The Translation

[F.301.b]

1.1Homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas.

1.1頂禮所有佛陀與菩薩。

1.2Thus did I hear at one time. The Bhagavān was dwelling in the Bamboo Grove, in the Kalandakanivāpa near Rājagṛha, together with a great saṅgha of a thousand monks and a great gathering of bodhisattvas. They were all worthy ones. Their contaminations were exhausted, their duties fulfilled, their work concluded, their burdens put down, their personal welfare attained, their bonds to existence destroyed, and their minds fully liberated through perfect knowledge.

1.2如是我聞。一時，薄伽梵住在竹園，迦蘭陀竹園，靠近王舍城，與一千位僧侶組成的大僧伽和菩薩的大集會在一起。他們都是阿羅漢。他們的污染已經消除，他們的責任已經完成，他們的工作已經結束，他們的負擔已經放下，他們的個人福祉已經達到，他們對存在的束縛已經破壞，他們的心完全通過完美的知識而得到解放。

1.3At that time, King Prasenajit arose from his seat and went to meet the Bhagavān. He bowed his head down at the feet of the Bhagavān and addressed him with these words: “Bhagavān, in the future, during times of conflict, all beings will have evil minds, quarrelsome minds filled with desire, hatred, and delusion. While intensely coveting others’ possessions and striving to devour one another, they will cause the previous period when teachings were given by the Bhagavān to decline. They will cause the abandonment of the true Dharma. They will go against the Buddha, the Dharma, and those who are free of desire. Please teach a way to eliminate such behavior so that beings may be strongly inclined to awakening.”

1.3此時波斯匿王從座而起，前往迎接薄伽梵。他低眉順眼，在薄伽梵足下頂禮，並用以下言辭向他請教：「薄伽梵，在未來，於衝突時代，所有眾生將具有邪惡的心念，充滿慾望、仇恨和迷惑的爭執之心。當他們激烈地貪圖他人的財物，爭相吞噬彼此時，將導致薄伽梵曾經傳授教法的先前時期衰退。他們將導致正法的放棄。他們將違背佛陀、法和那些無慾之人。請教導一種消除這類行為的方法，使眾生能夠強烈地趨向於覺悟。」

1.4Thus entreated, the Bhagavān declared, “King, since you make this request for the sake of the welfare of all beings, for their benefit and happiness, and in order to protect the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha, your inquiry is excellent! Excellent! Therefore, listen closely and keep this in mind! [F.302.a] I will explain.”

1.4波斯匿王如此央求後，薄伽梵宣說道：「大王，因為你是為了一切眾生的福祉、利益和安樂，為了保護佛陀、法和僧伽而做出這個請求，你的提問非常殊勝！非常殊勝！因此，你要仔細聆聽，將其銘記在心！我將為你開示。」

1.5Thereupon, the Bhagavān entered the meditative absorption called resounding everywhere . When the Bhagavān entered that meditative absorption, all hells were terminated. All those who had been filled with hatred became free from their hatred and wholly devoted to the mind of awakening.

1.5於是，佛陀進入了名為「遍響三昧」的禪定。當佛陀進入這個禪定時，所有地獄都消滅了。所有曾經充滿仇恨的眾生都擺脫了仇恨，完全投入於覺悟的心念。

1.6Then the Bhagavān asked, “Prasenajit, did you see, or hear, or understand, or realize?”

1.6薄伽梵問道："波斯匿王，你是看到了呢，還是聽到了？是理解了呢，還是覺悟了？"

“Bhagavān, I saw! Well-Gone One, I saw. I comprehended, understood, recognized, and realized!”

