The Translation
Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was staying at Prince Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park, with a large community of monks and a community of many bodhisattvas. At that time, the Blessed One declared to his audience, “Since the time has now come for King Bimbisāra to be trained, we must go to Magadha.” He then departed, gliding through the sky like a king of swans along with his entourage.
我曾這樣聽聞。世尊當時住在祇樹給孤獨園，與大量比丘和眾多菩薩組成的僧團一起。此時，世尊向他的聽眾宣告說：「現在已經到了教化頻婆娑羅王的時候，我們必須前往摩揭陀。」於是他出發了，與他的眷屬一起在空中飛行，如同天鵝之王般優雅地翱翔。
1.1When the minister Sucandra saw this, he said to his king, “Lord, the Buddha and his entourage are approaching our land. We should adorn the city to pay our respects.”
1.1大臣善現看到這一切，就對他的國王說：「大王，佛陀與他的眷屬正在朝我們的國土而來。我們應該裝飾城市來禮敬他們。」
1.2“There is no one in Jambudvīpa greater than I,” replied the king, inflated with his own arrogance, “so to whom should I pay my respects?”
1.2「閻浮提中沒有人比我更偉大，」國王滿心傲慢地回答說，「那我應該向誰頂禮呢？」
1.3Then the Buddha and his entourage sat down on seats laid out at the gates of King Bimbisāra’s palace. When the king came to know that the Blessed One and his entourage were thus seated, he called on a wrestler known as a heavy lifter to throw a huge rock at the Blessed One. From the sound of that rock flying through the air came a voice that proclaimed:
1.3於是佛陀和眷屬坐在頻婆娑羅王宮殿門前所設的座位上。當國王得知世尊和眷屬坐在那裡時，他召來一位以舉重著稱的摔跤手，命他向世尊擲去一塊巨大的石頭。那塊石頭飛過空中時，發出聲音，聲中傳來這樣的宣告：
“Alas! Compounded things have no permanence;「唉呀！有為法沒有永恆性；
Their nature is to arise and to cease.它們的本質就是生起和滅盡。
Where there is birth, there is death.有生就有死。
Where there is coming together, there is separation.聚合之處，必有分離。
Where there is accumulation, there is depletion.有積累的地方，就有消耗。
The glow of youth is robbed by illness青春的光彩被疾病奪去
And life itself is snatched by death.生命本身被死亡奪走。
“Where there is attachment, suffering thrives.有執著的地方，苦就會滋生。
Where there is dissatisfaction, there will be liberation.”有不滿的地方，就有解脫。
1.6On hearing this, King Bimbisāra became respectful and went before the Buddha with his palms joined. When he had taken a seat, the Blessed One said, “Great King, take interest in the Dharma, take it in, request for it to be taught, and be disillusioned.”
1.6頻婆娑羅王聽到這番話，心生恭敬，合掌來到佛陀面前。坐下後，世尊說道：「偉大的國王啊，你要對法產生興趣，要領受法，要請求教導，要變得不滿。」
1.7The king inquired, [F.207.b] “Blessed One, with what should I be dissatisfied and disillusioned?”
1.7國王詢問道：「世尊，我應該對什麼不滿和厭離呢？」
“Be dissatisfied and disillusioned with saṃsāra,” replied the Blessed One.
1.8“Why should I be dissatisfied and disillusioned with saṃsāra?” asked the king.
1.8「我為什麼要對輪迴感到不滿和厭離呢？」國王問道。
“Because saṃsāra is impermanence and suffering,” he replied.
1.9“How is saṃsāra impermanence, Blessed One?” inquired the king.
“This container, the world, is impermanent, and its contents, sentient beings, are also impermanent,” replied the Blessed One.
「這個容器——世界是無常的，它的內容——眾生也是無常的，」世尊回答道。
1.10“How is this container, the world, impermanent?” asked the king.
