T50n2044_天尊說阿育王譬喻經
大正藏第 50 冊 No. 2044 天尊說阿育王譬喻經
No. 2044
天尊說阿育王譬喻經
失譯人名附東晉錄
昔有大國王。字名阿育。統領諸國莫不臣屬。大王聰明智慧無量。教問諸臣。天下頗有不屬我者不。諸臣對曰。天下盡屬大王。無不弭伏。中有一智臣對曰。王界內不屬王者。海中有龍王不屬大王。初不遣信亦無貢獻。是以知不屬大王。王可試之。千乘萬騎。捶鐘鳴鼓。旌旗護憐前後到海邊。龍王靜然不出。王便呼言。汝在我界內。所由不出。亦寂然不對王。王便問智臣。何由使龍王得出。智臣對曰。可使出耳。龍王福德甚大。以是不肯歸服。大王若不信臣語者。等稱二斤金鑄作二像。一作王像。一作龍王像。復取秤之。龍王像重。大王像輕。是以知龍王福德多。大王福德少。王心甚解。歡喜無量。告天下侍養孤老。周窮濟乏。所在郡縣興立天尊祠。及置天尊舍利供養眾。三年之中復取龍像王像秤之。龍像便輕。王像便重。智臣白王。龍可伏矣。便設鹵簿如前後復到海邊。龍王化作年少婆羅門。于王前長跪問訊起居。貢獻海中所有珍寶奇好寶。自稱臣妾。率土之民無不歡喜。別在經文。以示後世人。天下多力無過福德。人護經法如母護子。豈不可思之。
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本 《天尊說阿育王譬喻經》 過去有一位偉大的國王，名叫阿育（Ayu，人名，意為『無憂』）。他統治著各個國家，沒有哪個不臣服於他。這位國王非常聰明且智慧無量。他詢問各位大臣：『天下是否還有不歸屬於我的地方？』大臣們回答說：『天下都歸屬於大王，沒有哪個不順服。』其中一位有智慧的大臣回答說：『大王的疆界內，海中有龍王（Naga Raja，神話生物，水域的統治者）不屬於大王。他從未派遣使者，也沒有任何進貢。因此，我們知道他不屬於大王。大王可以試探他。』 於是，阿育王率領千輛戰車和萬名騎兵，敲響鐘鼓，舉著旗幟，前後護衛著來到海邊。龍王卻靜默不出。國王便呼喊道：『你在我的疆界內，為什麼不出來？』龍王依然寂然不迴應國王。國王便問那位有智慧的大臣：『用什麼方法才能讓龍王出來？』智臣回答說：『可以讓他出來。龍王的福德非常大，因此不肯歸服。大王如果不相信我的話，可以等量用二斤黃金鑄造兩個雕像，一個是大王的雕像，一個是龍王的雕像。然後用秤來稱量，龍王的雕像重，大王的雕像輕。由此可知龍王的福德多，大王的福德少。』 國王聽後心中非常明白，無比歡喜。他告令天下供養孤寡老人，賙濟貧困之人，在各郡縣興建天尊祠，並安置天尊舍利供養大眾。三年之中，再次稱量龍王像和國王像，結果龍王像變輕了，國王像變重了。智臣稟告國王：『龍王可以降伏了。』 於是，阿育王設定盛大的儀仗隊，如先前一樣來到海邊。龍王化作年輕的婆羅門（Brahmin，印度教祭司），在國王面前長跪問訊起居，貢獻海中所有珍寶奇物，自稱臣妾。天下百姓無不歡喜。詳細內容在其他經文中，用以昭示後世之人：天下最有力量的莫過於福德。人們守護經法如同母親守護孩子，這難道不值得深思嗎？
【English Translation】 English version The Sutra of King Asoka's Parable Spoken by the Devas Once upon a time, there was a great king named Asoka (Ayu, personal name, meaning 'without sorrow'). He ruled over all the countries, and none did not submit to him. The great king was immensely intelligent and wise. He asked his ministers, 'Is there any place in the world that does not belong to me?' The ministers replied, 'The whole world belongs to the great king; none do not obey.' One wise minister among them replied, 'Within the king's realm, there is a Naga Raja (Naga Raja, mythological creature, ruler of the waters) in the sea who does not belong to the great king. He has never sent messengers nor offered any tribute. Therefore, we know that he does not belong to the great king. The king can test him.' So, King Asoka led a thousand chariots and ten thousand cavalry, sounding bells and drums, with banners and flags protecting him, to the seashore. The Naga Raja remained silent and did not appear. The king then shouted, 'You are within my realm; why do you not come out?' The Naga Raja remained silent and did not respond to the king. The king then asked the wise minister, 'What method can make the Naga Raja come out?' The wise minister replied, 'He can be made to come out. The Naga Raja's merit and virtue are very great, so he is unwilling to submit. If the great king does not believe my words, you can cast two statues of equal weight using two pounds of gold, one of the king and one of the Naga Raja. Then weigh them on a scale. The Naga Raja's statue will be heavier, and the great king's statue will be lighter. From this, it can be known that the Naga Raja's merit and virtue are greater, and the great king's merit and virtue are less.' The king understood this in his heart and was immensely pleased. He ordered the whole country to care for the orphaned and elderly, to provide for the poor, to build Deva shrines in all the prefectures and counties, and to place Deva relics for the offerings of the masses. After three years, he weighed the Naga Raja's statue and the king's statue again. As a result, the Naga Raja's statue became lighter, and the king's statue became heavier. The wise minister reported to the king, 'The Naga Raja can be subdued.' So, King Asoka set up a grand ceremonial procession and went to the seashore as before. The Naga Raja transformed into a young Brahmin (Brahmin, Hindu priest), knelt before the king, inquired about his well-being, and offered all the treasures and rare objects from the sea, calling himself a servant. All the people in the land were delighted. The details are in other sutras, to show future generations that the most powerful thing in the world is merit and virtue. People protect the sutras as a mother protects her child. Is this not worth pondering?
