T14n0525_佛說長者子懊惱三處經

大正藏第 14 冊 No. 0525 佛說長者子懊惱三處經

No. 525

佛說長者子懊惱三處經

後漢安息國三藏安世高譯

聞如是：

一時，佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨精舍，與大比丘眾千二百五十人俱。

爾時，舍衛城有大長者，財富無數，田宅牛馬，不可稱計，家無親子。其國俗法，若無子者，壽終之後，財沒入官。長者夫婦，禱祠諸天日月星辰，求索子息，豎立門戶，亦不能得。

時，長者婦歸命三寶奉受五戒，晨夜精進，不敢懈怠，便得懷軀。婦人黠者有五事應知：一者、知夫婿意；二者、知夫婿念不念；三者、知所因懷軀；四者、別知男女；五者、別善惡。是長者婦，報長者言：「我已懷軀。」長者歡喜，日日供養衣被飲食，極使精細，十月已滿，便生得男。五乳母共供養子，乳哺者、洗浴者、衣被者、抱持者。兒即長大。年十五六，長者夫婦，為子索婦，得長者女，端正姝好，于城外園館，大請人客。飲食娛樂，肴膳精細，四方來者，無所拒逆。如是賓從，至於七日。

時兒夫婦，遊行園中，有樹名曰無憂，其上有花，色甚鮮好，如弱緋色。婦語夫言：「欲得此華。」夫便上樹，為取此華，樹枝細劣，即時摧折，兒便墮地，斷絕而死。

【現代漢語翻譯】現代漢語譯本《佛說長者子懊惱三處經》

後漢安息國三藏安世高譯

我聽到的是這樣的：

一時，佛陀在舍衛國（Śrāvastī）的祇樹給孤獨精舍（Jetavana Anathapindika-arama），與一千二百五十位大比丘在一起。

當時，舍衛城（Śrāvastī）有一位大長者（wealthy householder），擁有無數的財富，田地、房產、牛馬，多得無法計算，但是家中沒有親生兒子。按照當地的習俗，如果沒有兒子，死後財產會被沒收充公。長者夫婦向諸天、日月星辰祈禱，求子，也嘗試過豎立門戶等方法，但都沒有成功。

後來，長者的妻子歸依三寶，奉行五戒，日夜精進，不敢懈怠，於是懷了身孕。聰明的婦人應該知道五件事：一是瞭解丈夫的心意；二是知道丈夫是否思念自己；三是知道自己因何而懷孕；四是能辨別懷的是男孩還是女孩；五是能辨別善與惡。這位長者的妻子告訴長者說：『我已經懷孕了。』長者非常高興，每天都提供最好的衣物和飲食，極盡精細地照顧她。十個月期滿后，生下了一個男孩。五位乳母共同照顧這個孩子，分別負責餵奶、洗澡、穿衣、抱持。孩子漸漸長大，到了十五六歲，長者夫婦為他尋找妻子，娶了一位長者的女兒，容貌端正美麗。他們在城外的園館裡，大擺宴席，款待賓客。飲食娛樂，菜餚精美，四方來客，一概不拒絕。就這樣招待賓客，持續了七天。

當時，這對年輕夫婦在園中游玩，那裡有一棵樹名叫無憂樹（Ashoka tree），樹上開滿了鮮艷的花朵，顏色像淺紅色。妻子對丈夫說：『我想得到這朵花。』丈夫便爬上樹去摘花，但是樹枝細弱，立刻折斷，兒子便從樹上掉下來，當場死亡。

【English Translation】 English version The Sutra of the Buddha Speaking of the Three Anxieties of the Son of a Wealthy Man

Translated by An Shih-kao, a Tripiṭaka Master from Parthia during the Later Han Dynasty

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was in the Jeta Grove Anathapindika-arama (Jetavana Anathapindika-arama) in Śrāvastī (Śrāvastī), together with a large assembly of twelve hundred and fifty Bhikshus.

At that time, in the city of Śrāvastī (Śrāvastī), there was a great wealthy householder (wealthy householder) who possessed countless riches, fields, houses, cattle, and horses, beyond measure, but he had no son. According to the local custom, if one had no son, their wealth would be confiscated by the government after their death. The wealthy man and his wife prayed to the gods, the sun, the moon, and the stars, seeking a son, and they also tried establishing a new household, but to no avail.

Later, the wealthy man's wife took refuge in the Three Jewels, observed the Five Precepts, and diligently practiced day and night without懈怠, and thus she became pregnant. A wise woman should know five things: first, to understand her husband's intentions; second, to know whether her husband misses her; third, to know the cause of her pregnancy; fourth, to distinguish whether she is carrying a boy or a girl; fifth, to distinguish between good and evil. This wealthy man's wife told the wealthy man, 'I am pregnant.' The wealthy man was overjoyed and provided her with the finest clothes and food every day, taking extremely meticulous care of her. After ten months, she gave birth to a son. Five wet nurses jointly cared for the child, one feeding him milk, one bathing him, one dressing him, and one holding him. The child gradually grew up. When he was fifteen or sixteen years old, the wealthy man and his wife sought a wife for him and married the daughter of another wealthy man, who was beautiful and virtuous. They held a grand banquet in a garden pavilion outside the city, entertaining guests. The food and entertainment were exquisite, and they welcomed all visitors from all directions. They continued to entertain guests in this way for seven days.

