Exhortation
勸誡
25.1Monks, while the Thus-Gone One was seated at the foot of the Bodhi tree, in the privacy of solitude after he had first attained perfect and complete awakening, he had the following thought about the conventions of the world: [F.187.b]
25.1比丘們，如來在菩提樹下坐著，在初次證得無上菩提後，獨自在寂靜處，他對世間的習慣約定生起了這樣的思惟：
25.2“Alas! This truth that I realized and awakened to is profound, peaceful, tranquil, calm, complete, hard to see, hard to comprehend, and impossible to conceptualize since it is inaccessible to the intellect. Only wise noble ones and adepts can understand it. It is the complete and definitive apprehension of the abandonment of all aggregates, the end of all sensations, the absolute truth, and freedom from a foundation. It is a state of complete peace, free of clinging, free of grasping, unobserved, undemonstrable, uncompounded, beyond the six sense fields, inconceivable, unimaginable, and ineffable. It is indescribable, inexpressible, and incapable of being illustrated. It is unobstructed, beyond all references, a state of interruption through the path of tranquility, and imperceptible like emptiness. It is the exhaustion of craving and it is cessation free of desire. It is nirvāṇa. If I were to teach this truth to others, they would not understand it. Teaching the truth would tire me out and be wrongly contested, and it would be futile. Thus I will remain silent and keep this truth in my heart.”
25.2「唉呀！我所證悟覺悟的這個真諦是深奧的、寂靜的、安樂的、清涼的、圓滿的，難以看見、難以理解，因為它超越了理性思維的範圍，是不可思議的。只有智慧的聖者和成就者才能領悟它。它是對所有蘊的完全捨棄的圓滿認識，是所有觸受的終結，是絕對的真理，是無有根本的解脫。它是完全寂靜的狀態，遠離執著，遠離執取，不被觀察，無法證示，無為的，超越六入的，不可思議的，無法想像的，不可言說的。它是難以描述的、不可表達的、無法被比喻說明的。它是無障礙的、超越一切指稱的、是通過止的道路而達到的間斷狀態，如同空性一樣難以察知。它是渴愛的窮盡，它是遠離貪欲的涅槃。它就是涅槃。如果我將這個真諦教導他人，他們將無法理解它。教導真諦會使我疲憊，會遭到錯誤的反駁，將無有結果。因此，我將保持沉默，將這個真諦銘記在心。」
25.3At that time he uttered these verses: [393]
25.3那時他誦出了這些偈頌：
25.11Monks, at that time the Thus-Gone One radiated light from the center of his forehead, which illuminated the entire trichiliocosm with its brilliance. Then, by means of the Buddha’s power, Great Top-Knotted Brahmā, lord of the trichiliocosm, became aware of the Thus-Gone One’s notion. [394] Having understood that the Blessed One was set on keeping the Dharma to himself without teaching it, he thought, “I will most certainly approach and solicit the Thus-Gone One to turn the wheel of Dharma!”
25.11比丘們，當時如來從眉心放射出光芒，這光芒的光輝照亮了整個三千大千世界。然後，藉著佛的力量，三千大千世界的主人、大髻梵天變得知曉了如來的想法。他理解了世尊決定將法保留給自己而不教導的意圖，他心想：「我一定會去接近如來，懇請如來轉法輪！」
25.12So right then Great Top-Knotted Brahmā addressed the other gods of the Brahma realms: “Friends! Even though the Thus-Gone One has awakened to unsurpassable, perfect and complete buddhahood, he is set on keeping the Dharma to himself without teaching it. Alas! This world is doomed! Alas, O friends, this world is really doomed! Thus we must surely go and solicit the worthy one, the perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One, to turn the wheel of Dharma.”
25.12於是大髻梵天對梵天界的其他天神說道：「諸位朋友！如來雖然已經覺悟到無上正等覺，卻打算將法保留給自己，不傳授給眾生。唉呀！這個世界就要滅亡了！唉呀，各位朋友，這個世界真的就要滅亡了！因此我們一定要一起去懇請應供的、究竟圓滿覺悟的如來轉動法輪。」
25.13Monks, then the Great Top-Knotted Brahmā, surrounded and escorted by six million eight hundred thousand Brahmās, [F.188.b] went to the Thus-Gone One. When he arrived, he bowed his head to the feet of the Thus-Gone One, and with palms joined, said to him, “Thus-Gone One, even having awakened to unexcelled, perfect, and complete awakening, you are bent on keeping the Dharma to yourself without teaching it. Alas, Blessed One! This world is doomed! Alas, Blessed One, this world is really doomed! There are intelligent beings of good disposition with the potential, fortune, and ability to comprehend the meaning of what the Blessed One says. Such being the case, O Blessed One, please eloquently teach the Dharma! Please, O Well-Gone One, teach the Dharma!”
