The Past
過去
21.1Then the Bhagavān said to the youth Candraprabha, “Therefore, young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas should entertain no misgivings about all the teachings on the root of merits, the training, and the qualities. They should have few involvements, avoid bad companions, rely on kalyāṇamitras, have an inquiring nature, unrelentingly seek the Dharma, have the Dharma as their goal, desire the Dharma, delight in the Dharma, obtain the Dharma, and practice the Dharma in accord with the Dharma. They should perceive every buddha and bodhisattva as the teacher. They should with joy and veneration perceive as the teacher the person from whom they hear this Dharma teaching.
21.1薄伽梵隨後對青年月光說："因此，年輕人，菩薩摩訶薩應當對所有關於福德之根、修行和功德的教法毫不懷疑。他們應當少有牽掛，遠離惡友，依靠善友，具有求知的本性，不懈地尋求法，以法為目標，渴望法，歡喜法，證得法，並且依法修習法。他們應當把每一位佛陀和菩薩視為師長。他們應當以喜悅和恭敬之心，把傳授給他們這個法教的人視為師長。"
21.2“Young man, bodhisattva mahāsattvas who adopt and follow this Dharma teaching of entertaining no misgivings about all the teachings on the root of merits, the training, and the qualities will quickly display unending confidence of speech. They will accomplish the inconceivable Dharma of the Buddha. They will realize the profound Dharma of the Buddha. They will be like a light that dispels the darkness of perplexity, uncertainty, and doubt of the people of the world and the devas.”
21.2「青年啊，菩薩摩訶薩如果採納奉持這個法教，對於福德根本、修行和功德的所有教導都不懷疑，他們將迅速展現無盡的言語信心。他們將成就佛陀不可思議的法。他們將證悟佛陀深妙的法。他們將像光明一樣，驅散世界上和天神心中的迷茫、猶豫和懷疑的黑暗。」
21.3Then at that time, in order to relate this Dharma teaching of entertaining no misgivings about all the teachings on the root of merits, the training, and the qualities, he spoke to the youth Candraprabha these verses that told of the past.
21.3那時，為了講述這個關於對所有福德根本、修行和功德的教法不產生疑惑的法教，他向月光童子說出了講述過去的這些偈頌。
“In the past, in this world named Jambudvīpa,
「過去在這個名叫贍部洲的世界裡，
There were two excellent sons who were not heedless.
有兩個優秀的兒子，他們並不懈怠。
They entered homelessness in the teaching of a sugata,
他們在善逝的法教中出家，
And dwelt like rhinoceroses in a grove of trees. {1}
他們如犀牛般地在樹林中居住。
“They had miraculous powers and had attained the four dhyānas,
「他們具有神變之力，已經證得四禪，
They were very learned and skilled in composing poetry and texts, [F.72.a]
他們非常博學多聞，精於作詩和撰寫論著。
They had mastered levitating up into the air,
他們已經掌握了騰空飛行的能力，
And they could travel freely through the sky. {2}
他們能夠在天空中自由遨遊。{2}
“They were engaged in conversation
他們在進行談論
In that cool grove of trees
在那清涼的樹林裡
That was filled with a variety of beautiful flowers
充滿各種美麗的花
And attended by flocks of varieties of birds. {3}
並且伴隨著各種鳥群的陪伴。
“A king who was pursuing a deer
一位追逐鹿隻的國王
Heard their voices and entered that grove.
聽到他們的聲音，進入了那個樹林。
The monarch saw the two dharmabhāṇakas
那位君主看到了兩位法師
And with the greatest joy he approached them. {4}
他懷著最大的喜悅走近他們。{4}
“They addressed each other agreeably
他們互相親切地交談
And the king sat down before them.
國王坐在他們面前。
The king’s multitudinous army
國王的眾多軍隊
Of sixty quintillion soldiers approached. {5}
六十極微兆士兵靠近。{5}
“Then both of those dharmabhāṇakas
「那麼這兩位法師
Said to the king, ‘Listen, Kṣatriya!
對國王說道：「請聽著，剎帝利！
It is very difficult to reach supreme buddhahood.
達到至高的佛果是非常困難的。
Monarch, always be careful! {6}
君主啊，要時時謹慎小心！
“ ‘Life is always passing and never stays.
「生命總是不斷地流逝，永遠停留不住。
It passes as quickly as a mountain stream.
它流逝得像山間溪流一樣迅速。
From the torment of illness, misery, and aging
從病、痛苦和衰老的折磨中
You have no other refuge than good actions. {7}
你沒有除了善業以外的其他庇護所。{7}
“ ‘Supreme king, be a protector of the Dharma.
