T03n0182a_鹿母經

大正藏第 03 冊 No. 0182a 鹿母經

No. 182

佛說鹿母經

西晉月氏國三藏竺法護譯

佛言：「昔者，有鹿數百為群，隨逐美草侵近人邑，國王出獵遂各分迸。有一鹿母懷妊獨逝，被逐饑疲失侶悵怏。時生二子舍行求食，煢悸失措墮獵弶中，悲鳴欲出不能得脫。獵師聞聲便往視之，見鹿心喜適前欲殺。鹿乃叩頭求哀自陳：『向生二子尚小無知，始視濛濛未曉東西，乞假須臾暫還視子，將示水草使得生活，旋來就死不違信誓。』是時，獵者聞鹿所語，驚怪甚奇！即答鹿曰：『一切世人尚無至誠，況汝鹿身？從死得去，豈當還期？終不放汝。』鹿復報言：『聽則子存，留則子亡，母子俱死不得生別，分死全子滅三痛劇。』即便說偈，以報獵者：

「『我身為畜獸，　　游處於林藪， 賤生貪軀命，　　不能故送死。 今來入君弶，　　分當就刀機， 不惜腥臊身，　　但憐二子耳。』

「獵者於是聞鹿所語，甚奇甚異！意猶有貪，復答鹿曰：『夫巧偽無實奸詐難信，虛華萬端狡猾非一，愛身重死少能效命，人之無良猶難為期，而況禽獸去豈復還？固不放汝不須多方

現代漢語譯本 佛說：『過去，有幾百隻鹿成群結隊，爲了尋找美味的草而靠近人類的村莊，國王出來打獵，鹿群就各自逃散了。有一隻懷孕的母鹿獨自逃走，被追趕得飢餓疲憊，失去了同伴，感到非常失落。這時，她生下了兩個小鹿，然後離開去尋找食物。她驚慌失措，不小心掉進了獵人的陷阱里，悲傷地鳴叫著想要出來，卻無法脫身。獵人聽到聲音就過去檢視，看到鹿後心里很高興，正要上前殺死它。鹿就叩頭哀求，自己陳述說：『我剛生下兩個孩子，它們還很小，什麼都不知道，剛睜開眼睛，還不認識東西南北。請您允許我暫時回去看看孩子，給它們指引水源和草地，讓它們能夠活下去，我一定會回來赴死，絕不違背誓言。』當時，獵人聽到鹿說的話，感到非常驚訝和奇怪！就回答鹿說：『世人尚且沒有真誠，更何況你是一隻鹿？從死亡中逃脫，怎麼會按時回來呢？我終究不會放你走。』鹿又回答說：『聽我的話，我的孩子就能活，留住我，我的孩子就會死，母子一起死，不能活著分別，分開死，保全孩子，可以減輕三重的痛苦。』於是就說了偈語，來回答獵人： 『我身為畜生， 生活在樹林草叢中， 卑賤的生命貪戀軀體， 不能故意送死。 現在我進入了您的陷阱， 應當被您宰殺， 我不愛惜這腥臭的身體， 只是憐憫我的兩個孩子。』 獵人聽了鹿說的話，感到非常驚奇和不同尋常！心裡仍然有貪念，又回答鹿說：『虛偽狡詐，沒有真實，奸詐難以相信，虛假的花言巧語，狡猾不止一種，愛惜生命，看重死亡，很少有人能捨命，人都沒有良心，尚且難以相信，更何況是禽獸，走了怎麼會回來呢？我堅決不會放你走，不用多說了。』

English version The Buddha said: 'In the past, there were hundreds of deer living in groups, seeking delicious grass near human villages. The king went hunting, and the deer scattered. A pregnant doe fled alone, exhausted from being chased, and lost her companions, feeling very lost. At this time, she gave birth to two fawns and then left to find food. She panicked and accidentally fell into a hunter's trap, crying sadly, trying to get out but unable to escape. The hunter heard the sound and went to check. Seeing the deer, he was very happy and was about to kill it. The deer then kowtowed and begged, stating: 'I have just given birth to two children, they are still very small, they don't know anything, they have just opened their eyes, and they don't know east from west. Please allow me to go back and see my children temporarily, guide them to water and grass, so that they can live. I will definitely come back to die, and I will not break my oath.' At that time, the hunter heard what the deer said and was very surprised and strange! He replied to the deer: 'Even people do not have sincerity, let alone you, a deer? Escaping from death, how can you come back on time? I will not let you go.' The deer replied again: 'If you listen to me, my children will live. If you keep me, my children will die. If we die together, we cannot live separately. If we die separately, saving my children can reduce the triple pain.' Then she spoke a verse to answer the hunter: 'My body is an animal, living in the forests and bushes, A lowly life covets the body, cannot deliberately seek death. Now I have entered your trap, I should be slaughtered by you, I do not cherish this smelly body, but pity my two children.' The hunter heard what the deer said and felt very surprised and unusual! He still had greed in his heart and replied to the deer: 'Falsehood and deceit, without truth, treachery is hard to believe, false rhetoric, cunning is not just one kind, cherishing life, valuing death, few people can sacrifice their lives, people have no conscience, it is still difficult to believe, let alone animals, how can they come back after leaving? I will definitely not let you go, no need to say more.'