At that time, the young couple was playing in the garden, where there was a tree called the Ashoka tree (Ashoka tree), which was covered with bright flowers, the color of pale red. The wife said to her husband, 'I want to have that flower.' The husband then climbed the tree to pick the flower, but the branch was thin and weak, and it immediately broke, and the son fell to the ground and died instantly.

父母聞之，知墮樹死，便走奔趣，母抱其頭，父抱兩腳，摩挲瞻視，永絕不穌。父母悲哀，五內摧傷，眾客見之，亦代哀痛，死何急疾，眾客飲食，娛樂未畢，而反墮樹死亡無常。

時佛世尊與阿難俱，著衣持缽，入城分衛，見長者夫婦，獨有一子而墮樹死，啼哭悲傷，甚不可言。佛見此兒所從來生，從忉利天壽命終盡，過生於長者家，死即生龍中，金翅鳥王復取食之，三處悲哀，悉共發喪。

佛告阿難：「詣長者所，解喻其意，為除其患；設不爾者，恐愁憂死。」

阿難言：「唯然！」即從佛行到長者所。

長者聞佛來到其所，心即歡喜，稽首佛足。佛問長者：「何為愁憂，乃如是乎？」

長者白佛：「我身無相，由有一子，為其娶婦，請客飲食娛樂未畢，上樹取華，墮地便死。我身如石，心如剛鐵，適得一子，而舍我死。」

佛告長者：「人生有死，物成有敗，對至命盡，不可避藏，捐去憂念，勿復憂戚。」

時，佛出光明遍照十方，使長者見天上龍中父母啼哭。佛語長者：「此兒本從忉利天上壽盡命終，來生卿家，壽盡便生龍中，金翅鳥王即取啖之，三處一時共啼哭，為是誰子？」

佛即說偈言：

「天上諸天子，　　為是卿子乎？　為在諸龍

【現代漢語翻譯】現代漢語譯本父母聽到這個訊息，知道孩子從樹上掉下來死了，便跑過去，母親抱著孩子的頭，父親抱著孩子的腳，撫摸著，看著，但孩子永遠不會再醒來。父母悲傷不已，五臟俱裂，在場的客人們見了，也替他們感到悲痛，感嘆死亡來得如此迅速，客人們的宴飲娛樂還沒有結束，孩子卻從樹上掉下來死了，真是世事無常。

當時，佛陀世尊與阿難（Ananda）一起，穿著袈裟，拿著缽，進入城中乞食，看見一位長者（wealthy householder）夫婦，只有一個兒子卻從樹上掉下來死了，啼哭悲傷，無法用言語形容。佛陀看見這個孩子從哪裡來，他原本是從忉利天（Trayastrimsa Heaven）壽命終盡，然後投生到長者家，死後又投生到龍中，金翅鳥王（Garuda）又來吃了他，三個地方都在悲哀，一起為他發喪。

佛陀告訴阿難（Ananda）：「去長者那裡，開導他的心意，為他解除痛苦；如果不這樣做，恐怕他會愁憂而死。」

阿難（Ananda）回答：「遵命！」隨即跟著佛陀來到長者那裡。

長者聽到佛陀來到他這裡，心裡非常歡喜，頂禮佛足。佛陀問長者：「你為何如此愁憂呢？」

長者對佛陀說：「我一生沒有兒子，好不容易有了一個兒子，為他娶媳婦，請客人來宴飲娛樂還沒有結束，他上樹去摘花，掉在地上就死了。我的心像石頭一樣，像鋼鐵一樣堅硬，好不容易得到一個兒子，卻舍我而去死了。」

佛陀告訴長者：「人生有死，事物有成就有敗，壽命終結時，是無法避免和躲藏的，放下憂愁，不要再悲傷了。」

當時，佛陀放出光明遍照十方，使長者看見天上、龍中的父母都在啼哭。佛陀對長者說：「這個孩子原本是從忉利天（Trayastrimsa Heaven）上壽命終盡，來投生到你家，壽命終結后便投生到龍中，金翅鳥王（Garuda）立刻就來吃了它，三個地方同時都在啼哭，他到底是誰的兒子呢？」

佛陀隨即說偈語：

『天上諸天子，　　為是卿子乎？　為在諸龍

【English Translation】 English version Upon hearing this, the parents, knowing that their son had fallen from the tree and died, rushed over. The mother embraced his head, and the father held his feet, caressing and gazing at him, but he would never awaken. The parents were overcome with grief, their hearts shattered. The guests present also felt sorrow on their behalf, lamenting how sudden death had come. The guests' feasting and entertainment were not yet over, yet the son had fallen from the tree and died, a testament to the impermanence of life.