「至尊的國王啊，請成為法的保護者。
Guard the teaching of the one with ten strengths
守護具有十力者的法教
In this utterly terrible time of degeneration.
在這個極其恐怖的末法時代。
Remain on the side of Dharma, supreme king!’ {8}
恪守法道，至尊大王！'
“Thus the wise ones at that time
「因此那個時代的智者們
Gave much advice to that sovereign,
對那位統治者給予了許多教導，
Following which the monarch, with the other six quintillions,
之後，那位君主和其他六十兆眾生，
Developed the aspiration to enlightenment. {9}
發起了成就菩提的願心。{9}
“When the supreme king had heard the Dharma,
「當至高的國王聽聞了法，
He was joyful, very happy, and enraptured
他歡喜、非常快樂，並且欣喜若狂。
With those who had spoken it so gently and pleasantly,
與那些溫柔和悅地宣說法義的人。
And bowed down to their feet before departing. {10}
並禮拜他們的足下而後離去。{10}
“Under that king there were many other bhikṣus
在那位國王統治下，有許多其他比丘
Who desired gain and who entered homes.
有的渴望利益，有的進入家宅。
When he saw how dissimilar was their conduct
當他看到他們的行為是多麼不同時
The king did not show them respect. {11}
國王沒有對他們表示恭敬。{11}
“The teacher of the teaching had passed away
「那位教法的師已經涅槃了
And this was the time of the latter years.
這是末法時代。
There were very few worthy recipients in Jambudvīpa,
在贍部洲，堪能接受法教的人非常稀少，
And there were present many who were without self-control. {12}
而且有許多人缺乏自我控制。
“The many bhikṣus, who were desirous and greedy,
「許多渴望和貪婪的比丘們，
Yearned for acquisitions, held the view of objective reality, [F.72.b]
渴望獲得，執著實有，
And had fallen away from the Sugata’s teaching,
並且已經背離了善逝的教法。
At that time repeatedly urged the king to action. {13}
那時，國王被一再催促著採取行動。
“ ‘You must kill those two dharmabhāṇakas.
「你必須殺死那兩位法師。
They are tīrthikas who are teaching nihilism.
他們是教導虛無主義的外道。
Among those who have adopted that practice for a long time
在那些長期修行這種實踐的人當中
There are none who have attained nirvāṇa. {14}
沒有任何人證得涅槃。
“ ‘They deny karma, they deny ripening;
「他們否定業，他們否定果報；
Those imposters teach that there are no skandhas.
這些騙子教導說沒有蘊。
Your Majesty, banish them from the land
大王啊，請將他們驅逐出境。
And then the Dharma will remain for a long time.’ {15}
那麼法就會長久住世。
“When he had listened to what they had to say,
「當他聽完他們說的話後，
The elephant-like king became distrustful.
像象一樣的國王變得懷疑起來。
‘I shall kill these two dharmabhāṇakas.
「我將殺死這兩位法師。
I must not leave them alone, for that would be harmful.’ {16}
我不能讓他們獨自離開，因為那樣會造成傷害。
“The king was attended by a goddess
那位國王有一位女神侍奉他。
Who had practiced with him in a previous lifetime.
她在過去世曾與他一起修行。
She was wise and had benefited him for a long time,
她很有智慧，長久以來一直在幫助他。
And at this time she said to the sovereign king, {17}
此時她對主權之王說道，{17}
“ ‘Kṣatriya, do not think in this way
「剎帝利，你不要這樣想
Because of what bad associates have said.
因為惡友所說的話。
Do not kill those two wise dharmabhāṇakas
不要殺害這兩位智慧的法師。
Because of what bad associates have said. {18}
因為壞朋友的言論所致。
“ ‘Lord of men, do you not remember even a little
「人中之主啊，你難道一點都不記得嗎
Of what they said to you in the forest grove?
他們在林中對你所說的話，你難道一點都不記得嗎？
In this perfectly terrible time of degeneration,
在這個極其可怕的末法時代，
Remain on the side of Dharma, elephant-like king!’ {19}
堅守法的一方，象一樣的國王！{19}
“The king, inspired by those true words,
「這位國王受到那些真實言語的啟發，
Did not abandon the teachings of the jinas.
沒有放棄勝者的教法。
But the king had a cruel brother
但是那位國王有一個殘暴的弟弟
Who was persuaded by those around him. {19b–20a}
他被身邊的人說服了。{19b–20a}
“They told him, ‘The king, your brother, is wicked;
「他們告訴他，『你的哥哥國王是邪惡的；
He has no joy in being alive.
他活著沒有快樂。
Those two bhikṣus possess dreadful spells.