25.13比丘們，當時大梵天王帶著六百八十萬梵天圍繞護衛，來到如來面前。抵達後，他向如來的雙足頂禮，雙掌合十，對如來說道：「如來啊，雖然您已經覺悟到無上正等覺，卻執著於把法保留給自己而不去教導。唉呀，世尊啊！這個世界完蛋了！唉呀，世尊啊，這個世界真的完蛋了！有許多聰慧、品德良好的眾生，具備理解世尊所說法義的潛力、福報和能力。既然如此，世尊啊，請您用適當的方式來教導法吧！懇請您，善逝啊，請教導法吧！」
25.14Then Brahmā spoke these verses:
25.14之後梵天說出了這些偈頌：
25.22Monks, in order to show kindness to the world of gods, humans, and nonhumans, the Thus-Gone One looked upon this world with compassion and silently acquiesced to Great Top-Knotted Brahmā. Indeed, once Great Top-Knotted Brahmā understood that this Thus-Gone One had silently acquiesced, he anointed the Thus-Gone One with divine sandalwood powder and divine aloeswood powder, became joyful and ecstatic, and then vanished that very instant.
25.22比丘們，為了對天神、人類和非人等世界展現慈悲，如來用慈悲心觀察這個世界，默然同意了大梵天王。確實，當大梵天王知道如來已經默然同意時，他用天界的檀香粉和天界的沉香粉為如來塗抹，心生歡喜和狂喜，隨即消失無蹤。
25.23Monks, in order to engender respect for the Dharma in the world, in order to increase the root of virtue by having Great Top-Knotted Brahmā repeatedly request the Dharma, and because the Dharma is exceedingly profound, the Thus-Gone One once again went into the privacy of solitude and had the following thought:
25.23比丘們，為了在世界中對法生起恭敬心，為了通過梵天大髻神多次請法而增長德行的根本，以及因為法極其深奧，如來再次進入寂靜的隱處，心中這樣思考：
“This truth to which I awakened is profound, subtle, luminous, hard to comprehend, inconceivable, and beyond the intellect. Understood only by the clever and the wise, it is out of step with all worldly people and difficult to see. It is the abandonment of all aggregates, the cessation of all formations, a state of interruption through the path of tranquility, and imperceptible like emptiness. It is the exhaustion of craving, and [396] it is cessation free of desire. It is nirvāṇa. [F.189.b] If I were to teach this truth, and if others did not comprehend it, this would be harmful to me. Thus I will most certainly continue to keep it to myself.”
「我所證悟的真諦深奧、細微、光明，難以理解，超越思議，超越智力。只有聰慧和智慧的人才能理解，與所有世俗人的認知不相符，難以見到。它是對所有蘊的遠離，是所有行的涅槃，是通過止的道路而得到的中斷狀態，如空性一樣難以察覺。它是對渴愛的窮盡，是無貪的涅槃。這就是涅槃。如果我教導這個真諦，而他人不能理解它，這對我會有害。因此我一定會將它保留在自己心裡。」
25.24Monks, by the power of the Buddha, Great Top-Knotted Brahmā once again became aware of this thought of the Thus-Gone One, and he went to see Śakra, lord of the gods.
25.24比丘們，由於佛的力量，大髻梵天再次察覺到了如來的這個想法，他去見釋提桓因，眾天神之主。
When he arrived, he told Śakra, lord of the gods, “Understand, Kauśika, that the venerable, perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One is bent on not teaching the Dharma and thus keeping it to himself! And since the worthy one, the perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One, is bent on not teaching the Dharma and thus keeping it to himself, alas, O Kauśika, this world is doomed! Alas, O Kauśika, this world is really doomed! Alas, this world will be plunged into the great darkness of ignorance! Why don’t we then go and request that the worthy one, the perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One, turn the wheel of Dharma? Because the thus-gone ones do not turn the wheel of Dharma without being requested!”
當他到達時，他告訴天神之主釋提桓因說：「卡烏希卡，你要明白，尊貴的、圓滿究竟覺悟的如來打算不傳法，因此要把它藏著不說！既然應供、圓滿究竟覺悟的如來打算不傳法，因此要把它藏著不說，唉呀，卡烏希卡啊，這個世界就完蛋了！唉呀，卡烏希卡啊，這個世界真的完蛋了！唉呀，這個世界將陷入無明的大黑暗中！為什麼我們不去請求應供、圓滿究竟覺悟的如來轉法輪呢？因為如來如果沒有被請求，是不會轉法輪的！」
“Very well, my friend!” responded Śakra.