1.10「這個容器，世界，怎樣才是無常呢？」國王問道。
1.11The Blessed One replied:
“When the time of destruction and the fires at the end of the eon rise,「當劫末的毀滅時期到來，劫末之火升起時，
Nothing will remain, not even ashes,國王問道：「這個容器般的世界怎樣是無常的？」
世尊回答：
「當劫末的毀滅時刻到來，時代末的火焰升起，
這個擁有須彌山和諸大陸的容器世界裡，
什麼都不會保留下來，甚至連灰燼都沒有。」
Of this container-world with its Mount Meru and the continents.這個容器世界及其須彌山和各大洲。
So too shall it be with the destructions by water and by wind.水火風災的毀滅也將是如此。
“Or again, that which grows in warm summer rain dries up in the cold of winter.「或者說，在溫暖的夏季雨水中生長的東西，會在冬天的寒冷中乾枯。
Good crops, bad crops, drought, or deluge—there is no certainty.好的收成、壞的收成、乾旱或洪水——沒有任何確定性。
As the months and years pass, the time of destruction draws ever nearer.隨著月日年歲的流逝，毀滅的時刻不斷逼近。
“Impermanence is evident from these and other examples,「從這些和其他例子可以看出無常，」
For if there were permanence, how could there be change?”因為如果有常住不變，怎麼會有變化呢？
1.15“How are the contents, sentient beings, impermanent?” asked the king.
1.15「請問世尊，世間的內容和有情眾生為何是無常的？」國王問道。
1.16The Blessed One replied:
“For the contents, for sentient beings, this life is just the same—「對於這些（世界的）內容，對於眾生來說，生命也是一樣的——」
Counting off the days, the months, and years,日日計算著日子、月份和年歲，
With every day that passes, death draws ever nearer.每一天的流逝，死亡都在逼近。
“Though we would like not to die, it is beyond our control.雖然我們希望不死亡，但這超出了我們的掌控。
Birth, old age, sickness, and death are like pictures we draw ourselves,出生、衰老、疾病和死亡就像我們自己畫出來的圖畫一樣，
While Māra, Lord of Death, looks on like a black heron waiting for fish.當魔王死亡之主像黑色蒼鷺等待捕魚一樣注視著我們時。
“Causes of death are more numerous than can be conceived.「死亡的原因多得無法想像。」
There is nothing at all that has not been a cause of death.沒有任何東西不曾是死亡的原因。
This body is sustained by eating, but choke on your food, and you will die.這個身體依靠進食來維持，但如果食物卡在喉嚨，你就會死亡。
In this world there are none—neither great nor small, neither rich nor poor—在這個世界上沒有人——無論高貴還是卑微，無論富有還是貧窮——
Who have power over the Lord of Death.誰能戰勝死亡之主。
“Those people who have died in the past,「那些過去已經死亡的人們，
They too hoped that things would last.他們也期望這些東西能夠長久存在。
They gathered children and wealth around them,他們身邊聚集了孩子和財富，
But neither their children nor their wealth,但是他們的孩子和財富都派不上用場，
Nor even, in the end, their bodies, were of any use,他們最後連自己的身體都派不上用場，
For in death we are accompanied by our good and bad deeds alone.因為在死亡時，只有我們的善行和惡行跟隨著我們。
“Even now, while still living,「即使到了現在，還活著的時候，
Haven’t you seen, or haven’t you heard,你難道沒有看見過，或者沒有聽說過嗎，
Of friends or relatives—朋友或親戚—
Those you like or those you do not,你喜歡的人或者你不喜歡的人，
Those your own age, or older, or younger— [F.208.a]那些和你同齡的、比你年長的、或比你年幼的——
“Everyone who lives upon this earth「每一個生活在這個世界上的人
May survive up to a hundred years,可能活到一百歲，
But all will die, without exception.但是所有人都會死亡，沒有例外。
It is our nature, each and every one of us, to die.我們每個人都有一個共同的本性，那就是必定會死亡。
Whether death will come today or tomorrow,無論死亡是否會在今天或明天到來，
“Even having the measure of it offers no respite from fear,「即使知道它的時間也無法逃脫恐懼，
For what will happen next year, or this very day?明年會發生什麼，或是今天就會發生什麼？
“When you die, neither your parents nor your sons,「當你死亡時，既不是你的父母，也不是你的兒子，」
Neither your relatives nor friends,既不是你的親戚，也不是你的朋友，
Neither your servants nor all your possessions你的僕人和所有的財產都不會跟隨你。