昔天尊在世時。將諸弟子教化群生見地有一紙。弟子阿難輒便取之。天尊告阿難放地。阿難即便放地。手便大香。小復前行見飄風吹草在地。阿難復取。天尊語阿難放地。手便臭。阿難未解。須臾前到精舍當問此意。阿難白世尊。何緣捉紙而手香。捉草令手臭。天尊語阿難。紙本從香地來。香著紙。是以使汝手香。草從臭地來故。是以使汝手臭。與賢相近如香著紙。與惡人相近如臭著草。是以經言近賢成智。近愚益惑。損我者三。益我者三。此之謂不可不慎。
昔天尊將諸弟子至江邊。天尊語弟子。取如拳許石。擲著水中為浮為沒。弟子對曰。石沒在水底。天尊言。無有緣故。複次有一石辟方三尺。著於水上經便渡河石亦不濕云何得爾。諸弟子未解僉然怪之。諸弟子長跪白佛言。何緣如此。天尊言。有善緣故耳。何者為緣船。是天尊借為喻。與善師相值者。得免眾苦。與惡師相值者。則習惡事不離眾禍。示語後世之人。不可不慎。
昔有窮寒孤獨老公。無以自業。遇市得一斧。是眾寶之英。而不識之。持行斫杖賣之。以供微命用斧欲盡。見外國治生大賈客。名曰薩薄。見斧識之。便問老公。賣此斧不。老公言。我仰此斧斫杖生活不賣也。薩薄復言。與公絹百匹何以不賣。公謂調己。亦不應和。薩薄復言
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本： 過去天尊（指佛）在世的時候，帶領眾弟子教化眾生，（有一次，天尊）見到地上有一張紙。弟子阿難隨即就把它撿了起來。天尊告訴阿難放下（紙）。阿難隨即放下（紙），（他的）手便散發出香味。稍稍往前走，（阿難）看見風把草吹倒在地上，阿難又撿了起來。天尊告訴阿難放下（草），（他的）手便散發出臭味。阿難不明白（這是為什麼），過了一會兒，（他們）來到精舍，（阿難）打算問（天尊）其中的意思。阿難稟告世尊說：『是什麼緣故撿起紙手就香，撿起草手就臭呢？』天尊告訴阿難說：『紙本來是從香的地方來的，香氣附著在紙上，因此使你的手香。草是從臭的地方來的，所以使你的手臭。與賢人相近，就像香氣附著在紙上；與惡人相近，就像臭氣附著在草上。』因此經書上說，『親近賢人就會增長智慧，親近愚人就會增加迷惑。損害我的有三種，有益於我的有三種。』這就是說不可以不謹慎啊。
過去天尊帶領眾弟子到江邊。天尊告訴弟子們，『拿像拳頭那麼大的石頭，扔到水裡，是浮起來還是沉下去？』弟子回答說：『石頭沉到水底了。』天尊說：『沒有別的緣故。』又有一塊石頭，方圓三尺，放在水上，（人們）經過它便可以渡河，（他們的）腳也不會濕，這是為什麼呢？眾弟子不明白，都感到奇怪。眾弟子跪下稟告佛說：『是什麼緣故這樣呢？』天尊說：『有好的緣故啊。』（這）是什麼緣故呢？（因為那是）船。（這）是天尊借用（船）來做比喻。與善良的老師相遇的人，可以免除各種痛苦；與惡劣的老師相遇的人，就會學習惡事，不能脫離各種禍患。』（天尊）這是告誡後世的人，不可以不謹慎啊。
過去有一個貧窮寒冷孤獨的老人，沒有什麼產業來維持生計。在市場上得到一把斧頭，是各種寶物中的精華，但是（老人）不認識它。拿著（斧頭）去砍樹枝賣，用來維持微薄的生命，（老人）用斧頭快用完了。（這時，老人）遇到一個外國做生意的大商人，名叫薩薄（Sabo）。（薩薄）認出了（這把）斧頭，便問老人：『賣這把斧頭嗎？』老人說：『我依靠這把斧頭砍樹枝生活，不賣。』薩薄又說：『給你一百匹絹，為什麼不賣呢？』老人以為（薩薄）在戲弄自己，也不答應。
【English Translation】 English version: Once, when the World-Honored One (Tianzun, referring to the Buddha) was in the world, he led his disciples to teach sentient beings. (On one occasion,) the World-Honored One saw a piece of paper on the ground. The disciple Ananda (Anan) immediately picked it up. The World-Honored One told Ananda to put it down. Ananda immediately put it down, and (his) hand emitted a fragrance. Walking a little further, (Ananda) saw the wind blowing grass onto the ground, and Ananda picked it up again. The World-Honored One told Ananda to put it down, and (his) hand emitted a foul odor. Ananda did not understand (why this was), and after a while, (they) arrived at the monastery, (where Ananda) intended to ask (the World-Honored One) the meaning of this. Ananda reported to the World-Honored One, saying, 'What is the reason that picking up paper makes my hand fragrant, and picking up grass makes my hand foul?' The World-Honored One told Ananda, 'The paper originally came from a fragrant place, and the fragrance adhered to the paper, therefore making your hand fragrant. The grass came from a foul place, so it made your hand foul. Being close to the virtuous is like fragrance adhering to paper; being close to the wicked is like foul odor adhering to grass.' Therefore, the scriptures say, 'Being close to the virtuous will increase wisdom, and being close to the foolish will increase confusion. There are three things that harm me, and three things that benefit me.' This is to say that one must be cautious.