。』鹿復垂淚以偈報言：

「『雖身為賤畜，　　不識人義方， 奈何受慈恩，　　一去不復還。 寧就分裂痛，　　無為虛偽存， 哀傷二子窮，　　乞假須臾間。 世若有惡人，　　斗亂比丘僧， 破塔壞佛寺，　　及殺阿羅漢， 反逆害父母，　　兄弟及妻子； 設我不還來，　　罪大過於是。』

「爾時，獵者重聞鹿言，心益悚然，乃卻嘆曰：『惟我處世得生為人，愚惑癡冥背恩薄義，殘害眾生殺獵為業，欺偽茍得貪求無恥，不知非常識別三尊。鹿之所言有殊於人，信誓邈邈情現盡中。』便前解弶放之令去。於是鹿母至其子所，低頭鳴吟舐子身體，一悲一喜，而說偈言：

「『一切恩愛會，　　皆由因緣合， 合會有別離，　　無常難得久。 今我為爾母，　　恒恐不自保， 生世多畏懼，　　命危於晨露。』

「於是鹿母，將其二子示好水草，垂淚交流，即說偈言：

「『吾朝行不遇，　　誤墮獵者手， 即當應屠割，　　碎身化糜朽。 念汝求哀來，　　今當還就死， 憐汝小早孤，　　努力自活己。』

「鹿母說已，便舍而去。二子鳴啼悲泣戀慕，從后追尋，頓地復起。母顧命曰：『爾還勿來！無得母子並命俱死

現代漢語譯本：鹿再次流著眼淚，用偈語迴應說： 『我雖然身為低賤的畜生，不明白人類的道義， 但怎能辜負您給予的慈悲恩情，一去不復返呢？ 我寧願承受身體分裂的痛苦，也不願虛偽地茍且偷生。 我哀傷我的兩個孩子會遭遇困境，請允許我暫時回去一下。 如果世上有惡人，挑撥離間僧侶， 破壞佛塔，毀壞佛寺，甚至殺害阿羅漢， 反叛父母，傷害兄弟和妻子； 如果我不回來，我的罪過將比他們還大。』 當時，獵人再次聽到鹿的話，心中更加恐懼，於是嘆息道：『我身為人類，卻愚昧無知，背棄恩義，殘害眾生，以殺獵為業，欺騙茍且，貪求財物，不知道尊敬佛法僧三寶。鹿所說的話比人還要高尚，它的誓言真誠而情意深重。』於是上前解開陷阱，放鹿離去。這時，鹿媽媽來到孩子身邊，低頭鳴叫，舔舐孩子的身體，又悲又喜，並說偈語道： 『一切恩愛相會，都是由因緣聚合而成， 聚合終有離別，無常難以長久。 現在我作為你們的母親，常常擔心自己無法保全， 生存在世上充滿恐懼，生命危如朝露。』 於是鹿媽媽，帶著兩個孩子到水草豐美的地方，流著眼淚，並說偈語道： 『我早上出行不順，誤入獵人的陷阱， 即將被宰殺，身體破碎化為塵土。 想到你們哀求我回來，現在我將回去赴死， 可憐你們年幼就要失去母親，要努力自己活下去。』 鹿媽媽說完，便捨棄孩子離去。兩個孩子鳴叫悲泣，戀戀不捨，從後面追趕，跌倒又爬起來。鹿媽媽回頭命令道：『你們回去吧！不要讓母子一同喪命！』

