经集（Sujato 英译）第 49 阅读页 · SNP3.11 · About Nālaka · 1/2

Anthology of Discourses 3.11Anthology of Discourses 3.11About NālakaAbout Nālaka

The seer Asita in his daily meditationThe seer Asita in his daily meditationsaw the bright-clad gods of the host of Thirtysaw the bright-clad gods of the host of Thirtyand their lord Sakka joyfully celebrating,and their lord Sakka joyfully celebrating,

waving streamers in exuberant exaltation.waving streamers in exuberant exaltation.Seeing the gods rejoicing, elated,Seeing the gods rejoicing, elated,he paid respects and said this there:he paid respects and said this there:

“Why is the community of gods in such excellent spirits?“Why is the community of gods in such excellent spirits?Why take up streamers and whirl them about?Why take up streamers and whirl them about?Even in the war with the titans,Even in the war with the titans,

when gods were victorious and titans defeated,when gods were victorious and titans defeated,there was no such excitement.there was no such excitement.What marvel have the celestials seen that they so rejoice?What marvel have the celestials seen that they so rejoice?

Shouting and singing and playing music,Shouting and singing and playing music,they clap their hands and dance.they clap their hands and dance.I ask you, dwellers on Mount Meru’s peak,I ask you, dwellers on Mount Meru’s peak,

quickly dispel my doubt, good fellows!”quickly dispel my doubt, good fellows!”“The being intent on awakening, a peerless gem,“The being intent on awakening, a peerless gem,has been born in the human realm for the sake of welfare and happiness,has been born in the human realm for the sake of welfare and happiness,

in Lumbinī, a village in the Sakyan land.in Lumbinī, a village in the Sakyan land.That’s why we’re so happy, in such excellent spirits.That’s why we’re so happy, in such excellent spirits.He is supreme among all beings, the peak individual,He is supreme among all beings, the peak individual,

captain of men, supreme among all creatures.captain of men, supreme among all creatures.He will roll forth the wheel in the grove of the seers,He will roll forth the wheel in the grove of the seers,roaring like a mighty lion, lord of beasts.”roaring like a mighty lion, lord of beasts.”

Hearing this, he swiftly descendedHearing this, he swiftly descendedand right away approached Suddhodana’s home.and right away approached Suddhodana’s home.Seated there he said this to the Sakyans,Seated there he said this to the Sakyans,

“Where is the boy? I too wish to see him!”“Where is the boy? I too wish to see him!”Then the Sakyans showed their son to the one named Asita—Then the Sakyans showed their son to the one named Asita—the boy shone like burning goldthe boy shone like burning gold

well-wrought in the forge;well-wrought in the forge;dazzling with glory, of peerless beauty.dazzling with glory, of peerless beauty.The boy beamed like crested flame,The boy beamed like crested flame,

pure as the moon, lord of stars traversing the sky,pure as the moon, lord of stars traversing the sky,blazing like the sun free of stormclouds after the rains;blazing like the sun free of stormclouds after the rains;seeing him, he was joyful, brimming with happiness.seeing him, he was joyful, brimming with happiness.

The celestials held up a parasol in the sky,The celestials held up a parasol in the sky,many-ribbed and thousand-circled;many-ribbed and thousand-circled;and golden-handled chowries waved—and golden-handled chowries waved—

but none could see who held the chowries or the parasols.but none could see who held the chowries or the parasols.When the matted hair seer named “Dark Splendor”When the matted hair seer named “Dark Splendor”had seen the boy like a gold ingot on a cream rughad seen the boy like a gold ingot on a cream rug

with a white parasol held over his head,with a white parasol held over his head,he received him, elated and happy.he received him, elated and happy.Having received the Sakyan bull,Having received the Sakyan bull,

the seeker, master of marks and hymns,the seeker, master of marks and hymns,lifted up his voice with confident heart:lifted up his voice with confident heart:“He is supreme, the best of men!”“He is supreme, the best of men!”

But then, remembering he would depart this world,But then, remembering he would depart this world,his spirits fell and his tears flowed.his spirits fell and his tears flowed.Seeing the weeping seer, the Sakyans said,Seeing the weeping seer, the Sakyans said,

“Surely there will be no threat to the boy?”“Surely there will be no threat to the boy?”Seeing the crestfallen Sakyans, the seer said,Seeing the crestfallen Sakyans, the seer said,“I do not forsee harm befall the boy,“I do not forsee harm befall the boy,

and there will be no threat to him,and there will be no threat to him,not in the least; set your minds at ease.not in the least; set your minds at ease.This boy shall reach the highest awakening.This boy shall reach the highest awakening.

