中部第 82 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Raṭṭhapāla · 2/4

Now at that time Raṭṭhapāla was eating last night’s porridge by a wall.Now at that time Raṭṭhapāla was eating last night’s porridge by a wall.Then Raṭṭhapāla’s father went up to him and said,Then Raṭṭhapāla’s father went up to him and said,“Dear Raṭṭhapāla! How can you be eating last night’s porridge?“Dear Raṭṭhapāla! How can you be eating last night’s porridge?

Why not go to your own home?”Why not go to your own home?”“Householder, how could those of us who have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness have a house?“Householder, how could those of us who have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness have a house?We are homeless, householder.We are homeless, householder.

I came to your house, but there I received neither alms nor a polite refusal,I came to your house, but there I received neither alms nor a polite refusal,but only abuse.”but only abuse.”“Come, dear Raṭṭhapāla, let’s go to the house.”“Come, dear Raṭṭhapāla, let’s go to the house.”

“Enough, householder. My meal is finished for today.”“Enough, householder. My meal is finished for today.”“Well then, dear Raṭṭhapāla, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me.”“Well then, dear Raṭṭhapāla, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me.”Raṭṭhapāla consented with silence.Raṭṭhapāla consented with silence.

Then, knowing that Raṭṭhapāla had consented, his father went back to his own house. He made a heap of gold, both coined and uncoined, and hid it under mats. Then he addressed Raṭṭhapāla’s former wives,Then, knowing that Raṭṭhapāla had consented, his father went back to his own house. He made a heap of gold, both coined and uncoined, and hid it under mats. Then he addressed Raṭṭhapāla’s former wives,“Please, daughters-in-law, adorn yourselves in the way that our son Raṭṭhapāla found you most adorable.”“Please, daughters-in-law, adorn yourselves in the way that our son Raṭṭhapāla found you most adorable.”And when the night had passed Raṭṭhapāla’s father had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home, and announced the time to the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla, saying,And when the night had passed Raṭṭhapāla’s father had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home, and announced the time to the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla, saying,

“Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.”“Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.”Then Raṭṭhapāla robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to his father’s home, and sat down on the seat spread out. Raṭṭhapāla’s father, revealing the heap of gold, both coined and uncoined, said to him,Then Raṭṭhapāla robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to his father’s home, and sat down on the seat spread out. Raṭṭhapāla’s father, revealing the heap of gold, both coined and uncoined, said to him,“Dear Raṭṭhapāla, this is your maternal fortune. There’s another paternal fortune, and an ancestral one.“Dear Raṭṭhapāla, this is your maternal fortune. There’s another paternal fortune, and an ancestral one.

You can both enjoy your wealth and make merit.You can both enjoy your wealth and make merit.Come, return to a lesser life, enjoy wealth, and make merit!”Come, return to a lesser life, enjoy wealth, and make merit!”“If you’d follow my advice, householder, you’d have this heap of gold, both coined and uncoined, loaded on a cart and carried away to be dumped in the middle of the Ganges River.“If you’d follow my advice, householder, you’d have this heap of gold, both coined and uncoined, loaded on a cart and carried away to be dumped in the middle of the Ganges River.

Why is that?Why is that?Because this will bring you nothing but sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.”Because this will bring you nothing but sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.”Then Raṭṭhapāla’s former wives each clasped his feet and said,Then Raṭṭhapāla’s former wives each clasped his feet and said,

“What are they like, master, the nymphs for whom you lead the spiritual life?”“What are they like, master, the nymphs for whom you lead the spiritual life?”“Sisters, I don’t lead the spiritual life for the sake of nymphs.”“Sisters, I don’t lead the spiritual life for the sake of nymphs.”Saying, “Our master Raṭṭhapāla addresses us as sisters!” they fainted right away.Saying, “Our master Raṭṭhapāla addresses us as sisters!” they fainted right away.