那兩位比丘掌握著可怕的咒語。
With those spells they can fly through the sky. {20}
他們用那些咒語可以飛行於虛空中。
“ ‘Having heard this we have come to you,
「我們聽聞此事後就來到了你這裡，
To tell you all that has occurred.
來把發生的一切都告訴你。
Quickly kill those dreadful magicians,
迅速殺死那些可怕的魔法師，
Or afterward you will be filled with regret.’ {21}
否則之後你將會充滿悔恨。
“Then the king’s brother put on his armor,
「那麼國王的兄弟穿上了盔甲，
Under the influence of those bad associates.
在那些惡劣同伴的影響下。
The king’s brother, encircled by his entire army,
國王的兄弟，被他的整支軍隊包圍，
Came to the forest where the two bhikṣus dwelt. {22}
來到了那兩位比丘住著的林裡。{22}
“The nāgas and yakṣas that lived in that forest
那片林中生活的龍和夜叉
Knew the intention of the king’s dreadful, cruel brother [F.73.a]
知道國王那位可怕、殘暴的弟弟的意圖
And hurled upon them a rain of bricks and stones
並向他們投擲了磚塊和石頭的雨一般的攻擊
That killed the king’s brother and his army. {23}
那場雨石殺死了國王的兄弟和他的軍隊。{23}
“See how the life of the king’s cruel brother came to an end
「看這位國王殘暴兇惡的哥哥是如何喪命的
Because he listened to what bad associates said.
因為他聽信了惡友的言語。
Those who were angry at the dharmabhāṇakas
那些對法師感到憤怒的人
Took rebirth sixty times in the Avīci hell. {24}
在無間地獄裡轉生了六十次。{24}
“Those numerous bhikṣus who believed in reality
那些眾多相信真實的比丘們
And drove the kṣatriya king to action
並驅使剎帝利王採取行動
Experienced the sufferings of hell
經歷地獄的苦難
For countless billons of rebirths. {25}
經歷了數不盡的億兆次輪迴。{25}
“The goddess who influenced the king
「那位影響了國王的女神
And protected the dharmabhāṇakas
並保護了法師們
Saw buddhas as numerous as sand grains in ten million Ganges,
見到了如同千萬恆河沙粒般無數的佛陀，
Made offerings to them, and engaged in practice. {26}
向他們供養，並且進行修行。{26}
“The multitudinous six quintillion men,
「那六千兆名男子，
Who with the king had heard the Dharma
與國王一起聽聞過法的人
And developed the aspiration to enlightenment,
並發起了成就菩提的願心，
Became buddhas in numerous different realms. {27}
在無數不同的世界中成為了佛陀。{27}
“Their lifespans were many millions of eons.
「他們的壽命是數百萬劫。
They had inconceivable, unequaled wisdom.
他們具有不可思議、無等的慧。
They all taught this excellent samādhi,
他們都宣說了這個殊勝的三摩地，
And then those supreme humans passed into nirvāṇa. {28}
然後那些最殊勝的人類進入了涅槃。{28}
“Having heard this unsurpassable teaching
「聽聞了這無上的教法
On the accumulation of correct conduct, purity, qualities, and wisdom,
在正行、清淨、功德和慧的積聚上，
You must practice intently, without distraction,
你必須精進修行，沒有散亂。
And quickly attain the wisdom of buddhahood. {29}
並迅速證得佛果的慧。
“Look upon us, you tathāgatas in the ten directions,
「請看著我們吧，十方的如來們，
Who have peaceful minds and compassionate, loving eyes.
具有寂靜的心和充滿慈悲、親切眼神的如來們。
You are the refuge and protection for all beings.
你們是一切生命的避難所和保護者。
Send down your rain of Dharma upon the world. {30}
降下你們的法雨普潤世界。{30}
“Do not think that those two young men,
「不要認為那兩位年輕人，
Those perfect sons, were anyone else:
那些圓滿的兒子，不是任何其他人：
Dīpaṃkara was at that time one of them,
燃燈佛當時就是其中的一位。
And I was the second dharmabhāṇaka. {30a}
我是第二位法師。
“At that time Maitreya was the king
「那時彌勒菩薩是國王
Who listened favorably to the Dharma.
誰恭敬聽聞了這個法。
And you, young man, at that time,
那時，年輕人啊，你
Were the wise goddess who wished to help. {30b}
是那位想要幫助的智慧天女。
“At that time, Devadatta
「那時，提婆達多
Was the king’s brother,
是國王的兄弟，
Influenced by the acquisitive bhikṣus [F.73.b]
受到貪著的比丘們的影響
Who said, ‘Kill those two dharmabhāṇakas.’ ” {30c}
說「殺掉那兩位法師。」
21.38Conclusion of the twenty-first chapter, “The Past.”
21.38（結尾）