English version: The deer, with tears streaming down, replied with a verse: 'Though my body is that of a lowly beast, I do not understand human righteousness, How can I betray the kindness you have shown, and not return? I would rather endure the pain of being torn apart, than live a false and cowardly life. I grieve for my two children who will face hardship, please allow me to return for a short while. If there are evil people in the world, who sow discord among monks, Destroy pagodas, ruin temples, and even kill Arhats, Rebel against their parents, harm their brothers and wives; If I do not return, my sin will be greater than theirs.' At that time, the hunter, hearing the deer's words again, felt even more terrified, and sighed: 'I, as a human being, am foolish and ignorant, betraying kindness and righteousness, harming living beings, making hunting my profession, deceiving and seeking profit, not knowing to respect the Three Jewels. The deer's words are more noble than those of humans, its vows are sincere and its feelings are profound.' So he went forward, released the trap, and let the deer go. Then, the deer mother came to her children, lowered her head, nuzzled them, and licked their bodies, both sad and happy, and spoke a verse: 'All loving encounters are due to the gathering of causes and conditions, Gatherings will eventually lead to separations, impermanence is difficult to endure. Now I, as your mother, am constantly worried about my own safety, Living in this world is full of fear, life is as fragile as morning dew.' Then the deer mother, took her two children to a place with lush grass and water, with tears streaming down, and spoke a verse: 'My morning journey was not smooth, I mistakenly fell into the hunter's trap, I am about to be slaughtered, my body broken into dust. Thinking of your pleas for me to return, now I will go back to face death, Pity that you will lose your mother at such a young age, strive to live on your own.' After the deer mother finished speaking, she left her children. The two children cried and wailed, reluctant to part, chasing after her, falling and getting up again. The deer mother turned back and commanded: 'Go back! Do not let mother and children die together!'

。吾沒甘心；傷汝未識，世間無常皆有別離。我自薄命爾生薄祐，何為悲憐徒益憂患，但當建行畢罪。』於是母復為子，說此偈言：

「『吾前生貪愛，　　今來為畜身， 生世皆有死，　　無脫不終患。 制意一離貪，　　然後乃大安， 寧就誠信死，　　終不欺殆生。』

「子猶悲號戀慕相尋，至於弶(巨諒)所東西求索。乃見獵者臥于樹下。鹿母住前，說偈覺言：

「『前所可放鹿，　　今來還就死， 恩愛愚賤畜，　　得見辭二子。 將行示水草，　　為說非常苦， 萬沒無遺恨，　　念恩不敢負。』

「獵者於是忽覺驚起，鹿復長跪向獵者，重說偈言：

「『君前見放去，　　德重過天地， 賤畜被慈育，　　赴信還就死。 感仁恩難忘，　　不敢違命旨， 雖懷千返報，　　猶不畢恩紀。』

「獵者見鹿篤信死義，志節丹誠慈行發中，效應徴驗捨生赴誓，母子悲戀相尋而至。慈感愍傷，稽首謝曰：

「『為天是神祇，　　信義妙乃爾， 恐懼情悚然，　　豈敢加逆害。 寧自殺所親，　　碎身及妻子， 何忍害靈神，　　起想如毛髮。』

「獵者即便放鹿使去

現代漢語譯本：『我不甘心啊；可悲的是你還不明白，世間萬物都有離別的時候。我天生薄命，你生來也沒有福氣，為何要悲傷憐憫徒增憂愁，不如努力修行以償還罪業。』於是母親又為兒子，說了這首偈語： 『我前世貪戀情愛，今生才淪為畜生，世間萬物都有死亡，沒有誰能逃脫最終的苦難。控制心意，斷絕貪慾，然後才能獲得真正的安寧，寧願爲了誠信而死，也絕不欺騙茍且偷生。』 『兒子仍然悲傷哭號，戀戀不捨地四處尋找，一直到陷阱所在的地方，東西奔波尋覓。這時看見獵人正躺在樹下。鹿母親走到獵人面前，說偈語來提醒他： 『之前被你放走的鹿，現在又回來送死，因為恩愛而愚昧的低賤畜生，得以和兩個孩子告別。將要離去時，指給他們水草，為他們講述無常的痛苦，即使萬般無奈也沒有遺憾，感念恩情不敢辜負。』 『獵人這時忽然驚醒，鹿又長跪在獵人面前，再次說偈語： 『您之前放我離去，恩德比天地還重，我這低賤的畜生被您慈悲養育，爲了信守承諾回來送死。感激您的仁慈恩情難以忘懷，不敢違背您的旨意，即使有千百次報答的機會，也無法報答完您的恩情。』 『獵人看到鹿如此篤守信義，其志向節操真誠，慈悲之心發自內心，應驗了捨生赴死的誓言，母子悲傷戀戀不捨地尋來。慈悲感動，慚愧地叩頭謝罪說： 『您莫非是天上的神靈，信義竟然如此高妙，我感到恐懼而心驚膽戰，怎敢再加害於您。寧願殺死自己的親人，粉身碎骨，甚至連累妻子兒女，又怎能忍心傷害您這樣的靈神，哪怕是生起一絲這樣的念頭。』 『獵人隨即放了鹿，讓它離去。』

