T17n0797b_佛說貧窮老公經
大正藏第 17 冊 No. 0797b 佛說貧窮老公經
佛說貧窮老公經
宋沙門釋慧簡譯
聞如是：
一時，佛在舍衛國精舍中坐，與二千比丘俱。
時有一貧窮老公，年二百歲，眉生秀毛，耳出於頭，齒如齊貝，手過於膝，貌而視之，似如有相。而貧窮辛苦，衣不蓋形，五體裸露，腹恒饑虛，行步時動，小有氣息，扶杖而來，求欲見佛。
釋梵侍門，敕不通之。老公因大喚曰：「吾雖貧賤，民之廝下，千載有幸，今得值佛，欲問罪福，求離眾苦。我聞世尊仁慈普逮，萬物蒙賴，莫不受恩，是以遠來，乞一示見。而卿斷我，既違我願，有誤聖意，豈宜可爾乎？」
佛以知之，顧語阿難：「汝寧見長壽耆年有相老公，而罪未畢者乎？」
阿難叉手白佛言：「安有相福耆壽，而有罹罪？罹罪之人，豈復有相？今在何許？生所未見。」
佛言：「近在門外。釋梵斷之，可喚使前。」
於是，老公匍匐寸進，為佛作禮，悲喜交流，而白佛言：「我生世不幸，貧窮辛苦飢餓寒凍，求死不得，活無所賴，人命至重，不能自棄。聞佛在世，心獨歡喜，晝夜發心，愿一奉顏，由來十年，今始得果。向在門外，久不得前。計欲還去，氣力不堪，進退無路，但
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本 佛說貧窮老公經
宋朝沙門釋慧簡譯
我聽聞是這樣的：
一時，佛陀在舍衛國（Śrāvastī）的精舍中安坐，與兩千位比丘（bhikṣu）在一起。
當時有一位貧窮的老人，年紀二百歲，眉毛長出秀長的毛，耳朵超出頭部，牙齒像排列整齊的貝殼，手長過膝蓋，觀察他的相貌，似乎具有好的相。但是他貧窮困苦，衣不蔽體，五體裸露，肚子經常飢餓，行走時稍微動一下，就氣息奄奄，拄著枴杖而來，想要見佛陀。
帝釋（Śakra）和梵天（Brahmā）在門口侍衛，命令不讓他通過。老人因此大聲呼喊說：『我雖然貧窮卑賤，是百姓中最下等的人，但千年難得的幸運，今天能夠遇到佛陀，想要請問罪業和福報的事情，尋求脫離各種痛苦。我聽說世尊仁慈普及，萬物都蒙受恩惠，沒有誰不受恩，因此從遠方而來，乞求能夠見一面。而你們阻斷我，既違背了我的願望，又耽誤了聖意，怎麼可以這樣呢？』
佛陀已經知道此事，回頭告訴阿難（Ānanda）說：『你難道見過長壽年老、具有好相，但是罪業還沒有了結的人嗎？』
阿難合掌向佛陀稟告說：『怎麼會有具有好相、福報和長壽，卻又遭受罪業的人呢？遭受罪業的人，怎麼還會有好相？現在在哪裡？我從來沒有見過。』
佛陀說：『就在門外。帝釋和梵天阻攔他，可以叫他前來。』
於是，老人匍匐著一點點前進，向佛陀行禮，悲傷和喜悅交織在一起，然後對佛陀說：『我生來不幸，貧窮困苦，飢餓寒冷，求死不能，活著又沒有依靠，人命雖然至關重要，卻不能自己捨棄。聽說佛陀在世，心中非常歡喜，日夜發願，希望能夠拜見您的容顏，從開始到現在已經十年了，今天才得以實現。剛才在門外，很久都不能前進。打算要回去，氣力又不夠，進退兩難，只是……』
【English Translation】 English version The Buddha Speaks of the Poor Old Man Sutra
Translated by Śramaṇa (Buddhist monk) Shishi Huijian of the Song Dynasty
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Buddha was sitting in the Jetavana Vihara (精舍) in Śrāvastī (舍衛國), together with two thousand bhikṣus (比丘).
At that time, there was a poor old man, two hundred years old, with elegant hairs growing from his eyebrows, ears protruding from his head, teeth like evenly arranged shells, and hands longer than his knees. Looking at his appearance, he seemed to have auspicious marks. However, he was poor and miserable, his clothes could not cover his body, his five limbs were exposed, his stomach was constantly hungry, and when he walked, he was barely breathing. He came leaning on a staff, seeking to see the Buddha.