「薄伽梵，我見到了！善逝，我見到了。我領悟、理解、認識並實現了！」

1.7The Bhagavān said, “Prasenajit, this is the mother of all beings. She gives birth to buddhas and bodhisattvas. She is venerated, worshiped, contemplated, and cultivated by all hearers, solitary buddhas, and perfect buddhas. Taking the form of the sound of the Perfection of Insight, she nurtures all beings. She is the vanquisher of all non-Buddhists, the pacifier of angry thoughts, the subduer of sinful thoughts, the dispeller of hateful thoughts, the destroyer of deluded thoughts, and the banisher of lustful thoughts. She is the protector of the mind of awakening, the intensifier of the mind of buddhas, and the supporter for the genesis of buddhas. She is the destroyer of all fights, quarrels, strife, conflicts, miseries, and all those of bad character who contravene the monastic code. She is the pacifier of sudden illness and death and of untimely death, epidemics, and so forth. She is the subduer of foreign armies, destroyer of Māra, and dispeller of torments. She is the extender of the fortunate era, bestower of long life and freedom from disease, pacifier of the dread of death, and intensifier of freedom and prosperity. To those who hear this and rejoice, she bestows results, like a wish-fulfilling gem. The Mother, the Perfection of Insight, is present in the form of the gaṇḍī.” [F.302.b]

1.7薄伽梵說：「波斯匿王，這是一切眾生的母親。她生育佛陀和菩薩。她被一切聲聞、獨覺佛和圓滿佛所尊敬、禮拜、思惟和修習。她以般若波羅蜜的聲音形式，養育一切眾生。她是一切外道的征服者，是憤怒念頭的平息者，是罪惡念頭的降伏者，是仇恨念頭的驅散者，是迷惑念頭的摧毀者，和淫慾念頭的驅逐者。她是覺悟心的保護者，是佛陀心的增強者，以及佛陀誕生的支持者。她摧毀一切鬥爭、爭執、衝突、對立、苦難，以及一切違反戒律、品行不良的人。她是突然疾病、死亡和非時死亡、瘟疫等的平息者。她是外來軍隊的降伏者、魔的摧毀者，和折磨的驅散者。她是幸運時代的延伸者，是長壽和無病的施予者，是對死亡恐懼的平息者，和自由與繁榮的增強者。對於聽聞此法並生歡喜心的人，她如同如意寶珠一樣，施予果報。母親般若波羅蜜以犍槌的形式而住。」

1.8Having heard this, deep conviction rose in King Prasenajit, and he entreated the Bhagavān: “Bhagavān, what is the size of this gaṇḍī? What is its color? What are its specifications? How is it to be struck? By what is it to be struck? At what time, on what occasion, and for how long should it be struck? How should it be placed?”

1.8波斯匿王聽聞此言，心中生起堅定的信心，恭敬請問薄伽梵說：「薄伽梵，這個犍槌有多大？它是什麼顏色？它有什麼樣的規格？應該怎樣敲打它？用什麼來敲打它？在什麼時間、什麼場合，應該敲打多長時間？應該怎樣放置它？」

1.9Thus entreated, the Bhagavān declared:

1.9薄伽梵就這樣被恭請後，宣說道：

“As for the wood you wish to use,

「至於你想要使用的木材，」

You should investigate with great effort:

你應該用很大的努力去探究：

Sandalwood, Bengal quince, bastard teak,

檀香木、孟加拉榲桲、南洋楹，

Sacred fig, and red sandalwood tree,

聖無花果樹和紅檀香木，

“Indian walnut, palmyra, kingshuk tree,

「印度核桃、棕櫚樹、金色花樹、」

Aloe wood, false mangosteen,

沉香木、山竹

Mango, walnut, myrobalan tree,

芒果、核桃、訶子樹、

Tintisara, and aśoka.

麻風樹和無憂樹。

“If all of these are absent,

「如果這些都沒有的話，

You should try the mulberry tree.

你應該嘗試桑樹。

King, if despite your efforts

大王，如果儘管你已經盡力

None of these are present, do not make it.

這些都沒有的話，就不要製作它。

“If made without measure and from bad wood,

「如果製作時不按照規格，而且用的是劣質木材，

The sound will not emerge when struck.

