经集（Sujato 英译）第 71 阅读页 · SNP5.1 · Introductory Verses · 2/2

Ask him about my birth, clan, and marks,Ask him about my birth, clan, and marks,my hymns and acolytes; and further,my hymns and acolytes; and further,about heads and head-splitting—about heads and head-splitting—

but do so only in your mind!but do so only in your mind!If he is the BuddhaIf he is the Buddhaof unhindered vision,of unhindered vision,

he will answer with his voicehe will answer with his voicethe questions in your mind.”the questions in your mind.”Sixteen brahmin acolytesSixteen brahmin acolytes

heard what Bāvari said:heard what Bāvari said:Ajita, Tissametteyya,Ajita, Tissametteyya,Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,

Dhotaka and Upasīva,Dhotaka and Upasīva,Nanda and then Hemaka,Nanda and then Hemaka,both Todeyya and Kappa,both Todeyya and Kappa,

and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,and the brahmin Posāla,and the brahmin Posāla,

Mogharāja the intelligent,Mogharāja the intelligent,and Piṅgiya the great seer.and Piṅgiya the great seer.Each of them had their own following,Each of them had their own following,

they were renowned the whole world over.they were renowned the whole world over.Those attentive ones, meditators who love absorption,Those attentive ones, meditators who love absorption,were redolent with the potential of their past deeds.were redolent with the potential of their past deeds.

Having bowed to Bāvari,Having bowed to Bāvari,and circled him to his right,and circled him to his right,they set out for the north,they set out for the north,

with their dreadlocks and hides.with their dreadlocks and hides.First to Patiṭṭhāna of Muḷaka,First to Patiṭṭhāna of Muḷaka,then on to the citadel of Māhissatī;then on to the citadel of Māhissatī;

to Ujjenī and Gonaddhā,to Ujjenī and Gonaddhā,and Vedisa, and Vanasa.and Vedisa, and Vanasa.Then to Kosambī and Sāketa,Then to Kosambī and Sāketa,

and the capital city of Sāvatthī;and the capital city of Sāvatthī;on they went to Setavyā and Kapilavatthu,on they went to Setavyā and Kapilavatthu,and the homestead at Kusinārā.and the homestead at Kusinārā.

To Pāvā they went, and Bhoga City,To Pāvā they went, and Bhoga City,and on to Vesālī and the Magadhan city.and on to Vesālī and the Magadhan city.Finally they reached the Pāsāṇaka Shrine,Finally they reached the Pāsāṇaka Shrine,

fair and delightful.fair and delightful.Like a thirsty person to cool water,Like a thirsty person to cool water,like a merchant to great profit,like a merchant to great profit,

like a heat-struck person to shade,like a heat-struck person to shade,they quickly climbed the mountain.they quickly climbed the mountain.At that time the Buddha,At that time the Buddha,

at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha,at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha,was teaching the mendicants the Dhamma,was teaching the mendicants the Dhamma,like a lion roaring in the jungle.like a lion roaring in the jungle.

Ajita saw the Buddha,Ajita saw the Buddha,like the sun shining with a hundred rays,like the sun shining with a hundred rays,like the moon on the fifteenth daylike the moon on the fifteenth day

when it has come into its fullness.when it has come into its fullness.Then he saw his body,Then he saw his body,complete in all features.complete in all features.

Thrilled, he stood to one sideThrilled, he stood to one sideand asked this question in his mind.and asked this question in his mind.“Speak about the brahmin’s birth;“Speak about the brahmin’s birth;

of his clan; and his own marks;of his clan; and his own marks;what hymns is he proficient in;what hymns is he proficient in;and how many he teaches.”and how many he teaches.”

“His age is a hundred and twenty.“His age is a hundred and twenty.By clan he is a Bāvari.By clan he is a Bāvari.There are three marks on his body.There are three marks on his body.

He is a master of the three Vedas,He is a master of the three Vedas,the teachings on the marks, the testaments,the teachings on the marks, the testaments,the vocabularies, and the rituals.the vocabularies, and the rituals.

He teaches recitation to five hundred,He teaches recitation to five hundred,and has reached proficiency in his own teaching.”and has reached proficiency in his own teaching.”“O supreme man, cutter of craving,“O supreme man, cutter of craving,

please reveal in detailplease reveal in detailBāvari’s marks—Bāvari’s marks—let us doubt no longer!”let us doubt no longer!”

“He can cover his face with his tongue;“He can cover his face with his tongue;there is a tuft of hair between his eyebrows;there is a tuft of hair between his eyebrows;his private parts are sheathed in a foreskin:his private parts are sheathed in a foreskin:

know them as this, student.”know them as this, student.”Hearing the answersHearing the answerswithout having heard any questions,without having heard any questions,

all the people, inspired,all the people, inspired,with cupped palms, wondered:with cupped palms, wondered:“Who is it that asked a question with their mind?“Who is it that asked a question with their mind?

Was it a god or divinity?Was it a god or divinity?Or Indra, Sujā’s husband?Or Indra, Sujā’s husband?To whom does the Buddha reply?”To whom does the Buddha reply?”

“Bāvari asks“Bāvari asksabout heads and head-splitting.about heads and head-splitting.May the Buddha please answer,May the Buddha please answer,

and so, O seer, dispel our doubt.”and so, O seer, dispel our doubt.”“Know ignorance as the head,“Know ignorance as the head,and knowledge as the head-splitter,and knowledge as the head-splitter,

when joined with faith, mindfulness, and immersion,when joined with faith, mindfulness, and immersion,and enthusiasm and energy.”and enthusiasm and energy.”At that, the student,At that, the student,

full of inspiration,full of inspiration,arranged his antelope-skin cloak over one shoulder,arranged his antelope-skin cloak over one shoulder,and fell with his head to the Buddha’s feet.and fell with his head to the Buddha’s feet.

“Good fellow, the brahmin Bāvari“Good fellow, the brahmin Bāvaritogether with his acolytes,together with his acolytes,elated and happy,elated and happy,

bows to your feet, O Clear-eyed One!”bows to your feet, O Clear-eyed One!”“May the brahmin Bāvari be happy,“May the brahmin Bāvari be happy,together with his acolytes.together with his acolytes.

And may you, too, be happy!And may you, too, be happy!May you live long, student.May you live long, student.To Bāvari and you allTo Bāvari and you all

I grant the opportunity to clear up all doubt.I grant the opportunity to clear up all doubt.Please askPlease askwhatever you want.”whatever you want.”

Granted the opportunity by the Buddha,Granted the opportunity by the Buddha,they sat down with cupped palms.they sat down with cupped palms.Ajita asked the Realized OneAjita asked the Realized One

the first question right there.the first question right there.The introductory verses are finished.The introductory verses are finished.