As one of perfectly purified vision, compassionate for the welfare of the many,As one of perfectly purified vision, compassionate for the welfare of the many,he shall roll forth the wheel of the teaching;he shall roll forth the wheel of the teaching;his spiritual path will become widespread.his spiritual path will become widespread.

But I have not long left in this life,But I have not long left in this life,I shall die before then.I shall die before then.I will never hear the teaching of the one who bore the unequaled burden.I will never hear the teaching of the one who bore the unequaled burden.

That’s why I’m so upset and distraught—it’s a disaster for me!”That’s why I’m so upset and distraught—it’s a disaster for me!”Having brought abundant happiness to the Sakyans,Having brought abundant happiness to the Sakyans,the spiritual seeker left the royal compound.the spiritual seeker left the royal compound.

He had a nephew; and out of sympathyHe had a nephew; and out of sympathyhe encouraged him in the teaching of the one who bore the unequaled burden.he encouraged him in the teaching of the one who bore the unequaled burden.“When you hear the voice of another saying ‘Buddha’—“When you hear the voice of another saying ‘Buddha’—

one who has attained awakening and who reveals the foremost teaching—one who has attained awakening and who reveals the foremost teaching—go there and ask about his breakthrough;go there and ask about his breakthrough;lead the spiritual life under that Blessed One.”lead the spiritual life under that Blessed One.”

Now, that Nālaka had a store of accumulated merit;Now, that Nālaka had a store of accumulated merit;so when instructed by one of such kindly intent,so when instructed by one of such kindly intent,with perfectly purified vision of the future,with perfectly purified vision of the future,

he waited anticipating the Victor, guarding his senses.he waited anticipating the Victor, guarding his senses.When he heard of the Victor rolling forth the excellent wheel he went to him,When he heard of the Victor rolling forth the excellent wheel he went to him,and seeing the boss seer, he became confident.and seeing the boss seer, he became confident.

The time of Asita’s instruction had arrived;The time of Asita’s instruction had arrived;so he asked the excellent sage about the highest sagacity.so he asked the excellent sage about the highest sagacity.The introductory verses are finished.The introductory verses are finished.

“I now know that Asita’s words“I now know that Asita’s wordshave turned out to be true.have turned out to be true.I ask you this, Gotama,I ask you this, Gotama,

who has gone beyond all things:who has gone beyond all things:For one who has entered the homeless life,For one who has entered the homeless life,seeking food on alms round,seeking food on alms round,

when questioned, O sage, please tell mewhen questioned, O sage, please tell meof sagacity, the ultimate state.”of sagacity, the ultimate state.”“I shall school you in sagacity,”“I shall school you in sagacity,”

said the Buddha,said the Buddha,“so difficult and challenging.“so difficult and challenging.Come, I shall tell you all about it.Come, I shall tell you all about it.

Brace yourself; stay strong!Brace yourself; stay strong!In the village, keep the same attitudeIn the village, keep the same attitudeno matter if reviled or praised.no matter if reviled or praised.

Guard against ill-tempered thoughts;Guard against ill-tempered thoughts;wander peaceful and humble.wander peaceful and humble.Many different things come up,Many different things come up,

like tongues of fire in a forest.like tongues of fire in a forest.Women try to seduce a sage—Women try to seduce a sage—let them not seduce you!let them not seduce you!

Refraining from sex,Refraining from sex,having left behind sensual pleasures high and low,having left behind sensual pleasures high and low,don’t be hostile or attacheddon’t be hostile or attached

to living creatures firm or frail.to living creatures firm or frail.‘As am I, so are they;‘As am I, so are they;as are they, so am I’—as are they, so am I’—

Treating others like oneself,Treating others like oneself,neither kill nor incite to kill.neither kill nor incite to kill.Leaving behind desire and greedLeaving behind desire and greed

for what ordinary people are attached to,for what ordinary people are attached to,one whose eye is clear would set out to practice,one whose eye is clear would set out to practice,they’d cross over this abyss.they’d cross over this abyss.

With empty stomach, taking limited food,With empty stomach, taking limited food,few in wishes, not greedy;few in wishes, not greedy;truly hungerless regarding all desires,truly hungerless regarding all desires,

desireless, one is quenched.desireless, one is quenched.