Śakra (帝釋) and Brahmā (梵天), serving as gatekeepers, ordered that he not be allowed to pass. The old man then shouted loudly, saying, 'Although I am poor and lowly, the lowest of the common people, I am fortunate to encounter the Buddha today, a chance that comes once in a thousand years. I wish to ask about the matters of sins and blessings, seeking to be free from all suffering. I have heard that the World Honored One is universally kind and compassionate, and all beings receive his grace, none without benefit. Therefore, I have come from afar, begging for a single audience. But you are blocking me, which violates my wish and delays the Holy Intent. How can this be proper?'
The Buddha, knowing this, turned to Ānanda (阿難) and said, 'Have you ever seen an old man who is long-lived, aged, and has auspicious marks, but whose sins have not yet been exhausted?'
Ānanda, with his palms together, reported to the Buddha, 'How can there be one with auspicious marks, blessings, and longevity, yet still afflicted by sins? How can a person afflicted by sins still have auspicious marks? Where is he now? I have never seen such a thing.'
The Buddha said, 'He is just outside the gate. Śakra and Brahmā are blocking him. You may call him forward.'
Thereupon, the old man crawled forward inch by inch, prostrated himself before the Buddha, with sorrow and joy intermingled, and said to the Buddha, 'I was born into an unfortunate world, poor and miserable, hungry and cold, unable to seek death, and without reliance in life. Although human life is of utmost importance, I cannot abandon it myself. Hearing that the Buddha is in the world, my heart is filled with joy. Day and night, I made a vow, hoping to behold your face. It has been ten years from the beginning until now that I have been able to fulfill it. Just now, I was outside the gate, unable to advance for a long time. Intending to return, my strength was insufficient, and there was no way to advance or retreat, but...'
恐命絕，穢污聖門，重增其罪。不悟天尊，已哀矜之，得蒙前進，不奪本願，如此而死，無復恨矣！惟欲速終畢罪，後世愿得垂恩，施其上慧。」
佛言：「人之受生，生死因緣，以多因緣，致有罪根。今我為汝，說其本源。卿前世時，生豪強大國明慧王家。時為太子，憍貴非凡，上為父母所愛，下為臣民所敬。用此恣意，輕凌於人，高目大視，矜抗邈然，財寶億萬，皆是民物。百姓貧弊，皆坐課斂，惟知聚積財物，不肯佈施。
「時有貧寒沙門，名曰靜志，從遠國來，故往詣卿，所求不多，惟法衣耳。而卿了不當，接遇之甚惡，既不乞衣，又不與食，空坐著前，去復不聽。晝夜七日，水漿永絕，亦有氣息，命在轉燭。而卿見此，方大歡喜，聚人看之，以為快樂。邊有侍臣，而諫卿曰：『太子莫爾！沙門慈恭，道德內合，凍之不寒、餓之不饑，所以來乞，欲為福耳。既不施與，安可窮逼？幸發遣之，勿招其罪。』
「太子答曰：『此是何人，詐稱道德，試小困之。才令不死。正爾放去，無所憂也。』即便遣去驅逐出國。
「未出國界，十餘里中，逢遭饑賊，欲殺啖之。沙門言曰：『我貧凍沙門，羸瘦骨立，肉既腥臊，不中啖也，空當見殺，而無所任。』
「餓賊又曰：『我餓困累日，
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本：恐怕我性命斷絕，玷污了聖潔的佛門，反而加重了我的罪孽。如果不是天尊已經哀憐我，讓我能夠前進，不剝奪我原本的願望，這樣死去，我也就沒有什麼遺憾了！只希望能夠儘快結束罪業，來世希望能夠得到佛的恩惠，賜予我上等的智慧。」
佛說：『人之所以會出生，經歷生死的因緣，是因為多種因緣聚合，才會有罪惡的根源。現在我為你講述它的本源。你前世的時候，出生在豪強大國明慧王（Minghui Wang，國王名）的家中。當時作為太子，驕橫尊貴非同一般，上面有父母的寵愛，下面有臣民的敬畏。因此就恣意妄為，輕視欺凌他人，高傲地看人，自以為是，態度冷漠。擁有的財寶數以億萬計，都是百姓的血汗。百姓貧困潦倒，都是因為沉重的賦稅，只知道聚斂財富，不肯佈施。
『當時有個貧寒的沙門（Shamen，和尚），名叫靜志（Jingzhi，人名），從遙遠的國家來，特意去拜訪你，所求不多，只想要一件法衣罷了。但是你完全不理睬，接待的態度非常惡劣，既不給他衣服，又不給他食物，讓他空坐在你面前，想走也不允許。晝夜七天，斷絕了他的水和食物，還剩一口氣，生命就像風中的蠟燭一樣。但是你看到這種情況，反而非常高興，聚集人們來看他，以此為樂。旁邊有個侍臣，勸諫你說：『太子不要這樣！沙門慈悲恭敬，道德與內心相合，寒冷不能讓他感到寒冷，飢餓不能讓他感到飢餓，所以才來乞討，想要為你帶來福報啊。既然不施捨給他，怎麼可以這樣逼迫他呢？希望你放他走，不要招惹罪過。』