Once, the World-Honored One led his disciples to the riverside. The World-Honored One told the disciples, 'Take a stone about the size of a fist and throw it into the water. Will it float or sink?' The disciple replied, 'The stone sank to the bottom of the water.' The World-Honored One said, 'There is no other reason.' Then there was a stone, three feet square, placed on the water, and (people) could cross the river by passing over it, and (their) feet would not get wet. Why is this? The disciples did not understand and were all surprised. The disciples knelt down and reported to the Buddha, saying, 'What is the reason for this?' The World-Honored One said, 'There is a good reason.' What is the reason? (Because it was) a boat. (This) is the World-Honored One using (the boat) as a metaphor. Those who encounter a good teacher can avoid all kinds of suffering; those who encounter a bad teacher will learn evil deeds and cannot escape all kinds of misfortune.' (The World-Honored One) is warning people of later generations that they must be cautious.
Once, there was a poor, cold, and lonely old man who had no property to support himself. He obtained an axe in the market, which was the essence of all treasures, but (the old man) did not recognize it. He used (the axe) to chop branches to sell, in order to maintain his meager life. (The old man) was about to use up the axe. (At this time, the old man) met a large foreign merchant named Sabo (薩薄). (Sabo) recognized (the axe) and asked the old man, 'Are you selling this axe?' The old man said, 'I rely on this axe to chop branches for a living, I am not selling it.' Sabo then said, 'I will give you a hundred bolts of silk, why won't you sell it?' The old man thought (Sabo) was teasing him and did not respond.
。何以不見應和。與公二百匹。公便悵然不樂。薩薄復言。嫌少當益。公何以不樂。與公五百匹。公便大啼哭言。我不恨絹少。我愚癡此斧長尺半斫地已盡。余有五寸猶得五百匹。是以為恨耳。薩薄復言。勿復遺恨。今與公千匹。即便破券持去。此斧眾寶之英耳。薩博不問多少以斧著上。薪火燒之盡成貴寶。天尊藉以為喻。以受人身六情完具聰智辯達。當就明師以求度世之道。神通可及。而俗著不別真偽者。耕犁因放時世取驅。至於老死復當受罪。喻如老公用寶斧盡。豈不誤哉。昔隴上一鳥字為鸚鵡。展轉及得在東太山。諸禽獸飛鳥莫不敬愛。以其在遠來故。比作親友甚相愛樂。春月野火所燒便行入水。飛在火上抖擻毛羽之水。救親友難。往返非一。悲鳴大吁鸚鵡之水豈能滅火。至誠感天為之降雨。火即時得滅。天尊經藉以為喻。賢者以道士遠到研精行道。減割身口侵妻子分供養眾僧。雖無神通感動。亦以至誠燒香求滅。挾諸禮起獲福無量。喻如天雨眾災悉滅。
昔有大長者財富無量。窖谷千斛后出之不見谷。見一小兒可年三歲亦不知語。長者亦不知字名何物。舉門前大道邊。陌上行人尚有識者。舍東有一車來。乘駕黃牛人著黃衣從人皆黃。過見小兒便言。谷賊何以坐此。是兒五穀之神。語長者持鍬。斧來。我
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本：為什麼沒有迴應和應和呢？我給你二百匹絹。那人便悵然不樂。薩薄又說：『嫌少嗎？我再增加。你為什麼不高興？』給他五百匹絹，那人便大哭說：『我不恨絹少，我愚蠢啊，這把斧子長一尺半，砍地已經用盡了，還剩下五寸卻能換得五百匹絹，我是為此而感到遺憾啊。』薩薄又說：『不要再遺憾了，現在給你一千匹絹。』那人立刻撕毀契約拿絹走了。這把斧子是眾寶中的精華啊！薩薄不問多少，把斧子放在上面，用柴火燒，全部變成了珍貴的寶物。天尊藉此來比喻，人身接受了六根完備、聰明智慧、能言善辯的稟賦，應當去向明師求取度世之道，神通是可以達到的。然而世俗之人執著於世俗，不能分辨真偽，像耕地一樣，因為放縱時世而自取驅使，直到老死還要遭受罪過，就像那老翁用盡了寶斧一樣，豈不是耽誤了自己嗎？過去隴上有一種鳥，名字叫鸚鵡（Parrot）。輾轉被送到東太山。各種禽獸飛鳥沒有不敬愛它的，因為它從遠方而來。把它當作親友，非常相愛快樂。春天野火焚燒的時候，它便飛入水中，又飛到火上，抖落羽毛上的水，來救親友的危難。往返多次，悲鳴大聲呼喊，鸚鵡的水難道能滅火嗎？它的至誠感動了上天，為它降下雨水，火立刻就被撲滅了。天尊藉此經文來比喻，賢者因為道士從遠方來到，專心研究修行，減少自己的衣食，侵佔妻子兒女的份額，來供養眾僧。即使沒有神通，也能以至誠燒香祈求消災滅難，遵循各種禮儀，獲得無量的福報。就像天降雨水，各種災難全部消滅一樣。 過去有一位大長者（Wealthy man），財富無數，地窖里儲藏了千斛糧食，後來取出糧食時卻不見了，只看見一個三歲左右的小孩，也不懂說話。長者也不知道小孩的姓名和來歷。把他放在門前的大道邊，路上的行人或許有認識他的。從舍東來了一輛車，駕著黃牛，車上的人穿著黃色的衣服，隨從的人也都是黃色的。經過時看見小孩便說：『偷谷賊，為什麼坐在這裡？』這小孩是五穀之神（God of five grains）。告訴長者拿鍬、斧頭來，我...