Then Raṭṭhapāla said to his father,Then Raṭṭhapāla said to his father,“If there is food to be given, householder, please give it.“If there is food to be given, householder, please give it.But don’t harass me.”But don’t harass me.”

“Eat, dear Raṭṭhapāla. The meal is ready.”“Eat, dear Raṭṭhapāla. The meal is ready.”Then Raṭṭhapāla’s father served and satisfied Venerable Raṭṭhapāla with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.Then Raṭṭhapāla’s father served and satisfied Venerable Raṭṭhapāla with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.When he had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, he spoke this verse while standing right there:When he had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, he spoke this verse while standing right there:

“See this fancy puppet,“See this fancy puppet,a body built of sores,a body built of sores,diseased, obsessed over,diseased, obsessed over,

in which nothing lasts at all.in which nothing lasts at all.See this fancy figure,See this fancy figure,with its gems and earrings;with its gems and earrings;

it is bones swathed in skin,it is bones swathed in skin,made pretty by its clothes.made pretty by its clothes.Rouged feetRouged feet

and powdered faceand powdered facemay be enough to beguile a fool,may be enough to beguile a fool,but not a seeker of the far shore.but not a seeker of the far shore.

Hair in eight braidsHair in eight braidsand eyeshadowand eyeshadowmay be enough to beguile a fool,may be enough to beguile a fool,

but not a seeker of the far shore.but not a seeker of the far shore.A rotting body all adornedA rotting body all adornedlike a freshly painted makeup boxlike a freshly painted makeup box

may be enough to beguile a fool,may be enough to beguile a fool,but not a seeker of the far shore.but not a seeker of the far shore.The hunter laid his snare,The hunter laid his snare,

but the deer didn’t spring the trap.but the deer didn’t spring the trap.I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,I’ve eaten the bait and now I go,leaving the trapper to lament.”leaving the trapper to lament.”

Then Raṭṭhapāla, having spoke this verse while standing, went to King Koravya’s deer range and sat at the root of a tree for the day’s meditation.Then Raṭṭhapāla, having spoke this verse while standing, went to King Koravya’s deer range and sat at the root of a tree for the day’s meditation.Then King Koravya addressed his gamekeeper,Then King Koravya addressed his gamekeeper,“My good gamekeeper, tidy up the park of the deer range.“My good gamekeeper, tidy up the park of the deer range.

We will go to see the scenery.”We will go to see the scenery.”“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the gamekeeper. While tidying the deer range he saw Raṭṭhapāla sitting in meditation.“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the gamekeeper. While tidying the deer range he saw Raṭṭhapāla sitting in meditation.Seeing this, he went to the king, and said,Seeing this, he went to the king, and said,

“The deer range is tidy, Your Majesty.“The deer range is tidy, Your Majesty.And the gentleman named Raṭṭhapāla, the son of the leading clan in Thullakoṭṭhika, of whom you have often spoken highly, is meditating there at the root of a tree.”And the gentleman named Raṭṭhapāla, the son of the leading clan in Thullakoṭṭhika, of whom you have often spoken highly, is meditating there at the root of a tree.”“Well then, my good gamekeeper, that’s enough of the park for today.“Well then, my good gamekeeper, that’s enough of the park for today.

Now I shall pay homage to the worthy Raṭṭhapāla.”Now I shall pay homage to the worthy Raṭṭhapāla.”And then King Koravya said, “Distribute the fresh and cooked foods that have been prepared there.” He had the finest carriages harnessed. Then he mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out in full royal pomp from Thullakoṭṭhika to see Raṭṭhapāla.And then King Koravya said, “Distribute the fresh and cooked foods that have been prepared there.” He had the finest carriages harnessed. Then he mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out in full royal pomp from Thullakoṭṭhika to see Raṭṭhapāla.He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Raṭṭhapāla on foot, together with a group of eminent officials. They exchanged greetings, and, when the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side and said to Raṭṭhapāla:He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Raṭṭhapāla on foot, together with a group of eminent officials. They exchanged greetings, and, when the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side and said to Raṭṭhapāla:

“Here, worthy Raṭṭhapāla, sit on this elephant rug.”“Here, worthy Raṭṭhapāla, sit on this elephant rug.”“Enough, Great King, you sit on it.“Enough, Great King, you sit on it.I’m sitting on my own seat.”I’m sitting on my own seat.”