Will accompany you beyond death.沒有人能夠陪伴你度過死亡。
None will share even a part of your pain.沒有任何人會與你分擔你的痛苦。
“At birth, you are born alone,「出生時，你獨自一人降生，
And in the end, at death, you will die alone.到了最後，在死亡時，你會孤獨地死去。
In an instant, all that you hold nearest and dearest in life在一瞬間，所有你在生活中最親近和最珍愛的一切
Will depart, like guests returning home after a brief stay.將如同短暫訪客歸家一般而離去。
“That which you dare not part with, even for a moment—「那些你連片刻都不願放棄的東西——」
Relatives, possessions, land, and home—all will be left behind,親人、財物、土地和家園—這些都將被留在身後，
As you embark on the fearful road alone.當你獨自踏上這條令人畏懼的路途。
“Wealth may be accumulated through this or that connivance or dispute,「財富可能通過這樣或那樣的勾結或爭執而累積，」
But while the obscurations incurred by such wrongdoing must be borne,但是，由這種不當行為造成的障礙必須承受，
The wealth accumulated thereby will soon be carried away by relatives,由此積累的財富很快就會被親戚帶走。
So what is gained by amassing wealth?那麼積聚財富又能得到什麼呢？
“Even this body that is held so dear「即使這個被自己珍視的身體」
Will be discarded at death, like a used earthenware pot.死亡時會被拋棄，就像一個用過的陶土罐一樣。
Even flesh and bone, born together, will come asunder.即便是血肉骨骼，生時在一起，死時也會分離。
Powerless, you will wander alone,無力的，你將獨自流浪，
Until by the power of karma you are reborn.直到因為業的力量而重新投生。
So, for the sake of the body, do no wrong.所以，為了身體，不要做任何錯誤的事。
“Do not be content with this body that treads the firm earth—「不要滿足於這個踏踏實地的身體—
It is an impure heap, born from impure karma.這是一個不潔淨的堆積，由不潔淨的業所生。
Subject to sickness, old age, and death, it is the site of every suffering.容易患病、衰老和死亡，是一切苦的場所。
Once dead, it is nothing but some filth to be discarded anywhere,死後，它不過是一堆污穢，可以被棄置在任何地方，
For birds, jackals, and other animals to feed upon.供鳥類、豺狼和其他動物食用。
Even if efforts are made to respect and venerate them,即使費力去尊敬和供養他們，
The Lord of Death and his demons will drag you away.死神和他的鬼魔會將你拖走。
“Disparaged by the wise and an object of attachment for fools—「被智者輕視，卻是愚人執著的對象——」
What learned person is attached to the body?有智慧的人怎會執著於身體呢？
So do not fret for the sake of the body.所以不要為了身體而操心煩惱。
For the sake of this life, dispense wages for food and clothing,為了今生的需要，要支付工資用於食物和衣著，
But for lasting benefit, make merit and so on,但為了長久的利益，應當積累功德等。
For the only friends you will have at death are your own good and bad deeds. [F.208.b]因為在死亡時，你唯一的朋友就是你自己的善業和惡業。
While good deeds lead to higher realms and liberation,而善業導向更高的境界和解脫。
Bad deeds lead to the suffering of the lower realms.惡業會導致下道眾生的苦。
“Even before death, this body is impermanent.「即使在死亡之前，這個身體也是無常的。
From a small child you grow into a youth,從小孩成長為少年，
Then on to adulthood, middle age, and old age.然後進入成年、中年和老年。
If the body were permanent,如果身體是永恆不變的，
How could there be such phases?怎麼可能會有這些階段呢？
“The objects of experience, those that bring pleasure and pain, are also impermanent.「體驗的對象，那些帶來快樂和痛苦的東西，也是無常的。」
Those who have power and wealth may become miserable and destitute,擁有權力和財富的人可能變得悲慘和貧困，
And those who are miserable and destitute may become powerful and wealthy.而那些貧苦困頓的人可能會變得有權有勢、富有安樂。
The enjoyments of youth are ravaged by illness, aging, and death.青年的享樂被疾病、衰老和死亡所摧毀。
All these worldly phenomena are impermanent.”所有這些世間現象都是無常的。
1.33King Bimisāra asked, “Blessed One, what are the sufferings of beings in saṃsāra?”
