頻婆娑羅王 King Bimbisara

King Bimbisara

8．頻婆娑羅王

Siddhattha had cut his waving hair and had exchanged his royal robe for a mean dress of the colour of the ground. Having sent home Channa, the charioteer, together with the noble steed Kanthaka, to king Suddhodana to bear him the message that the prince had left the world, the Bodhisatta walked along on the highroad with a begger’s bowl in his hand. [1]

悉達多剪去了他的卷髮，用他的王族貴袍換了一件土色的樸素衣服。他將車夫車匿和戰馬犍陟差回家里，讓車匿捎信給淨飯王，說太子已舍棄了塵世。之後他手中托著乞討用的缽盆，沿著大路朝前走。 1

Yet the majesty of his mind was ill-concealed under the poverty of his appearance. His erect gait betrayed his royal birth and his eyes beamed with a fervid zeal for truth. The beauty of his youth was transfigured by holiness and surrounded his head like a halo. [2]

然而在悉達多貧困的外表下，他高貴的心靈時時能顯現出來。他筆直的步伐洩露了他的王族出身，他的雙眼因對真理的炙熱情感而奕奕發光。他年輕英俊的形象因聖潔而有所改變，他的頭好似被光環環繞。 2

All the people who saw this unusual sight gazed at him in wonder. Those who were in haste arrested their steps and looked back; and there was no one who did not pay him homage. [3]

所有看到這不尋常情景的人都好奇地盯著他看。那些匆匆趕路的行人停住腳步，回頭看他，所有的人都向他致敬。 3

Having entered the city of Rajagaha, the prince went from house to house silently waiting till the people offered him food. Wherever the Blessed One came, the people gave him what they had; they bowed before him in humility and were filled with gratitude because he condescended to approach their homes. [4]

太子進入王舍城後，靜靜地從一家走到另一家，等著人們給他施舍食物。無論他走到哪里，人們都傾其所有施給他，因為他屈尊降貴來到他們家中，他們在他面前都謙卑地鞠躬致意，心中充滿感激之情。 4

Old and young people were moved and said: “This is a noble muni! His approach is bliss. What a great joy for us!” [5]

王舍城的老老少少都出來了，他們說：「這真是一個高貴的覺悟者！他的到來是福氣。對我們來說是多麼歡欣啊！」 5

And king Bimbisara, noticing the commotion in the city, inquired the cause of it, and when he learned the news sent one of his attendants to observe the stranger. [6]

頻婆娑羅王發現城里騷亂，便詢問原因，他聽說這事之後就派隨從去觀察這個陌生人。 6

Having heard that the muni must be a Sakya and of noble family, and that he had retired to the bank of a flowing river in the woods to eat the food in his bowl, the king was moved in his heart; he donned his royal robe, placed his golden crown upon his head and went out in the company of aged and wise counsellors to meet his mysterious guest. [7]

頻婆娑羅王聽說這個覺悟者是釋迦族人並出自貴族家庭，住在樹林里河堤旁，吃的是缽盆中的食物，國王的心被深深感動了。他穿上王袍，頭戴金冠，在年老睿智的幕僚陪同下去見這位神秘的訪客。 7

The king found the muni of the Sakya race seated under a tree. Contemplating the composure of his face and the gentleness of his deportment, Bimbisara greeted him reverently and said: [8]

國王看到釋迦族的覺悟者坐在一棵樹下，他面色沉靜，舉止優雅，頻婆娑羅王懷著敬意歡迎他，說道： 8

“O samana, thy hands are fit to grasp the reins of an empire and should not hold a beggar’s bowl. I am sorry to see thee wasting thy youth. Believing that thou art of royal descent, I invite thee to join me in the government of my country and share my royal power. Desire for power is becoming to the noble-minded, and wealth should not be despised. To grow rich and lose religion is not true gain. But he who possesses all three, power, wealth and religion, enjoying them in discretion and with wisdom, him I call a great master.” [9]

「出家人，你的手該去掌握王國的統治權而不該用來端乞丐的缽盆。看到你浪費青春，我感到很遺憾。我相信你是王族後代，我邀請你和我一起管理我的國家，分享我的王權。渴望權力才能具有貴族精神，不應鄙視財富。富裕但沒有宗教就沒有真正的收穫。然而擁有權力、財富和宗教全部三者並能隨心所欲、明智地享受它們的人，我稱他為偉大的導師。」 9

The great Sakyamuni lifted his eyes and replied: [10]

偉大的釋迦牟尼抬起眼睛，回答道： 10

“Thou art known, O king, to be liberal and religious, and thy words are prudent. A kind man who makes good use of wealth is rightly said to possess a great treasure, but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit. [11]