『太子回答說：『這是什麼人，假裝有道德，我稍微困住他一下，只要不讓他死就行了。然後放他走，沒有什麼可擔心的。』隨即就派人驅逐他出國。
『還沒出國界，在十幾里的地方，遇到了飢餓的盜賊，想要殺了他吃掉。沙門說：『我是個貧窮受凍的沙門，瘦弱得只剩下骨頭，肉又腥又臭，不能吃啊，白白地被你們殺死，也沒有什麼用處。』
『餓賊又說：『我們飢餓困頓好幾天了，
【English Translation】 English version: 'I fear my life will end, defiling the sacred Buddhist gate, and increasing my sins. If not for the Honored One's compassion, allowing me to advance without taking away my original vow, I would have no regrets in dying like this! I only wish to quickly end my sins, and in the next life, I hope to receive the Buddha's grace, bestowing upon me superior wisdom.'
The Buddha said, 'The reason for a person's birth and the cycle of life and death is due to the accumulation of various causes and conditions, which lead to the roots of sin. Now I will tell you its origin. In your previous life, you were born into the family of King Minghui (Minghui Wang, name of the king) in a powerful and wealthy country. At that time, as the crown prince, you were exceptionally arrogant and noble, loved by your parents above and respected by your subjects below. Therefore, you acted willfully, belittling and bullying others, looking down on people with arrogance, and behaving aloofly. You possessed hundreds of millions in wealth, all of which came from the people's hard work. The people were impoverished because of heavy taxes, and you only knew how to accumulate wealth, refusing to give alms.
'At that time, there was a poor Shamen (Shamen, monk), named Jingzhi (Jingzhi, personal name), who came from a distant country and specifically went to visit you, asking for little, only wanting a Dharma robe. But you completely ignored him, treating him very badly, neither giving him clothes nor food, making him sit in front of you without allowing him to leave. For seven days and nights, you cut off his water and food, leaving him with only a breath, his life like a candle in the wind. But when you saw this, you were very happy, gathering people to watch him, taking pleasure in it. There was a courtier beside you who advised you, saying, 'Crown Prince, do not do this! The Shamen is compassionate and respectful, his virtue is in harmony with his heart, cold cannot make him feel cold, hunger cannot make him feel hungry, so he comes to beg, wanting to bring you blessings. Since you do not give to him, how can you oppress him like this? I hope you let him go, do not invite sin.'
'The Crown Prince replied, 'Who is this person, pretending to have virtue? I will just trap him a little, as long as he doesn't die. Then I will let him go, there is nothing to worry about.' Then he immediately sent people to drive him out of the country.
'Before leaving the border, about ten miles away, he encountered hungry thieves who wanted to kill him and eat him. The Shamen said, 'I am a poor, freezing Shamen, so weak that only bones remain, my flesh is smelly and foul, not fit to eat, you will kill me in vain, and it will be of no use.'