被擊打時聲音不會發出。

When such a Mother of the Buddhas is struck,

當這樣的佛陀之母被敲擊時，

Harm will surely arise in the land.

害處必然會在這個國家裡產生。

“As for the monks in the temple,

「至於寺廟中的僧侶，

Their minds will thus be discordant,

他們的心念因此會變得不和諧。

They will be afflicted with disease,

他們將被疾病所折磨。

And there will be all sorts of quarrels.

將會有各種各樣的爭執。

“Non-Buddhists will be empowered

外道將獲得力量

And māras will likewise come to the fore.

魔也將同樣出現。

Due to many noxious nāgas,

由於許多有害的龍，

Crops will fail.

莊稼將會失收。

“In that kingdom many beings

在那個王國裡，許多眾生

Will be destroyed.

會被摧毀。

Temples also will be destroyed,

寺廟也將被摧毀，

And the Dharma will decline as well.

法也會衰退。

“Demonic gods will cause unruliness

「魔鬼天神會引起混亂無序

Within the saṅgha of monks.

在僧伽之中。

Thus, knowing all this well,

因此，深知一切如此，

Proceed with careful inspection.

要進行仔細的檢查。

“As for measurements: the small ends should be eight fingers.

「關於尺寸：小的兩端應該是八指寬。」

Make the main body eighty-four fingers.

將主體製作成八十四指寬。

Make it six fingers in breadth

寬度製作為六根手指

And two fingers in height.

高度為兩指。

“Using the measurements of finger joints,

「用手指關節作為測量單位，

The measure to the four corners is two fingers.

四個角落的尺寸是兩個手指寬。

The perfect balance is made very clear.

完美的平衡表現得非常清楚。

The two ends are like the head of a frog.

兩端看起來像青蛙的頭。

“After that, cut the striker

之後，切割擊打器

From the same wood block.

從同一塊木料。

Measuring twelve fingers,

量度為十二個手指寬。

It is rounded and has mongoose heads at both ends.

它是圓形的，兩端都有獴的頭部。

“The size of the handle is also like that.

「把手的大小也是這樣。」

It should be very smooth and evenly ribbed.

它應該非常光滑，並有均勻的凹槽。

Thus, it is meant to be struck.

因此，它是用來被敲擊的。

Below, make a stand for it. [F.303.a]

在下方為它製作一個座架。

“Place it above the temple gate,

「將它放在寺廟的大門上方，

Or place it above the central gate.

或者將其放在中央門的上方。

As for its consecration,

關於它的開光灑淨，

It is the very stable Dharma body.

這是非常穩定的法身。

“It is unproduced, indestructible,

「它是無生的、不可摧毀的、

And primordially unborn virtue.

且本來未生的功德。

Having been consecrated as such,

經過這樣的灌頂之後，

The gaṇḍī’s eyes are opened.

犍槌的眼睛被打開了。

“Next, having opened the gaṇḍī’s eyes,

「接著，開啟了犍槌的眼睛之後，

One must strike it to increasingly produce sound

必須敲擊它以逐漸產生聲音

Throughout the temple,

遍及整個寺院，

As if adorned by seven nāgas.

仿佛被七條龍所莊嚴。

“Thereafter, one should pay homage to the Three Jewels

其後，應當禮敬三寶

And then strike the gaṇḍī.

然後敲擊犍槌。

One should then sound the cymbal three times

接著應該鳴鐘三次

And beat the Dharma drums.

敲打法鼓。

“Cleansing the gaṇḍī with flower-petal water

「用花瓣水清淨犍槌

At mealtime, sunrise, and sunset,

在進食時、日出時和日落時，

Strike it three times at the three intervals.

在三個時段敲擊它三次。

When it is time for bathing, let it resound twice.

當到了沐浴的時間，讓它響起兩次。

“It should be struck consecutively without hesitation

應該不間斷地敲擊它，毫不猶豫。

To prevent sudden harm

為了防止突然的傷害

And likewise quarrels, disputes,

同樣地，爭執、糾紛、

Lightning, and great devastation.