「噢，國王，你是自由和有宗教信仰的，你的話是睿智的。公正地說，一個能夠很好利用財富的人擁有一大筆寶藏，但是吝嗇鬼守著他的財富將毫無益處。 11

“Charity is rich in returns; charity is the greatest wealth, for though it scatters, it brings no repentance. [12]

「施舍是回報的財富；施舍是最偉大的財富，因為儘管財富散盡也不會帶來對罪的悔恨。 12

“I have severed all ties because I seek deliverance. How is it possible for me to return to the world? He who seeks religious truth, which is the highest treasure of all, must leave behind all that can concern him or draw away his attention, and must be bent upon that one goal alone. He must free his soul from covetousness and lust, and also from the desire for power. [13]

「我因為尋求解脫，已經斬斷了所有的束縛，我怎麼能再回到俗世中去？宗教真理是世界上最高的財富，尋找它的人必須將所有干擾和妨礙他專心修行的事情置之度外，必須專注精進于一個目標。他的心靈必須遠離貪念和欲望，也要遠離對權力的渴求。 13

“Indulge in lust but a little, and lust like a child will grow. Wield worldly power and you will be burdened with cares. [14]

「稍稍沉溺于欲望，欲望將如小孩子一般成長起來。掌握俗世的權力必將擔負種種煩惱。 14

“Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than living in heaven, better than lordship over all the worlds, is the fruit of holiness. [15]

「和地上的統治權、天堂的生活、俗世的貴族身份相比，聖潔的果實要更為美好。 15

“The Bodhisatta has recognized the illusory nature of wealth and will not take poison as food. [16]

「菩薩已經認識到了財富的虛假本質，不會將毒藥當成食物服用。 16

“Will a fish that has been baited still covet the hook, or an escaped bird love the net? [17]

「上鉤的魚兒還會垂涎魚鉤嗎？自由的鳥兒還會喜歡羅網嗎？ 17

“Would a rabbit rescued from the serpent’s mouth go back to be devoured? Would a man who has burnt his hand with a torch take up the torch after he had dropped it to the earth? Would a blind man who has recovered his sight desire to spoil his eyes again? [18]

「逃脫蛇口的野兔還會返回再被吞食嗎？被火把燒著手的人扔掉火把後還會再撿起火把嗎？恢復視力的盲人還會再一次弄瞎他的眼睛嗎？ 18

“The sick man suffering from fever seeks for a cooling medicine. Shall we advise him to drink that which will increase the fever? Shall we quench a fire by heaping fuel upon it? [19]

「發高燒的病人尋找退燒藥，我們讓他喝升高體溫的藥嗎？我們靠添柴來滅火嗎？ 19

“I pray thee, pity me not. Rather pity those who are burdened with the cares of royalty and the worry of great riches. They enjoy them in fear and trembling, for they are constantly threatened with a loss of those boons on whose possession their hearts are set, and when they die they cannot take along either their gold or the kingly diadem. [20]

「我請你不要憐憫我。去同情那些擔負王室煩惱的人和因巨富而擔憂的人吧。他們在恐懼和擔憂中享受，因為財富和權力占據了他們的內心，他們時時擔驚受怕，害怕財富和權力會丟失散盡。而當他們死去時，卻帶不走他們的金子和王權。 20

“My heart hankers no vulgar profit, so I have put away my royal inheritance and prefer to be free from the burdens of life. [21]

「我的心靈追求的不是這些普通利益，因此我不要王位繼承權，更願意從對生命的重負中解脫出來。 21

“Therefore, try not to entangle me in new relationships and duties, nor hinder me from completing the work I have begun. [22]

「因而，不要試圖將我卷入新的關系和責任中，也不要阻止我完成我已經開始的工作。 22

“I regret to leave thee. But I will go to the sages who can teach me religion and so find the path on which we can escape evil. [23]

「很遺憾我要離開你了。我要到那些能教我宗教知識的哲人那里，去找到躲避罪惡的正道。 23

“May thy country enjoy peace and prosperity, and may wisdom be shed upon thy rule like the brightness of the noon day sun. May thy royal power be strong and may righteousness be the sceptre in thine hand.” [24]

「願貴國平安繁榮，願智慧如明亮的正午之日，引領輔佐你的統治。願王權強大，願你手中的權力正義公道。」 24

The king, clasping his hands with reverence, bowed down before Sakyamuni and said: “Mayest thou obtain that which thou seekest, and when thou hast obtained it, come back, I pray thee, and receive me as thy disciple.” [25]

國王帶著敬意緊緊握住釋迦牟尼的手，向他鞠躬，說道?「願你得到你所尋找的，你得到它之後，我請求你回來，收我做你的信徒。」 25

The Bodhisatta parted from the king in friendship and goodwill, and purposed in his heart to grant his request. [26]

菩薩心中同意了他的請求，在友好的氣氛中告別了國王。 26