【English Translation】 English version: Why is there no response or echo? I'll give you two hundred bolts of silk.' The man then became despondent and unhappy. The Sapo (Merchant caravan leader) said again, 'Do you dislike that it's too little? I'll add more. Why are you unhappy?' He gave him five hundred bolts of silk, and the man cried loudly, saying, 'I don't resent the small amount of silk, I am foolish, this axe is one and a half feet long, and chopping the ground has exhausted its use. The remaining five inches could have been exchanged for five hundred bolts of silk, and that is what I regret.' The Sapo (Merchant caravan leader) said again, 'Don't regret it anymore, now I'll give you a thousand bolts of silk.' The man immediately tore up the contract and took the silk away. This axe is the essence of all treasures! The Sapo (Merchant caravan leader), without asking how much, placed the axe on top and burned it with firewood, and it all turned into precious treasures. The Heavenly Lord (Deva) uses this as a metaphor, that the human body receives the complete six senses, intelligence, and eloquence, and should seek from a wise teacher the path to liberation from the world, and supernatural powers can be attained. However, worldly people are attached to the mundane and cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood, like plowing the fields, they take driving themselves as a result of indulging in the times, and until old age and death they will still suffer the consequences, just like the old man who used up the precious axe, wouldn't that be a mistake? In the past, there was a great Elder (Wealthy man) with immeasurable wealth. He stored a thousand hu (ancient Chinese unit of volume) of grain in his cellar, but when he later took it out, the grain was gone. He only saw a small child, about three years old, who could not speak. The Elder (Wealthy man) did not know the child's name or origin. He placed him by the side of the main road in front of the gate, hoping that passersby might recognize him. A cart came from the east of the house, driven by a yellow ox, and the person in the cart was wearing yellow clothes, and the attendants were all yellow. When they passed by and saw the child, they said, 'Grain thief, why are you sitting here?' This child is the God of the Five Grains (God of five grains). Tell the Elder (Wealthy man) to bring a hoe and an axe, and I will...
語君一盆金處。適始行過者是金神。順陌西去得道南迴。行二百步。道西當有朽故樹。其下有瓫有十斛金。君往掘取可以還君谷直。長者即隨小兒教得此治家足成大富。佛經藉以為喻。供養眾僧廣設檀會交有所費。喻以失谷。道士講經說義教人遠惡就善。后獲福無量乃可至道。喻如得金瓫。示語後世人。福德不可不作。後悔無及。
昔有國豐盛安樂無所渴乏。便語大臣。遣一可使之臣。至於他國市吾所無者市來。即遣一人往至他國益將珍寶遍市肆觀看無有餘物。儘是我國中所有耳。最後見一賢者空坐肆上。便問之言。不見君有所賣。何以空坐。答言在此賣智慧耳。問曰。君智何像賣索幾許。答言。吾智慧直五百兩金。前稱爾金吾當與汝說之耳。遠人便自念。我國中無賣智慧與人。便秤五百兩金與其人。即與說智慧之言。二十字言。長慮諦思惟。不當卒行怒。今日雖不用。會當有用時。於是受誦令利各自還家。臣買得智慧之言即便還國道徑其家。夜入明月婦床前有兩履。疑有異人便生惡念。其婦卒得疾病母往宿。視長者故說智慧之言未休。其母驚覺兒爾來歸耶。兒便走出戶呼賤賤。母問其言。云何汝行為得何物。何以呼賤。兒言我母以婦萬兩金猶不與人。正顧五百兩金豈非賤耶。天尊經藉以為喻。諺語一言之助。
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本：過去有一個人丟了一盆金子。正好一個金神經過那裡。金神順著路向西走，得道后又向南返回。走了二百步，路西邊應該有一棵腐朽的樹。樹下有一個瓦罐，裡面有十斛金子。你前去挖掘，就可以用來償還你所欠的穀物。』這個人聽了小兒的指點，得到了這些金子，足夠他用來治理家業，最終成了大富之人。佛經借用這個故事來比喻：供養眾僧，廣泛地舉辦齋會，各種花費，就好比丟失了穀物。道士講解經書，宣說義理，教人遠離罪惡，走向善良，以後獲得無量的福報，最終可以達到真道，就好比得到了金瓦罐。這個故事是用來告誡後世的人，福德不可不修，否則後悔就來不及了。 過去有一個國家，物產豐盛，百姓安樂，沒有什麼缺乏的。國王就對大臣說：『派遣一個能幹的臣子，到其他國家去，購買我們國家沒有的東西。』於是就派遣了一個人前往其他國家，帶著珍寶，走遍了市場，觀看所有的商品，發現沒有一樣東西是他們國家沒有的。最後，他看見一個賢者空著手坐在市場上。他就問賢者說：『沒有看見你有什麼東西要賣，為什麼空著手坐在這裡？』賢者回答說：『我在這裡賣智慧。』使者問道：『你的智慧是什麼樣的？賣多少錢？』賢者回答說：『我的智慧價值五百兩金子。你先稱出金子，我再告訴你。』使者心想，我的國家裡沒有賣智慧的。於是就稱了五百兩金子給了賢者。賢者就說了智慧之言，一共二十個字：『長慮諦思惟，不當卒行怒。今日雖不用，會當有用時。』（要長遠考慮，仔細思考，不要輕率行動，發怒。今天雖然用不上，將來會有用的時候。）於是使者就背誦下來，牢記在心，各自回家了。使者買到了智慧之言，就返回自己的國家，路過自己家的時候，夜裡進入妻子的臥室，看見床前有兩雙鞋子，懷疑有別的男人，就產生了邪惡的念頭。他的妻子突然得了疾病，母親前去照顧她，看見長者還在不停地念誦智慧之言。他的母親驚醒了，說：『兒子你回來了嗎？』兒子就跑出家門，大喊『賤！賤！』母親問他喊什麼，說：『你這次出行得到了什麼？為什麼要喊賤？』兒子說：『我的母親用一萬兩金子都不肯把女兒嫁給別人，卻只顧著五百兩金子，難道不是賤嗎？』《天尊經》借用這個故事來比喻，諺語一言之助。