So the king sat down on the seat spread out, and said:So the king sat down on the seat spread out, and said:“Worthy Raṭṭhapāla, there are these four kinds of decay. Because of these, some people shave off their hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.“Worthy Raṭṭhapāla, there are these four kinds of decay. Because of these, some people shave off their hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.What four?What four?

Decay due to old age, decay due to sickness, decay of wealth, and decay of relatives.Decay due to old age, decay due to sickness, decay of wealth, and decay of relatives.And what is decay due to old age?And what is decay due to old age?It’s when someone is old, elderly, and senior, advanced in years, and has reached the final stage of life.It’s when someone is old, elderly, and senior, advanced in years, and has reached the final stage of life.

They reflect:They reflect:‘I’m now old, elderly, and senior. I’m advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life.‘I’m now old, elderly, and senior. I’m advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.

Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’So because of that decay due to old age they go forth.So because of that decay due to old age they go forth.This is called decay due to old age.This is called decay due to old age.

But worthy Raṭṭhapāla is now a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life.But worthy Raṭṭhapāla is now a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life.You have no decay due to old age.You have no decay due to old age.So what did you know or see or hear that made you go forth?So what did you know or see or hear that made you go forth?

And what is decay due to sickness?And what is decay due to sickness?It’s when someone is sick, suffering, gravely ill.It’s when someone is sick, suffering, gravely ill.They reflect:They reflect:

‘I’m now sick, suffering, gravely ill.‘I’m now sick, suffering, gravely ill.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.Why don’t I go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’Why don’t I go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’

So because of that decay due to sickness they go forth.So because of that decay due to sickness they go forth.This is called decay due to sickness.This is called decay due to sickness.But worthy Raṭṭhapāla is now rarely ill or unwell. Your stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold.But worthy Raṭṭhapāla is now rarely ill or unwell. Your stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold.

You have no decay due to sickness.You have no decay due to sickness.So what did you know or see or hear that made you go forth?So what did you know or see or hear that made you go forth?And what is decay of wealth?And what is decay of wealth?

It’s when someone is rich, affluent, and wealthy.It’s when someone is rich, affluent, and wealthy.But gradually their wealth dwindles away.But gradually their wealth dwindles away.They reflect:They reflect:

‘I used to be rich, affluent, and wealthy.‘I used to be rich, affluent, and wealthy.But gradually my wealth has dwindled away.But gradually my wealth has dwindled away.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.

Why don’t I go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’Why don’t I go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’So because of that decay of wealth they go forth.So because of that decay of wealth they go forth.This is called decay of wealth.This is called decay of wealth.

But worthy Raṭṭhapāla is the son of the leading clan here in Thullakoṭṭhika.But worthy Raṭṭhapāla is the son of the leading clan here in Thullakoṭṭhika.You have no decay of wealth.You have no decay of wealth.So what did you know or see or hear that made you go forth?So what did you know or see or hear that made you go forth?

And what is decay of relatives?And what is decay of relatives?It’s when someone has many friends and colleagues, relatives and kin.It’s when someone has many friends and colleagues, relatives and kin.But gradually their relatives dwindle away.But gradually their relatives dwindle away.

They reflect:They reflect:‘I used to have many friends and colleagues, relatives and kin.‘I used to have many friends and colleagues, relatives and kin.But gradually they’ve dwindled away.But gradually they’ve dwindled away.

It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.It’s not easy for me to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth I’ve already acquired.Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’So because of that decay of relatives they go forth.So because of that decay of relatives they go forth.