At that time, the World-Honored One, the Buddha, together with Ananda, wearing robes and carrying alms bowls, entered the city to beg for food. They saw a wealthy householder and his wife, who had only one son, and he had fallen from a tree and died. They were weeping and grieving, beyond words to describe. The Buddha saw where this child had come from: he had come from the Trayastrimsa Heaven (忉利天), his lifespan there having ended, and was reborn into the householder's family. Upon his death, he was reborn among the dragons, where the Garuda (金翅鳥王), the king of birds, devoured him. All three places were in mourning, together holding a funeral for him.

The Buddha said to Ananda: 'Go to the householder and explain the situation to him, to relieve his suffering; otherwise, I fear he will die of sorrow.'

Ananda replied: 'As you command!' Then he followed the Buddha to the householder's residence.

The householder, hearing that the Buddha had come to his place, was overjoyed and prostrated himself at the Buddha's feet. The Buddha asked the householder: 'Why are you so sorrowful?'

The householder said to the Buddha: 'I have been without a son for so long, and finally I had one. I was arranging his wedding, and the feasting and entertainment of the guests were not yet over when he climbed a tree to pick flowers, fell to the ground, and died. My heart is like stone, like hard iron. I finally obtained a son, but he has left me and died.'

The Buddha said to the householder: 'Life has death, things that are made have decay, when life comes to an end, it cannot be avoided or hidden. Abandon your sorrow and do not grieve anymore.'

At that time, the Buddha emitted light that illuminated the ten directions, allowing the householder to see his parents weeping in the heavens and among the dragons. The Buddha said to the householder: 'This child originally came from the Trayastrimsa Heaven (忉利天), his lifespan there having ended, and was reborn into your family. When his lifespan ended, he was reborn among the dragons, where the Garuda (金翅鳥王), the king of birds, immediately devoured him. All three places are weeping at the same time. Whose son is he, really?'

The Buddha then spoke in verse:

'Are the heavenly beings in the heavens, Truly your son? Or is he among the dragons

中，　　龍神之子耶？　時佛自解言，　　非是諸天子，　亦非為卿子，　　復非諸龍子，　生死諸因緣，　　無常譬如幻，　一切不久立，　　譬若如過客。」

佛語長者：「死不可得，離去事不追。」

長者白佛言：「此兒宿命罪福云何？生豪富家，其命早夭，此為何應？」

佛言：「此兒前世，好喜佈施，尊敬於人，緣此福德，生豪富家；喜射獵戲，傷害群生，用是之故，令身命短。罪福隨人，如影隨形。」長者踴躍，逮得法忍。

佛說如是，長者夫婦、一切眾會，皆歡喜受。

佛說長者子懊惱三處經

【現代漢語翻譯】現代漢語譯本：「是龍神（Nāga-deva）的兒子嗎？」這時佛陀親自解釋說：「不是諸天之子，也不是你的兒子，也不是諸龍之子，生死之間的各種因緣，無常就像幻象一樣，一切都不會長久存在，就像過客一樣。」佛陀告訴長者（Gṛhapati）說：「死亡是不可避免的，離去的事情無法追回。」長者對佛陀說：「這個孩子前世的罪業和福報是怎樣的呢？出生在富豪之家，卻壽命短促，這是什麼原因呢？」佛陀說：「這個孩子前世喜歡佈施，尊敬他人，因為這個福德，所以出生在富豪之家；喜歡射獵遊戲，傷害各種生命，因為這個緣故，所以壽命短促。罪業和福報跟隨人，就像影子跟隨形體一樣。」長者聽后非常高興，獲得了法忍。佛陀這樣說完，長者夫婦和所有在場的人，都歡喜地接受了。《佛說長者子懊惱三處經》

【English Translation】 English version: 『Is he the son of a Nāga-deva (Dragon God)?』 Then the Buddha Himself explained, 『He is not a son of the Devas (gods), nor is he your son, nor is he a son of the Nāgas (dragons). The various causes and conditions of birth and death are impermanent, like an illusion. Nothing lasts long; it is like a passing traveler.』 The Buddha said to the Gṛhapati (householder), 『Death is inevitable; departed matters cannot be retrieved.』 The Gṛhapati said to the Buddha, 『What were this child's sins and merits in his past life? He was born into a wealthy family, yet his life was short. What is the reason for this?』 The Buddha said, 『In his previous life, this child liked to give alms and respect others. Because of this merit, he was born into a wealthy family. He enjoyed hunting and harming living beings, and for this reason, his life is short. Sins and merits follow a person like a shadow follows a form.』 The Gṛhapati rejoiced greatly and attained the forbearance of the Dharma. After the Buddha spoke in this way, the Gṛhapati and his wife, and all those present, joyfully accepted it. The Sutra Spoken by the Buddha on the Three Places of Regret of the Gṛhapati's Son