When backbiting was widespread, sexual misconduct became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom sexual misconduct was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, poverty, theft, swords, killing, lying, and backbiting became widespread. When backbiting was widespread, sexual misconduct became widespread. And for the sentient beings among whom sexual misconduct was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.Those people who lived for 10,000 years had children who lived for 5,000 years.Those people who lived for 10,000 years had children who lived for 5,000 years.

Among the humans who lived for 5,000 years, two things became widespread:Among the humans who lived for 5,000 years, two things became widespread:harsh speech and talking nonsense.harsh speech and talking nonsense.For the sentient beings among whom these two things were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.For the sentient beings among whom these two things were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.

Those people who lived for 5,000 years had some children who lived for 2,500 years, while others lived for 2,000 years.Those people who lived for 5,000 years had some children who lived for 2,500 years, while others lived for 2,000 years.Among the humans who lived for 2,500 years, desire and ill will became widespread.Among the humans who lived for 2,500 years, desire and ill will became widespread.For the sentient beings among whom desire and ill will were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.For the sentient beings among whom desire and ill will were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.

Those people who lived for 2,500 years had children who lived for 1,000 years.Those people who lived for 2,500 years had children who lived for 1,000 years.Among the humans who lived for 1,000 years, wrong view became widespread.Among the humans who lived for 1,000 years, wrong view became widespread.For the sentient beings among whom wrong view was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.For the sentient beings among whom wrong view was widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.

Those people who lived for 1,000 years had children who lived for five hundred years.Those people who lived for 1,000 years had children who lived for five hundred years.Among the humans who lived for five hundred years, three things became widespread:Among the humans who lived for five hundred years, three things became widespread:illicit desire, immoral greed, and wrong religious teachings.illicit desire, immoral greed, and wrong religious teachings.

For the sentient beings among whom these three things were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.For the sentient beings among whom these three things were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.Those people who lived for five hundred years had some children who lived for two hundred and fifty years, while others lived for two hundred years.Those people who lived for five hundred years had some children who lived for two hundred and fifty years, while others lived for two hundred years.Among the humans who lived for two hundred and fifty years, these things became widespread:Among the humans who lived for two hundred and fifty years, these things became widespread:

lack of due respect for mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, and failure to honor the elders in the family.lack of due respect for mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, and failure to honor the elders in the family.And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, all these things became widespread—poverty,And so, mendicants, from not providing money to the penniless, all these things became widespread—poverty,theft,theft,

swords,swords,killing,killing,lying,lying,

backbiting,backbiting,sexual misconduct,sexual misconduct,harsh speech and talking nonsense,harsh speech and talking nonsense,

desire and ill will,desire and ill will,wrong view,wrong view,illicit desire, immoral greed, and wrong religious teachings,illicit desire, immoral greed, and wrong religious teachings,

and lack of due respect for mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, and failure to honor the elders in the family.and lack of due respect for mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, and failure to honor the elders in the family.For the sentient beings among whom these things were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.For the sentient beings among whom these things were widespread, their lifespan and beauty declined.Those people who lived for two hundred and fifty years had children who lived for a hundred years.Those people who lived for two hundred and fifty years had children who lived for a hundred years.

5. When People Live for Ten Years5. When People Live for Ten Years

There will come a time, mendicants, when these people will have children who live for ten years.There will come a time, mendicants, when these people will have children who live for ten years.Among the humans who live for ten years, girls will be marriageable at five.Among the humans who live for ten years, girls will be marriageable at five.The following flavors will disappear:The following flavors will disappear:

ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt.ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt.The best kind of food will be finger millet,The best kind of food will be finger millet,just as fine rice with meat is the best kind of food today.just as fine rice with meat is the best kind of food today.

The ten ways of doing skillful deeds will totally disappear, and the ten ways of doing unskillful deeds will explode in popularity.The ten ways of doing skillful deeds will totally disappear, and the ten ways of doing unskillful deeds will explode in popularity.Those humans will not even have the word ‘skillful’, still less anyone who does what is skillful.Those humans will not even have the word ‘skillful’, still less anyone who does what is skillful.And anyone who disrespects mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, and fails to honor the elders in the family will be venerated and praised,And anyone who disrespects mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, and fails to honor the elders in the family will be venerated and praised,

just as the opposite is venerated and praised today.just as the opposite is venerated and praised today.There’ll be no recognition of the status of mother, aunts, or wives and partners of tutors and respected people.There’ll be no recognition of the status of mother, aunts, or wives and partners of tutors and respected people.The world will become dissolute, like goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and hounds and jackals.The world will become dissolute, like goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and hounds and jackals.

They’ll be full of hostility toward each other, with acute ill will, malevolence, and thoughts of murder.They’ll be full of hostility toward each other, with acute ill will, malevolence, and thoughts of murder.Even a mother will feel like this for her child, and the child for its mother,Even a mother will feel like this for her child, and the child for its mother,father for child, child for father,father for child, child for father,

brother for sister, and sister for brother.brother for sister, and sister for brother.They’ll be just like a deer hunter when he sees a deer—full of hostility, ill will, malevolence, and thoughts of killing.They’ll be just like a deer hunter when he sees a deer—full of hostility, ill will, malevolence, and thoughts of killing.Among the humans who live for ten years, there will be an interregnum of swords lasting seven days.Among the humans who live for ten years, there will be an interregnum of swords lasting seven days.

During that time they will see each other as beasts.During that time they will see each other as beasts.Sharp swords will appear in their hands,Sharp swords will appear in their hands,with which they’ll take each other’s life, crying, ‘It’s a beast! It’s a beast!’with which they’ll take each other’s life, crying, ‘It’s a beast! It’s a beast!’

But then some of those beings will think,But then some of those beings will think,‘Let us neither kill nor be killed! Why don’t we hide in thick grass, thick jungle, thick trees, inaccessible riverlands, or rugged mountains and survive on forest roots and fruits?’‘Let us neither kill nor be killed! Why don’t we hide in thick grass, thick jungle, thick trees, inaccessible riverlands, or rugged mountains and survive on forest roots and fruits?’So that’s what they do.So that’s what they do.

When those seven days have passed, having emerged from their hiding places and embraced each other, they will come together and cry in one voice,When those seven days have passed, having emerged from their hiding places and embraced each other, they will come together and cry in one voice,‘Fantastic, dear foe, you live! Fantastic, dear foe, you live!’‘Fantastic, dear foe, you live! Fantastic, dear foe, you live!’

6. The Period of Growth6. The Period of Growth

Then those beings will think,Then those beings will think,‘It’s because we undertook unskillful things that we suffered such an extensive loss of our relatives.‘It’s because we undertook unskillful things that we suffered such an extensive loss of our relatives.We’d better do what’s skillful.We’d better do what’s skillful.

What skillful thing should we do?What skillful thing should we do?Why don’t we refrain from killing living creatures? Having undertaken this skillful thing we’ll live by it.’Why don’t we refrain from killing living creatures? Having undertaken this skillful thing we’ll live by it.’So that’s what they do.So that’s what they do.

Because of undertaking this skillful thing, their lifespan and beauty will grow.Because of undertaking this skillful thing, their lifespan and beauty will grow.