The Translation
1.1Homage to the Three Jewels!
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was dwelling on the bank of Traveler’s Pond in the country of Campā. At that time, the entire moon was covered by Rāhu, lord of the asuras. Then the god who dwells on the disk of the moon, frightened, terrified, and dismayed, approached the Blessed One, bowed his head to the Blessed One’s feet, and sat to one side. He then appealed to him in verse:
我這樣聽說過：有一次，薄伽梵住在瞻波國旅人池的河岸上。當時，整個月亮被阿修羅之主羅睺所遮蔽。那位住在月輪上的天神感到驚恐、恐懼和沮喪，於是走近薄伽梵，向薄伽梵的雙足頂禮，然後坐在一旁。他用詩偈向薄伽梵祈求說：
“I pay homage to you,「我向您禮敬，
Thoroughly liberated, heroic Buddha!完全解脫的英勇佛陀！
I am in distress.我正處於痛苦之中。
Please grant me refuge!請賜予我皈依！
“Candramas took refuge月天皈依
In the Worthy One in the world, the Well-Gone One.在世間的阿羅漢、善逝身上。
Therefore, free the moon from Rāhu!因此，請將月天從羅睺那裡解救出來！
Buddhas have compassion for the world.”佛陀對世間有慈悲心。
“Rāhu! The moon dispels darkness.「羅睺！月亮驅散黑暗。
Illuminating the sky,照亮天空，
It is radiant, [F.260.a]它閃耀光芒，
Shining with white and pristine light.散發著潔白純淨的光芒。
Instead of seizing it in the sky,不要在天空中抓取它，
Instantly release the lamp of beings!”立刻放開眾生之光！
Then Rāhu, in a hurry,然後羅睺匆匆忙忙地，
Covered in sweat, agitated,滿身大汗，心煩意亂，
And confused like a sick person,心裡亂成一團，如同患病的人一般，
1.7When the great son of Virocana saw that Rāhu, lord of the asuras, had very swiftly released the moon, he asked him in verse:
1.7當毘樓遮那的大兒子看到阿修羅之王羅睺迅速放開了月亮，他用偈頌問他道：
“Why did you, Rāhu,「你為什麼，羅睺，
Covered in sweat, agitated,滿身是汗，驚慌失措，
And confused like a sick person,心裡迷亂得像一個患病的人，
Hurriedly release the moon?”急急忙忙地放開月亮？
“As the Buddha uttered that verse,「當佛陀念誦那首偈文時，
If I had not released the moon,如果我沒有釋放月亮，
My head would have split into seven pieces,我的頭會裂成七塊，
And even while alive I would not find happiness.”即使活著的時候，我也不會得到喜樂。」
1.11The great son of Virocana exclaimed:
“Oh wonder! Amazing is the emergence of buddhas,「哎呀！佛陀的出現是多麼奇妙和令人驚嘆啊！
If they utter a verse,如果他們誦唸一首偈頌，
Rāhu will free the moon.”羅睺會放開月亮。
1.13This concludes “The Sūtra of the Moon.”