【English Translation】 English version: Once upon a time, a person lost a pot of gold. It happened that a gold deity (Jin Shen - gold spirit) was passing by. The gold deity went west along the road, attained enlightenment, and then returned south. After walking two hundred steps, there should be a decayed tree on the west side of the road. Under the tree is a pottery jar containing ten 'hu' (斛 - ancient volume measure, approx. 10 pecks) of gold. Go and dig it up, and you can use it to repay the grain you owe.' The person followed the child's instructions, obtained the gold, which was enough for him to manage his household and eventually become very wealthy. The Buddhist scripture uses this story as a metaphor: making offerings to the Sangha (眾僧 - monastic community), widely holding almsgiving ceremonies, and various expenses are like losing grain. A Daoist priest explaining scriptures and expounding on principles, teaching people to stay away from evil and turn to good, and later obtaining immeasurable blessings, eventually reaching the true path, is like obtaining the gold jar. This story is to warn future generations that meritorious deeds (福德 - blessings and virtue) must be cultivated, otherwise it will be too late to regret. Once there was a country that was prosperous and peaceful, and its people lacked nothing. The king said to his ministers, 'Send a capable minister to other countries to buy what our country does not have.' So, they sent a person to other countries, carrying treasures, and he went all over the markets, looking at all the goods, and found that there was nothing that their country did not have. Finally, he saw a wise man (賢者 - wise man) sitting empty-handed in the market. He asked the wise man, 'I don't see you selling anything, why are you sitting here empty-handed?' The wise man replied, 'I am selling wisdom here.' The messenger asked, 'What is your wisdom like? How much does it cost?' The wise man replied, 'My wisdom is worth five hundred taels (兩 - ancient unit of weight) of gold. You weigh out the gold first, and then I will tell you.' The messenger thought to himself, there is no one selling wisdom in my country. So, he weighed out five hundred taels of gold and gave it to the wise man. The wise man then spoke the words of wisdom, a total of twenty characters: 'Chang lv di si wei, bu dang cu xing nu. Jin ri sui bu yong, hui dang you yong shi.' (長慮諦思惟，不當卒行怒。今日雖不用，會當有用時。- Consider carefully and thoughtfully, do not act rashly or get angry. Although it may not be useful today, it will be useful someday.) So, the messenger recited it, memorized it, and returned home. The messenger bought the words of wisdom and returned to his country. When he passed by his house, he entered his wife's bedroom at night and saw two pairs of shoes in front of the bed. Suspecting that there was another man, he had evil thoughts. His wife suddenly fell ill, and her mother went to take care of her. She saw the elder still reciting the words of wisdom. Her mother woke up and said, 'Son, are you back?' The son ran out of the house and shouted 'Cheap! Cheap!' The mother asked him what he was shouting, and said, 'What did you get on this trip? Why are you shouting cheap?' The son said, 'My mother would not marry her daughter to someone else for ten thousand taels of gold, but she only cares about five hundred taels of gold, isn't that cheap?' The 'Tianzun Jing' (天尊經 - Scripture of the Celestial Worthy) uses this story as a metaphor, the proverb is a word of help.