English version: 'I am not reconciled; it is sad that you do not understand, all things in this world have separations. I was born with a poor fate, and you were born without blessings, why grieve and pity, only to increase worries, it is better to cultivate diligently to repay the sins.' Then the mother, for her son, spoke this verse: 'My previous life was greedy for love, and now I have become an animal, all things in the world have death, no one can escape the final suffering. Control your mind, cut off greed, and then you can obtain true peace, rather die for integrity, than deceive and live in disgrace.' 'The son still cried sadly, and searched around with reluctance, all the way to the place of the trap, searching east and west. Then he saw the hunter lying under the tree. The deer mother went in front of the hunter, and spoke a verse to remind him: 'The deer that you released before, now comes back to die, because of love, the foolish and lowly animal, was able to say goodbye to her two children. When about to leave, she pointed out the water and grass for them, and told them about the suffering of impermanence, even if there is no other way, there is no regret, remembering the kindness and not daring to betray it.' 'The hunter then suddenly woke up, and the deer knelt down again in front of the hunter, and spoke the verse again: 'You released me before, your kindness is greater than heaven and earth, I, this lowly animal, was raised by your compassion, and have returned to die to keep my promise. I am grateful for your kindness and cannot forget it, I dare not disobey your will, even if there were a thousand chances to repay, I still could not repay your kindness.' 'The hunter saw that the deer was so devoted to faith and righteousness, her aspirations and integrity were sincere, her compassion came from the heart, and it proved the oath to give up her life, the mother and son came sadly and reluctantly. Moved by compassion, he bowed his head in shame and apologized, saying: 'Are you perhaps a celestial spirit, your faith and righteousness are so profound, I feel fear and trepidation, how dare I harm you again. I would rather kill my own relatives, be crushed to pieces, and even implicate my wife and children, how can I bear to harm a spirit like you, even if I have the slightest thought of it.' 'The hunter then released the deer and let it go.'

。母子悲喜鳴聲呦呦，偈謝獵者：

「『賤畜生處世，　　當應充廚宰， 即時分烹煮，　　寬惠辭二子。 天仁重愛物，　　復蒙放舍原， 德祐積無量，　　非口所能陳。』

「爾時，獵者具以聞王，國人咸知普感慈信，鹿之仁行有喻于義，莫不肅嘆！為止殺獵。於是鹿還鳴群嘯侶，以游以集各寧其所。」

佛語阿難：「昔吾所更勤苦如是。爾時，鹿者我身是。二子者羅云及羅漢朱利母是。其國王者，舍利弗是。時射獵者，汝身是。我之所入興隆道化，種善無厭分德不住，雖在禽獸不忘菩薩，權行如應導利一切，普使眾生度濟獲安，逮是功德疾成至佛真人，至誠忠信不可不作

現代漢語譯本：母鹿和小鹿悲喜交加地鳴叫著，向獵人道謝： 『我們這些卑賤的畜生，本應被宰殺充當食物， 現在您卻寬宏大量地放過了我們母子， 上天有好生之德，您又放我們回到山林， 您的恩德真是無量無邊，難以用言語表達。』 當時，獵人把這件事稟告了國王，全國人民都知道了這件事，都深受感動，相信了慈悲的道理。鹿的仁義行為可以作為榜樣，大家都肅然起敬！於是停止了殺戮和狩獵。鹿又回到鹿群中，呼朋引伴，各自安寧地生活。 佛告訴阿難：『我過去所經歷的勤苦就是這樣。當時，那隻鹿就是我的前身。那兩隻小鹿是羅睺羅和羅漢朱利母的前身。那個國王是舍利弗的前身。當時的獵人，就是你的前身。我所進入的興隆道化，種善不厭，分德不住，即使身為禽獸也不忘菩薩的修行，權宜行事，引導利益一切眾生，使他們都能得到解脫和安寧，最終成就功德，迅速成佛。至誠忠信，不可不去做啊！』

English version: The mother deer and her fawns cried out in a mix of sorrow and joy, thanking the hunter: 'We, lowly creatures, were destined to be slaughtered and used as food, Yet you have generously spared us, mother and child, Heaven cherishes life, and you have released us back to the forest, Your kindness is truly boundless and cannot be expressed in words.' At that time, the hunter reported this matter to the king, and the whole nation knew about it. They were all deeply moved and believed in the principle of compassion. The deer's benevolent actions served as an example, and everyone was filled with respect! Thus, they stopped killing and hunting. The deer returned to their herd, calling out to their companions, and each lived peacefully in their own place. The Buddha told Ananda: 'The diligence and hardship I experienced in the past were like this. At that time, that deer was my previous life. The two fawns were the previous lives of Rahula and the Arhat Culapanthaka. That king was the previous life of Sariputra. The hunter at that time was your previous life. The flourishing path of enlightenment that I entered, planting good seeds without weariness, sharing merit without ceasing, even as an animal, I did not forget the practice of a Bodhisattva, acting expediently, guiding and benefiting all beings, enabling them to attain liberation and peace, ultimately achieving merit, and quickly becoming a Buddha. Sincere faith and loyalty, one must not fail to do it!'

。」

The Buddha Speaks of the Deer Mother Sutra