1.33比琿沙王問道：「世尊，輪迴中的眾生有哪些苦呢？」
1.34The Blessed One replied,
“For beings in saṃsāra there is never any lasting happiness.「在輪迴中的眾生，永遠沒有任何持久的快樂。」
The main kinds of suffering are four: birth, aging, illness, and death.主要的苦有四種：生、老、病、死。
“The sufferings of beings born in the hells are like this:「生於地獄的眾生的苦，就像這樣：
Merely seeing the guards of hell and the fires of hell僅僅看到地獄的獄卒和地獄的火焰
Sets off great wails of fear and terror.引發了極大的恐懼和驚恐的哭喊。
Counting the cost to oneself and feeling deep remorse about one’s former actions計算自己所付出的代價，並對自己過去的行為感到深深的悔恨
Are of no use whatsoever.完全沒有任何幫助。
“Some obtain massive bodies with tender skin,「有些眾生得到巨大的身體，皮膚柔軟嬌嫩，
Subject to intense and violent sensations.承受著強烈而猛烈的感受。
Some have bodies that burn in a blazing mass of fire.有些人的身體在熊熊烈火中燃燒。
Some are crushed likes seeds in rooms with iron walls,有些人被壓碎，就像在鐵牆房間裡的種子一樣。
Rolling back and forth, and burning all over.在鐵鍋中來回翻滾，全身燃燒。
“Others are thrown headfirst into huge iron cauldrons有些人被頭朝下扔進巨大的鐵鍋裡
Where they cook like grains in a boiling soup.在那裡他們像穀粒一樣在沸騰的湯中被煮著。
Some are gashed by saws and pounded in mortars.有些被鋸子割傷，在研缽中被舂搗。
Some are kept in dwellings and houses and roasted alive,有些被關在住宅和房屋裡活生生地被烤。
Scorched by glowing embers, hot ashes, hot water, and such.被炽热的余烬、热灰和热水等灼烧。
There are tortures more numerous than can be conceived.有無數的刑罰，多到難以想像。
“Where a single day and night is a hundred eighty thousand human years,「在那個地方，一晝夜就相當於人間的一百八十萬年，
They stay in such hells for an eon.他們在這樣的地獄中停留一劫。
Even though they long for death, death does not come儘管他們渴望死亡，但死亡卻不會到來
To those whose karma is not exhausted,對於那些業還沒有耗盡的眾生，
Until the time when the world itself disintegrates直到世界本身瓦解的時候
And a new world is born again.新的世界就會再次誕生。
“Those born as pretas are tormented by hunger and thirst, [F.209.a]「那些投生為餓鬼的眾生被飢渴所折磨，」
With heads the size of mountains, mouths as narrow as the eye of a needle,頭顱如山嶺般巨大，嘴巴卻如針眼般狹窄，
Throats just as narrow, and bellies the size of districts.喉嚨同樣狹窄，腹部卻像整個地區那樣寬大。
They see food and drink, but others guard these things,他們看到食物和飲料，但卻被他人看守著。
Or else they perceive them as something else—blood, pus, vomit, and the like.或者他們把這些東西看成別的東西——血、膿液、嘔吐物之類的。
Though some manage to eat, the food turns to molten metal in their throats.有些雖然能夠進食，但食物卻在他們的喉嚨裡變成了熔化的金屬。
“Those born as animals eat one another, and,「那些生為動物的眾生互相吞食，
Mired in the sufferings of ignorance, they have no freedom—沉溺在無明的苦中，他們沒有自由——
They are tied up, beaten, exploited, and killed by others.他們被綁縛、被毆打、被剝削，最後被他人殺害。
“Those born as humans suffer even while still in the womb.「那些生為人類的眾生，即使還在母親的子宮裡就已經在受苦。
When the mother eats her fill, it is like being crushed between rocks.當母親吃飽時，就像被夾在石頭之間。
When she is hungry, it is like being abandoned to wolves.母親飢餓時，就像被拋棄給狼群一樣。
When she does heavy labor, it is like being pounded in a mortar.當她從事繁重勞動時，就像在臼中被搗碎一樣。