勝千金之益。此之謂也。
昔天尊在洹水邊。廣說經法。時天龍鬼神帝王人民飛鳥走獸皆來聽法。時有放牛老公柱杖而聽。不覺杖下有蝦蟆。蝦蟆聽經意美。亦不覺背上有杖。遂久蝦蟆命終。其神即生天上。用天眼觀其本。從何道中來乃見故身在蝦蟆中。來天華散其故身上。示語後世人。蝦蟆中聽經意美得生天上。況于賢者至心聽經。豈不巍巍乎。
昔有兄弟二人。弟行追明師作沙門。遂得羅漢道。數數來語兄。可勤作福德。兄言。我今匆務且須后耳。數數非一。兄後命終。弟以道眼觀兄神生何道。看天道人道其中不見其神。復觀地獄餓鬼道中復不見。乃在畜生道中。見兄神作大牛。時賈客駕牛治生。道惡趺泥中不能自起。賈客以杖打之。猶復舒咽不起。弟見兄如此。逕來在牛前。語兄言。今日匆務何如本時。牛便羞慚感絕而死。道人即去。眾賈人等便共議言。道人何故來咒殺我牛。便追逐道人。將還問其意狀。道人如事為說牛是我兄。不隨我語以致此罪。道人便擲缽虛空。飛隨其後。眾賈人知是聖人。乃更自責。為牛燒香作福。其福得生天上。
昔有賢者。居舍衛國東南三十里。家門奉法供養道人。家公好喜殺豬賣肉。道人漸漸知之。未及呵誡。老公遂便命終。在恒水中受鬼神形。有自鐵輪鋒刃
【現代漢語翻譯】 勝過千金的利益，說的就是這個道理啊。
過去，天尊（指佛陀）在洹水邊，廣泛地宣說經法。當時，天龍（天上的龍族）、鬼神、帝王、人民、飛鳥、走獸都來聽法。當時有個放牛的老翁拄著枴杖聽法，不覺間枴杖下壓著一隻蛤蟆。蛤蟆聽經聽得津津有味，也沒察覺背上有枴杖。不久，蛤蟆死了，它的神識就轉生到了天上。用天眼觀察它的前身，從哪一道中來，才看到原來的身體是在蛤蟆之中。於是從天上散下天花，落在蛤蟆的屍體上，以此昭示後世的人：蛤蟆聽經聽得津津有味都能轉生到天上，更何況賢者至誠懇切地聽經呢？那功德豈不是更加偉大嗎？
過去有兄弟二人，弟弟修行追隨名師做了沙門（出家修道的人），最終證得了羅漢道。他多次來勸告哥哥，要勤奮地修福積德。哥哥說：『我現在很忙，這件事以後再說吧。』這樣說了不止一次。後來哥哥死了，弟弟用道眼觀察哥哥的神識轉生到了哪一道。他看了天道、人道，都沒有看到哥哥的神識。又觀察地獄、餓鬼道，還是沒有看到。最後在畜生道中，看到哥哥的神識變成了一頭大牛。當時有個商人趕著牛做生意，在路上陷入泥潭中，不能自己站起來。商人用鞭子抽打它，牛隻是張著嘴喘氣，還是站不起來。弟弟看到哥哥這樣，直接走到牛的面前，對牛說：『今天忙碌的情形，和當初相比怎麼樣啊？』牛便感到羞愧慚愧，斷氣而死。道人隨即離去。眾商人等便一起議論說：『道人為什麼來詛咒殺死我的牛？』便追趕道人，把他抓回來問他原因。道人如實地說了，牛是我的哥哥，不聽我的勸告才導致這樣的罪過。道人便把缽拋向空中，自己也飛身跟了上去。眾商人才知道他是聖人，於是更加自責，為牛燒香祈福，牛因此得以轉生到天上。
過去有位賢者，住在舍衛國東南三十里處。他家世代信奉佛法，供養道人。家中的老翁喜歡殺豬賣肉。道人漸漸地知道了這件事，還沒來得及勸誡，老翁就死了，在恒河水中受鬼神之身，身上帶著鐵輪鋒刃。
【English Translation】 This is what is meant by 'surpassing the benefit of a thousand gold pieces.'
In the past, the Celestial Honored One (referring to the Buddha) was at the bank of the Huan River, extensively expounding the Dharma. At that time, the Nagas (dragon deities), spirits, emperors, people, birds, and beasts all came to listen to the Dharma. There was an old cowherd who listened while leaning on his staff. Unknowingly, there was a toad under his staff. The toad listened to the Dharma with great interest and did not notice the staff on its back. Soon after, the toad died, and its spirit was reborn in the heavens. Using his heavenly eye to observe its origin, from which path it came, he saw its former body was that of a toad. He then scattered heavenly flowers upon the toad's corpse, to show future generations: a toad that listens to the Dharma with great interest can be reborn in the heavens, how much more so for virtuous people who listen to the scriptures with sincerity? Wouldn't that merit be even greater?
In the past, there were two brothers. The younger brother practiced diligently, following a renowned teacher and became a Shramana (a renunciate). Eventually, he attained the state of an Arhat. He repeatedly advised his elder brother to diligently cultivate blessings and merit. The elder brother said, 'I am busy now; I will do it later.' He said this more than once. Later, the elder brother died. The younger brother used his divine eye to observe which path his brother's spirit had been reborn into. He looked in the heavenly realms and the human realm, but did not see his brother's spirit. He then looked in the hells and the realm of hungry ghosts, but still did not see him. Finally, in the animal realm, he saw his brother's spirit had become a large ox. At that time, a merchant was driving the ox to do business. On the road, it fell into a mud pit and could not get up on its own. The merchant whipped it, but the ox only opened its mouth and gasped, still unable to rise. Seeing his brother in this state, the younger brother went directly in front of the ox and said to it, 'How is your current busyness compared to before?' The ox then felt ashamed and remorseful, and died. The Shramana then left. The merchants discussed among themselves, 'Why did the Shramana come to curse and kill my ox?' They chased after the Shramana, caught him, and asked him the reason. The Shramana truthfully explained that the ox was his brother, who did not heed his advice, leading to this suffering. The Shramana then threw his alms bowl into the air and flew after it. The merchants then knew he was a sage and felt even more remorseful. They burned incense and made offerings for the ox, and it was thus reborn in the heavens.
In the past, there was a virtuous man who lived thirty miles southeast of Shravasti. His family had been devoted to the Dharma for generations, making offerings to the ascetics. The old man of the house liked to slaughter pigs and sell meat. The ascetic gradually learned of this, but before he could admonish him, the old man died and was reborn as a ghost in the Ganges River, bearing iron wheels and sharp blades on his body.