閃電和巨大的破壞。

“It should be struck to invite the elders

「應當擊打以邀請長者」

And to pacify plagues and famines.

用來平息瘟疫和饑荒。

It should be struck constantly at all times

應當在所有時刻不斷敲擊。

By monks and novices.

由比丘和沙彌進行。

“During monthly purification,

「在每月的淨化儀式中，

It should be struck by laypeople as well.

它也應該由俗人敲擊。

All its qualities being complete,

具足一切功德，

It should be adorned by seven nāgas.

應當由七條龍所莊嚴。

“O King, when throughout the land

「大王啊，當整個國家

That gaṇḍī resounds,

那犍槌發出聲響，

The year will be good there,

那一年將在那裡是豐收的，

With splendor, fame, and all desirable things.

具有光輝、名聲和一切令人渴望的事物。

“There will be no fear of foreign armies,

「不會有外敵軍隊的恐懼，

And the crops will never fail.

而且莊稼永遠不會歉收。

With the wealth of the Buddha’s blessings,

具足佛陀祝福的福澤，

Māras will be tamed there.

魔將在那裡被調伏。

“The Dharma drum will thunder everywhere,

「法鼓將在四處鳴響，

Right up to the summit of existence.

直到存在的最高峰。

The worlds of hell and pretas

地獄和餓鬼的世界

Will undoubtedly be destroyed.

必將被摧毀。

“Everyone will have enduring conviction in the Buddha,

「每個人都將對佛陀產生堅定不移的信心，」

And everyone will be devoted to the Dharma.

而且每個人都將專心奉持法。

There, the saṅgha will be disciplined,

在那裡，僧伽將會紀律嚴明。

And the wise will flourish as well.

智者也將興盛。

“Lust, hate, and delusion

「貪欲、瞋恨和愚癡

Will subside there.

將在那裡消退。

The king will live long and uphold the Dharma,

國王將長壽，並奉持於法。

And he will have every happiness.

他會擁有一切快樂。

“O King, in every temple,

「大王啊，在每一座寺廟裡，

When beating the Dharma drum,

敲打法鼓時，

Its sound will be renowned

它的聲音將會聞名遠播

In the pathways of peoples’ ears;

在人民的耳朵的通道中；

“Those who hear it four times a day

「那些每日四次聽聞它的人

Will attain spiritual awakening. [F.303.b]

將獲得靈性覺悟。[F.303.b]

Those who rejoice from the heart

那些從心底歡喜的人

Will undoubtedly be free.

必定得到解脫。

“Hearing just once The Gaṇḍī Sūtra,

「僅僅聽聞一次《犍槌經》，

One will remember one’s former lives.

一個人將會記憶起自己前世的生活。

Where this best among sūtras is present,

凡是有這部最殊勝的經典所在之處，

That land will be prosperous.

該地將會繁榮昌盛。

“Those who observe it at all times,

「那些始終遵守它的人，」

Read it aloud, worship it,

誦讀它，禮敬它，

And keep it in mind

並牢記在心

Will be freed from evil.”

將得到解脫，免於邪惡。

1.38When the Bhagavān had said this, King Prasenajit paid his respects to the Bhagavān repeatedly and then departed. When the Bhagavān had spoken these words, the entire assembly, along with the world with its gods, humans, asuras, garuḍas, and gandharvas, rejoiced and praised what the Bhagavān had said.

1.38薄伽梵說完這些話後，波斯匿王多次向薄伽梵頂禮，隨後離開了。薄伽梵說出這些話語時，整個集會以及包括天神、人類、阿修羅、迦樓羅和乾闥婆在內的世界眾生，都歡喜雀躍，讚歎薄伽梵所說的話。

1.39This completes “The Gaṇḍī Sūtra.”

1.39（結尾）