The experience of birth is as rough as being dragged along the side of a wall出生的經歷就像被拖著沿著牆壁摩擦一樣粗暴。
After the skin has been peeled off,皮膚被剝掉之後，
While tormented by heat rashes, hunger, thirst, and aching limbs.在飽受熱疹、飢餓、口渴和四肢酸痛的折磨中。
“When grown up, humans suffer by laboring in fields, through poverty,「長大成人後，人們因在田地裡勞作、貧困而受苦，
And by separation from loved ones, oppression by enemies, and debt.以及與所愛的人分離、遭受敵人的欺凌和債務的困擾。
They also suffer from heat, cold, hunger, thirst, and the rest.他們也受到炎熱、寒冷、飢餓、口渴等等的痛苦。
While the poor have no means of escaping their hardship, try as they might,窮人雖然盡力嘗試，但沒有辦法逃離他們的苦難。
The wealthy suffer too, needing to be vigilant to protect what they have.富有的人也在受苦，需要時刻警惕來保護他們所擁有的。
The work of farming and trading is suffering too.從事農業和貿易的工作也是苦。
“Sufferings such as these and others are more numerous than can be conceived.「像這樣的苦以及其他的苦，數量多到無法想像。」
The bases of suffering are generally two—food and clothing—苦的根本通常有兩種——飲食和衣著——
While even the pleasures of this world are for the most part雖然即使是今世的快樂，在大多數情況下
The causes of suffering in lower rebirths later on.後世轉生到下道所遭受的苦因。
“Those born as asuras endure suffering caused by「那些投生為阿修羅的眾生承受由於
Pride and envy, rage and conflict, and more.驕傲、嫉妒、憤怒和衝突，以及更多。
“Those born as gods also endure suffering, such as the pain caused by「投生為天人的眾生也要承受苦，比如因為
Falling from heaven at death, the five signs of impending death,死亡時從天界墜落，死亡即將來臨的五個徵兆，
And the suffering of conditioned being.以及有為法的苦。
“The sufferings of the elderly are like this:「老年人的苦是這樣的：
White hair, gathering wrinkles, being ignored by others,白髮、皺紋增加、被他人忽視，
Dribbles of spittle and snot at the mouth and nose,口鼻流著口水和鼻涕，
Trembling hands, and unsteady legs.顫抖的雙手，以及不穩定的雙腿。
The body becomes too feeble to do what the mind intends.身體衰弱到無法執行心念所想。
Relatives all consider you better off dead;親屬都認為你死了還比較好。
Your advice is not heeded and your authority is lost.你的勸告無人理睬，你的權威也消失殆盡。
Some may even say, ‘That old monster should have died long ago.’有些人甚至會說：「那個老怪物早就應該死了。」
Some may even threaten to beat you with cudgels and sticks.有些人甚至可能會威脅要用木棍和棒子打你。
Seeing and hearing this, you may want to die, but die you cannot.看到和聽到這些，你可能會想死，但卻無法死去。
“The sufferings of the sick are like this:「病人的苦就像這樣：
When the four great physical elements are out of balance,當四大物質元素失去平衡時，
The body is oppressed by combinations of wind, bile, and phlegm, [F.209.b]身體受到風、膽汁和痰液組合的壓迫，
So that even objects of enjoyment hold no allure.所以即使是樂受也失去了吸引力。
Physical strength is sapped and you cannot even stand up.體力衰退，你甚至無法站起身來。
Your luster and radiance are gone; you look like a preta.你的光澤和光輝已經消退；你看起來像一個餓鬼。
“The sufferings of the dying are like this:「臨終時的苦是這樣的：
Though friends and relatives may gather and mourn,儘管親朋好友可能聚集在一起哀悼，