如霜雪。隨流刺之。苦痛不可言。後日道人渡恒水在正與鬼神相值。其鬼便出半身在水上。捉船顧言。捉道人著水中。不者盡殺船上人。時有一賢者便問鬼神。何以故索是道人。鬼神言。我在世間時供養道人。道人心知我殺豬賣肉。而不呵誡我。是以殺道人耳。賢者便言。君坐殺豬乃致此罪。今復欲殺道人。罪豈不多乎。鬼神思惟實如賢者之言。便放令去。道人得去還語其家子孫。為作追福。神即得免苦。示語後世人。道人受供養不可不教誡。
昔有人在道上行。見道有一死人。鬼神以杖鞭之。行人問言。此人已死何故鞭之。鬼神言。是我故身。在生之日不孝父母。事君不忠。不敬三尊。不隨師父之教。令我墮罪苦痛難言。悉我故身故來鞭耳。稍稍前行復見一死人。天神來下散華于死人尸上。以手摩挲之。行人問言。觀君似是天。何故摩挲是死屍。答曰。是我故身生時之日孝順父母。忠信事君。奉敬三尊。承受師父之教。令我神得生天。皆是故身之恩。是以來報之耳。行人一日見此二變。便還家奉持五戒修行十善。孝順父母忠信事君。示語後世人。罪福追人久而不置。不可不慎。
昔有道人。在山中學道。人遣沙彌出舍衛。日日責一斗米兼課一偈。市中有一坐肆賢者。見沙彌並語而行。問沙彌言。周行走
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本： 如同霜雪般寒冷。隨著水流刺入身體，痛苦難以言說。後來，一位道人在恒河邊渡河，正巧與鬼神相遇。那鬼便露出半身在水面上，抓住船舷說道：『把那道人扔到水裡，不然就殺光船上所有人。』當時有一位賢者便問鬼神：『你為什麼要找這位道人？』鬼神說：『我在世的時候供養道人，道人心知我殺豬賣肉，卻不勸誡我，因此要殺他。』賢者便說：『你因為殺豬而獲此罪報，如今又想殺道人，罪過豈不是更多？』鬼神思索，覺得賢者說得有理，便放他們離去。道人脫險后，回去告訴他的子孫，為鬼神做追福，鬼神才得以免除痛苦。這是告誡後世的人，道人接受供養，不可不加以教誡。 從前有個人在路上走，看見路邊有一具死屍。有個鬼神用棍子鞭打那死屍。行人問道：『這人已經死了，為什麼還要鞭打他？』鬼神說：『這是我以前的身體。他在世的時候不孝順父母，侍奉君主不忠誠，不尊敬三寶，不聽從師父的教誨，使我墮入罪惡，痛苦難言。這都是我以前的身體造成的，所以來鞭打他。』稍稍往前走，又看見一具死屍。天神降臨，在死屍上散花，用手撫摸它。行人問道：『看您像是天神，為什麼撫摸這具死屍？』天神回答說：『這是我以前的身體。他在世的時候孝順父母，忠誠地侍奉君主，恭敬三寶，接受師父的教誨，使我神魂得以昇天。這都是我以前身體的恩德，所以前來報答。』行人一天之內見到這兩種變化，便回家奉持五戒，修行十善，孝順父母，忠誠地侍奉君主。這是告誡後世的人，罪惡和福報追隨人，長久不會停止，不可不謹慎。 從前有個道人，在山中學道。有人派遣沙彌離開舍衛城，每天索要一斗米，並要求背誦一首偈語。市集中有一位開店的賢者，看見沙彌邊走邊背誦偈語，便問沙彌說：『你四處奔走……』
【English Translation】 English version: Like frost and snow. The piercing pain as it flows with the current is indescribable. Later, a Daoist was crossing the Heng River and encountered a ghost. The ghost revealed half of its body above the water, grabbed the boat, and said, 'Throw the Daoist into the water, or I will kill everyone on the boat.' At that time, a wise man asked the ghost, 'Why do you seek this Daoist?' The ghost said, 'When I was alive, I made offerings to the Daoist. The Daoist knew that I slaughtered pigs and sold meat, but he did not admonish me. Therefore, I will kill him.' The wise man then said, 'You have incurred this punishment for slaughtering pigs, and now you want to kill the Daoist, wouldn't your sin be even greater?' The ghost pondered and realized that the wise man's words were true, so he let them go. After escaping danger, the Daoist returned and told his descendants to perform meritorious deeds for the ghost, so that the ghost could be freed from suffering. This is to warn future generations that Daoists who receive offerings must be admonished. Once upon a time, there was a man walking on the road who saw a dead body by the roadside. A ghost was whipping the dead body with a stick. The traveler asked, 'This person is already dead, why are you still whipping him?' The ghost said, 'This is my former body. When he was alive, he was not filial to his parents, disloyal to his ruler, disrespectful to the Three Jewels (Sanbao), and did not follow the teachings of his teacher, causing me to fall into sin and suffer unspeakable pain. This is all caused by my former body, so I am here to whip him.' Walking a little further, he saw another dead body. A heavenly being descended, scattering flowers on the dead body and stroking it with his hand. The traveler asked, 'You seem to be a heavenly being, why are you stroking this dead body?' The heavenly being replied, 'This is my former body. When he was alive, he was filial to his parents, loyal to his ruler, respectful to the Three Jewels (Sanbao), and accepted the teachings of his teacher, allowing my spirit to be reborn in heaven. This is all thanks to the kindness of my former body, so I have come to repay him.' The traveler saw these two changes in one day, and returned home to uphold the Five Precepts, practice the Ten Virtues, be filial to his parents, and loyally serve his ruler. This is to warn future generations that sin and blessings follow people and will not cease for a long time, so one must be cautious. Once there was a Daoist who was studying the Dao in the mountains. Someone sent a Shami (novice monk) out of Shravasti (a major city in ancient India) to demand a dou (a unit of measurement) of rice every day and to recite a verse. In the market, there was a wise man who ran a shop. He saw the Shami walking and reciting verses, and asked the Shami, 'Why are you walking around...'
