长部第 3 经（Sujato 英译）第 4 阅读页 · With Ambaṭṭha · 4/4

“I hope, dear Ambaṭṭha, you saw the worthy Gotama?”“I hope, dear Ambaṭṭha, you saw the worthy Gotama?”“I saw him, sir.”“I saw him, sir.”“Well, does he live up to his reputation or not?”“Well, does he live up to his reputation or not?”

“He does, sir.“He does, sir.The worthy Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.”The worthy Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.”“And did you have some discussion with him?”“And did you have some discussion with him?”

“I did.”“I did.”“And what kind of discussion did you have with him?”“And what kind of discussion did you have with him?”Then Ambaṭṭha informed Pokkharasāti of all they had discussed.Then Ambaṭṭha informed Pokkharasāti of all they had discussed.

Then Pokkharasāti said to Ambaṭṭha,Then Pokkharasāti said to Ambaṭṭha,“Oh, our bloody fake scholar, our fake learned man, who pretends to be proficient in the three Vedas! A man who behaves like this ought, when their body breaks up, after death, to be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.“Oh, our bloody fake scholar, our fake learned man, who pretends to be proficient in the three Vedas! A man who behaves like this ought, when their body breaks up, after death, to be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.It’s only because you repeatedly attacked the worthy Gotama like that that he kept bringing up charges against us!”It’s only because you repeatedly attacked the worthy Gotama like that that he kept bringing up charges against us!”

Angry and upset, he kicked Ambaṭṭha over,Angry and upset, he kicked Ambaṭṭha over,and wanted to go and see the Buddha right away.and wanted to go and see the Buddha right away.

8. Pokkharasāti Visits the Buddha8. Pokkharasāti Visits the Buddha

Then those brahmins said to Pokkharasāti,Then those brahmins said to Pokkharasāti,“It’s much too late to visit the ascetic Gotama today.“It’s much too late to visit the ascetic Gotama today.You can visit him tomorrow.”You can visit him tomorrow.”

So Pokkharasāti had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he mounted a carriage and, with attendants carrying torches, set out from Ukkaṭṭhā for the forest near Icchānaṅgala.So Pokkharasāti had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he mounted a carriage and, with attendants carrying torches, set out from Ukkaṭṭhā for the forest near Icchānaṅgala.He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot. He went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot. He went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

“Master Gotama, has my resident pupil, the student Ambaṭṭha, come here?”“Master Gotama, has my resident pupil, the student Ambaṭṭha, come here?”“Yes he has, brahmin.”“Yes he has, brahmin.”“And did you have some discussion with him?”“And did you have some discussion with him?”

“I did.”“I did.”“And what kind of discussion did you have with him?”“And what kind of discussion did you have with him?”Then the Buddha informed Pokkharasāti of all they had discussed.Then the Buddha informed Pokkharasāti of all they had discussed.

Then Pokkharasāti said to the Buddha,Then Pokkharasāti said to the Buddha,“Ambaṭṭha is a fool, worthy Gotama. Please forgive him.”“Ambaṭṭha is a fool, worthy Gotama. Please forgive him.”“May the student Ambaṭṭha be happy, brahmin.”“May the student Ambaṭṭha be happy, brahmin.”

Then Pokkharasāti scrutinized the Buddha’s body for the thirty-two marks of a great man.Then Pokkharasāti scrutinized the Buddha’s body for the thirty-two marks of a great man.He saw all of them except two,He saw all of them except two,which he had doubts about:which he had doubts about:

whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.Then it occurred to the Buddha,Then it occurred to the Buddha,“Pokkharasāti sees all the marks except two,“Pokkharasāti sees all the marks except two,

which he has doubts about:which he has doubts about:whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.”whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.”Then the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Pokkharasāti would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin.Then the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Pokkharasāti would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin.

And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue.And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue.Pokkharasāti thought,Pokkharasāti thought,“The ascetic Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.”“The ascetic Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.”

He said to the Buddha,He said to the Buddha,“Would the worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept today’s meal from me?”“Would the worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept today’s meal from me?”The Buddha consented with silence.The Buddha consented with silence.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Pokkharasāti announced the time to him,Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Pokkharasāti announced the time to him,“It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.”“It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.”Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Pokkharasāti together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat down on the seat spread out.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Pokkharasāti together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat down on the seat spread out.

Then Pokkharasāti served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods, while his young students served the Saṅgha.Then Pokkharasāti served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods, while his young students served the Saṅgha.When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Pokkharasāti took a low seat and sat to one side.When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Pokkharasāti took a low seat and sat to one side.Then the Buddha taught him step by step, withThen the Buddha taught him step by step, with

a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He revealed the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation.a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He revealed the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation.And when the Buddha knew that Pokkharasāti’s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he revealed the special teaching of the Buddhas:And when the Buddha knew that Pokkharasāti’s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he revealed the special teaching of the Buddhas:suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye,Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye,in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin Pokkharasāti:in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin Pokkharasāti:“Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”“Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”

9. Pokkharasāti Declares Himself a Lay Follower9. Pokkharasāti Declares Himself a Lay Follower

Then Pokkharasāti saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions. He said to the Buddha,Then Pokkharasāti saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions. He said to the Buddha,“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent!“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent!As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, just so has the worthy Gotama made the Teaching clear in many ways.As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, just so has the worthy Gotama made the Teaching clear in many ways.

Together with my children, wives, retinue, and ministers, I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.Together with my children, wives, retinue, and ministers, I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.Just as the worthy Gotama visits other devoted families in Ukkaṭṭhā, may he visit mine.Just as the worthy Gotama visits other devoted families in Ukkaṭṭhā, may he visit mine.

The brahmin boys and girls there will bow to you, rise in your presence, give you a seat and water, and gain confidence in their hearts. That will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”The brahmin boys and girls there will bow to you, rise in your presence, give you a seat and water, and gain confidence in their hearts. That will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”“That’s nice of you to say, householder.”“That’s nice of you to say, householder.”