There is no looking on, or listening in, or thinking of them.沒有機會看他們，沒有機會聽他們說話，也沒有機會想起他們。
The vital force is severed, as if cut by a blade,生命力被斷絕，如同被刀刃割斷一般，
With your past deeds toward friends and enemies,用你對朋友和敵人過去所做的事業，
Both good and bad, appearing as if in a dreamscape.無論善惡，都如夢境般顯現。
“The terrifying minions of Yama close in on all sides.「閻魔王那些令人恐懼的眷屬從四面八方逼近。
Eyes wide with fear, you look here, there, and everywhere,你睜大雙眼，充滿恐懼地四處張望，
But no savior is to be seen.但是看不到任何救世主。
In abject fear and total despair, with no idea where to go,在極度恐懼和完全絕望中，不知道何去何從，
The uncertain liminal state arises.不確定的中陰身出現了。
“Impermanence will be a constant source of torment「無常將會是持續不斷的折磨根源
Through these endless sufferings通過這些無盡的苦
From beginningless time right up to the present,從無始以來到現在，
Until you accept the noble path.”直到你接受了高尚的道路。
1.52Then the king asked, “Blessed One, if saṃsāra is so much suffering, then where is well-being to be found?”
1.52那時國王問道：「世尊，如果輪迴中充滿了這麼多的苦，那麼安樂究竟在哪裡能找到呢？」
1.53The Blessed One replied, “Nirvāṇa is perfect well-being.”
1.54“How is it perfect well-being?” asked the king.
The Blessed One answered,
“Nirvāṇa is peace; it is happiness supreme,「涅槃是寂靜；它是至高的幸福，
Devoid of concepts, of perceiving a self, and of afflictions,沒有概念、沒有自我的感知，也沒有煩惱。
And devoid of the sufferings of the three lower realms, of hunger and thirst, of heat and cold,以及遠離三惡道的苦、飢餓和口渴、炎熱和寒冷的苦。
Of birth, of aging, of illness, of death, and the rest.生老病死等一切苦，都永遠地停止了。
All the sufferings of impermanent saṃsāra cease forever,輪迴中無常的所有苦都永遠停止了。
And henceforth all actions are those that benefit others,從此以後，一切行為都是利益他人的行為，
With powers and miraculous abilities beyond imagination.”具有超越想像的神通和奇蹟力量。
1.56When the Blessed One had spoken, King Bimbisāra became disillusioned with saṃsāra, discarded his royal power like spittle in the dust, and set his mind on accomplishing nirvāṇa.
1.56世尊說完後，頻婆娑羅王對輪迴感到厭離，拋棄了王權就像棄去塵埃中的唾液一樣，決心致力於成就涅槃。
1.57Then the Blessed One said:
“Great King, well done, well done!「大王，善哉，善哉！
Among all footprints, the footprint of the elephant is the greatest.在所有足跡中，象的足跡是最偉大的。
Among all flowers, the white lotus is the greatest. [F.210.a]在所有花卉中，白蓮花是最殊勝的。
Among all notions, the notion of impermanence is the greatest.在所有觀念中，無常的觀念是最殊勝的。
Among all motivations, disillusionment with saṃsāra is the greatest.在所有的動力中，對輪迴的厭離是最大的。
“Great King, it is good that you are disillusioned with saṃsāra.「大王啊，你對輪迴產生了厭離，這是很好的。
It is good that you have become dissatisfied.你已經產生厭離是很好的。
When one is attached, that is saṃsāra.當一個人執著時，那就是輪迴。
When one is not attached, that is nirvāṇa.”不執著的時候，那就是涅槃。
1.60After the Blessed One had spoken, everyone, King Bimbisāra and the rest, rejoiced and praised what the Blessed One had said.
1.60世尊說完法後，頻婆娑羅王及所有大眾都歡喜踴躍，讚歎世尊所說的教法。
1.61This concludes the Mahāyāna sūtra “Advice to King Bimbisāra.”