索何以並語而行。沙彌答言。我師在山中學道。日責我米一斗兼課一偈。是以並行誦一偈耳。賢者復問。若不輸米日可諳幾偈。言可諳十偈。賢者便言。勿復分行。吾自代沙彌輸米。沙彌歡喜即得靜坐學問。賢者為沙彌輸米九斛米。然後試沙彌經皆自通利。賢者後生世間為天尊作弟子。字名阿難。天尊有十二部經典。聰明之福報不可謂問一知十。示語後世人。福德隨身如影隨形。隨人所種各獲其福。不可不為。
昔有屠兒有千頭牛養令肥好。日殺一牛賣肉。以殺五百牛。余有五百頭。方共跳騰諠戲共相牴觸。天尊時入國。見牛如此愍而捨去。語諸弟子。此牛愚癡。伴侶欲盡方共戲諠。人亦如是。一日過去。人命轉減不可不思惟勤求度世之道。
天尊說阿育王譬喻經
【現代漢語翻譯】 現代漢語譯本： 賢者問沙彌：『你為何要一邊走路一邊唸誦？』沙彌回答說：『我的師父在山中修道，每天責令我交一斗米，並且要背誦一首偈。因此我才一邊走路一邊唸誦一首偈。』賢者又問：『如果不交米，你一天可以背誦幾首偈？』沙彌說：『可以背誦十首偈。』賢者便說：『不要再分著走路唸誦了，我來代替沙彌你交米。』沙彌歡喜，因此得以專心**學習。賢者為沙彌交了九斛米。然後測試沙彌，發現他所學的經典都通達順利。賢者後來轉生到世間，成為天尊（佛陀）的弟子，名叫阿難（Ānanda，佛陀十大弟子之一，以記憶力強聞名）。天尊有十二部經典，阿難因為聰明而得到的福報，可以達到聞一知十的程度。這是爲了告誡後世的人，福德會像影子一樣跟隨自身，人們所種下的善因，會各自獲得相應的福報，所以不可不做善事。
過去有個屠夫，養了一千頭牛，把它們養得肥壯。每天殺一頭牛賣肉。已經殺了五百頭牛，還剩下五百頭牛。這些牛卻一起跳躍喧鬧，互相牴觸。天尊（佛陀）當時進入這個國家，看到牛這樣，憐憫它們而離開了。告訴眾弟子說：『這些牛真是愚癡啊，同伴快要被殺光了，還在那裡嬉戲喧鬧。人也是這樣，一天天過去，人的壽命也在不斷減少，不可不思考並勤奮尋求度過生死輪迴的道路。』
天尊（佛陀）宣說了阿育王（Ashoka，印度孔雀王朝的國王，后皈依佛教，大力弘揚佛法）譬喻經。
【English Translation】 English version: The wise man asked the novice: 'Why do you walk and recite at the same time?' The novice replied, 'My master is practicing the Way in the mountains. Every day he requires me to provide one dou (斗, a unit of dry measure) of rice and also to memorize one verse. That's why I walk and recite one verse at the same time.' The wise man further asked, 'If you didn't have to provide rice, how many verses could you memorize in a day?' The novice said, 'I could memorize ten verses.' The wise man then said, 'Don't walk and recite separately anymore. I will provide the rice for you in place of the novice.' The novice was delighted and was thus able to concentrate on **learning. The wise man provided nine hu (斛, another unit of dry measure, larger than dou) of rice for the novice. Then, he tested the novice and found that he was fluent and proficient in all the scriptures he had learned. Later, the wise man was reborn into the world as a disciple of the Celestial Honored One (Tian Zun, a title for the Buddha), with the name Ānanda (阿難, one of the Buddha's ten principal disciples, known for his excellent memory). The Celestial Honored One had twelve divisions of scriptures. Ānanda's blessings from his intelligence were such that he could understand ten things from hearing one. This is to instruct people of later generations that blessings and virtue follow the body like a shadow follows a form. People reap the blessings according to what they sow, so one should not fail to do good deeds.'
In the past, there was a butcher who raised a thousand head of cattle, fattening them up. He slaughtered one cow each day to sell the meat. After slaughtering five hundred cows, there were five hundred cows remaining. These cows were still jumping, frolicking, and butting each other. The Celestial Honored One (Tian Zun, a title for the Buddha) entered the country at that time, saw the cows like this, felt compassion for them, and left. He told his disciples, 'These cows are truly foolish. Their companions are about to be slaughtered, yet they are still playing and frolicking. People are also like this. As each day passes, people's lives are constantly decreasing. One must contemplate and diligently seek the path to transcend the cycle of birth and death.'
The Celestial Honored One (Tian Zun, a title for the Buddha) spoke the Ashoka (阿育王, an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who converted to Buddhism and promoted it widely) Parable Sutra.