'The hungry thieves said again, 'We have been hungry and exhausted for days,'
但食土耳，卿雖小瘦，故是肉也。終不相放，但當就死。』如此前卻，紛紜良久。
「太子得知，便往救曰：『我以不能乞其衣食，寧當復令賊殺之耶？』賊見太子，皆叩頭首過謝罪，放沙門去。
「時沙門者，今彌勒菩薩是；憍貴太子者，今卿是也。故卿今日受此貧窮之罪，坐慳貪也；所以得長壽者，救活沙門之命也。罪福報應，亦如影響。」
老公白佛：「去事已爾，愿畢於今，乞得以垂殘之命，得作沙門，後生世世，常侍佛邊。」
佛言：「善哉！」
應時，老公鬚髮墮地，法衣在身，體氣強健，耳目聰明，即得上慧，入三昧門。以偈贊佛：
「我昔為太子， 不識仁義方， 憍貴自放恣， 恃為大國王， 自謂無罪福， 此以可保常。 豈悟生死對， 於今受其殃？ 從罪復蒙福， 得睹天中天， 能脫既往罪， 垂命入法門， 永離慳貪心， 長受智慧根， 世世侍佛邊， 保持萬劫存。」
於是老公比丘，說是偈已，禮佛而去。
佛說貧窮老公經
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本： 『即使只能吃泥土，你雖然瘦小，但終究是肉啊。我終究不會放過你，只能讓你去死。』就這樣爭論不休，紛紛擾擾了很久。 太子得知此事，便前去營救說：『我既然不能乞討到衣食，難道還能再讓賊人殺了他嗎？』賊人見到太子，都叩頭認錯謝罪，放走了沙門（Shamen，指佛教出家人）。 當時的沙門，就是現在的彌勒菩薩（Maitreya Bodhisattva）；憍貴太子，就是現在的您啊。所以您今日遭受這貧窮的罪報，是因為過去的慳吝貪婪；之所以能夠長壽，是因為救活了沙門的性命啊。罪與福的報應，就像影子跟隨形體一樣。 老公（Laogong，老翁）對佛說：『過去的事情已經如此，希望今天能夠了結。乞求能夠以我這殘餘的生命，出家做沙門，後生生世世，常在佛的身邊侍奉。』 佛說：『善哉！』 當時，老公的鬚髮應聲落地，法衣穿在身上，身體變得強健，耳聰目明，立刻獲得了大智慧，進入了三昧（Samadhi，佛教中的一種精神境界）之門。以偈頌讚美佛： 『我過去身為太子，不認識仁義的道理，驕橫放縱，仗恃自己是大國王，自認為沒有罪福報應，可以永遠保持常態。哪裡知道生死是相對的，如今遭受這樣的災殃？從罪業中又蒙受福報，得見天中之天（指佛），能夠擺脫過去的罪業，以殘餘的生命進入佛法之門，永遠遠離慳吝貪婪之心，長久獲得智慧的根源，世世代代侍奉在佛的身邊，保持萬劫長存。』 於是老公比丘（Laogong Bhikkhu，老翁比丘），說完這偈頌后，向佛頂禮而去。 《佛說貧窮老公經》
【English Translation】 English version: 'Even if I only eat dirt, you may be small and thin, but you are still meat. I will never let you go, I can only let you die.' They argued back and forth like this, in great confusion for a long time. The prince, upon learning of this, went to rescue him, saying, 'Since I cannot beg for food and clothing, how can I allow the thieves to kill him?' The thieves, seeing the prince, all kowtowed, admitted their faults, apologized, and released the Shamen (Buddhist monk). The Shamen at that time is now Maitreya Bodhisattva (the future Buddha); the arrogant prince is you now. Therefore, you suffer the consequences of poverty today because of your past stinginess and greed; the reason you have longevity is because you saved the life of the Shamen. The retribution of sin and blessing is like a shadow following its form. The old man (Laogong) said to the Buddha, 'The past is already done, I wish to end it today. I beg to use my remaining life to become a Shamen, and in future lives, always serve by the Buddha's side.' The Buddha said, 'Excellent!' At that moment, the old man's hair and beard fell to the ground, a Dharma robe appeared on his body, his body became strong, his ears and eyes became clear, and he immediately gained great wisdom, entering the gate of Samadhi (a state of meditative consciousness). He praised the Buddha with a verse: 'In the past, as a prince, I did not understand the principles of benevolence and righteousness, arrogant and unrestrained, relying on being a great king, thinking that there was no sin or blessing, and that I could always maintain the status quo. How could I know that life and death are relative, and now I suffer such calamity? From sin, I receive blessings again, and I am able to see the 'Heaven of Heavens' (referring to the Buddha), able to escape past sins, and enter the Dharma gate with my remaining life, forever abandoning stinginess and greed, and receiving the root of wisdom for a long time, serving by the Buddha's side in every life, and preserving for countless kalpas.' Then the old man Bhikkhu (Laogong Bhikkhu), after reciting this verse, bowed to the Buddha and departed. The Sutra of the Poor Old Man Spoken by the Buddha