「好的，我的朋友！」釋提桓因回應說。
25.25And so when the night had passed, Śakra, Brahmā, the earth gods, the sky gods, and the gods of the Heaven of the Four Great Kings, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, the Heaven Free from Strife, the Heaven of Joy, the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations, the Heaven of Making Use of Others’ Emanations, the Brahma Realm, the Luminous Heaven, the Heaven of Great Fruition, the Heaven of Perfected Virtue, and the pure realms—many hundreds of thousands of divinities of beautiful appearances—illuminated the area surrounding the tree of liberation with their divine beauty and their divine luminosity, and approached the Thus-Gone One. They bowed their heads to the feet of the Thus-Gone One, circumambulated him, and stood to one side. [F.190.a] Then Śakra, lord of the gods, bowed down with palms joined in the direction of the Thus-Gone One and praised him in verse: [397]
25.25夜晚過去後，釋提桓因、梵天、地神、天神，以及四天王天、忉利天、兜率天、喜樂天、化樂天、他化自在天、梵天、光音天、廣果天、無想天的天神，以及淨土的天神——許許多多相貌莊嚴的天神，用他們天界的光輝和天界的光芒照亮了解脫樹周圍的地域，一起來到如來面前。他們向如來的足下頂禮，右繞如來，然後站到一旁。釋提桓因，天神之主，向如來恭敬禮拜，合掌讚頌如來，說出了偈頌。
But at these words the Thus-Gone One remained silent. Then Great Top-Knotted Brahmā said to Śakra, lord of the gods, “O Kauśika, venerable, perfectly and completely awakened thus-gone ones are not requested to turn the wheel of Dharma the way you requested it.”
但是聽到這些話，如來保持沉默。於是大梵天王對天神之主釋提桓因說：「卡烏希卡啊，尊者，完全覺悟的如來並不是按照你所請求的方式而被請轉法輪的。」
25.27So Great Top-Knotted Brahmā draped his robe on one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, and bowing down to the Thus-Gone One with palms joined, spoke this verse to him:
25.27於是大梵天王脫下一肩衣袍，右膝跪地，雙手合掌向如來頂禮，並向他誦此偈言：
25.28Monks, at these words the Thus-Gone One repeated to Great Top-Knotted Brahmā, “O great Brahmā, this truth to which I awakened is profound, subtle, luminous, hard to comprehend, inconceivable, and beyond the intellect. Understood only by the clever and the wise, it is out of step with all worldly people and difficult to see. It is the abandonment of all aggregates, the cessation of all formations, a state of interruption through the path of tranquility, and imperceptible like emptiness. It is the exhaustion of craving, and it is cessation free of desire. It is nirvāṇa. If I were to teach this truth, and if others did not comprehend it, this would be harmful to me. And these verses, O Brahmā, are my reply to you, time and again:
25.28比丘們，在這些話之際，如來向大髻梵天重複說道："大梵天啊，我所證悟的這個真諦是深奧的、微妙的、光明的、難以理解的、不可思議的，超越了理智。只有聰慧和智慧的人才能了解，它與所有世間人不相合，很難被看見。它是對所有蘊的捨棄，是對所有行的涅槃，是通過止的道路而來的中斷狀態，像空性一樣難以察覺。它是對渴愛的窮盡，它是沒有貪欲的涅槃。這就是涅槃。如果我要教導這個真諦，而別人不能理解它，這對我會有傷害。大梵天啊，這些詩句是我對你的回答，一次又一次的：
25.31Monks, when Great Top-Knotted Brahmā and Śakra, lord of the gods, [F.190.b] understood that the Thus-Gone One would remain silent, these two great beings and their retinue of gods, saddened and dejected, disappeared then and there. And so the Thus-Gone One had thrice made up his mind to remain disinterested. [398]
25.31比丘們，當大梵天和釋提桓因天神之主瞭解到如來將保持沉默時，這兩位大士及其天神眷屬悲傷沮喪，當即消失不見了。就這樣，如來三次決定保持不關心的態度。
25.32Monks, at that time all sorts of negative, inauspicious opinions started to circulate among the people of Magadha. Some said that winds would no longer blow, and some that fires would no longer burn. Some said that rains would no longer fall, some that rivers would no longer flow, and some that crops would no longer grow. Some said that birds would no longer fly in the sky, and some that pregnant women would no longer give birth safely.
25.32比丘們，那時候在摩揭陀國的人民當中開始流傳各種負面、不吉祥的言論。有人說風將不再吹拂，有人說火將不再燃燒。有人說雨將不再降落，有人說河流將不再流動，有人說莊稼將不再生長。有人說鳥將不再在天空中飛翔，有人說懷孕的女人將不再安全生產。
25.33Monks, the Great Top-Knotted Brahmā knew the nature of the Thus-Gone One’s thoughts, and he was aware of the opinions among the people of Magadha. So, at the close of night, he illuminated the entire area surrounding the tree of liberation with divine light beautiful in color, and he approached the Thus-Gone One. When he arrived, he bowed his head to the feet of the Thus-Gone One, draped his robe on one shoulder, knelt down on his right knee, and bending forward with palms joined, spoke in verse to the Thus-Gone One:
25.33比丘們，大髻梵天知道如來心念的本質，也瞭解摩揭陀國人民中流傳的看法。於是在夜晚將盡之時，他用天界的光芒照亮解脫樹周圍的整個區域，光色美妙，然後來到如來面前。他到達後，向如來的雙足頂禮，將袈裟搭在一肩，跪在右膝，身體向前傾，雙掌合十，用偈頌向如來說道：
25.47Monks, the Thus-Gone One then looked throughout the entire world with his awakened eye and saw sentient beings that were base, [F.191.b] mediocre, and advanced; those that were high, low, and middling; those of good disposition and [400] easy to purify, those of bad disposition and difficult to purify; those that can understand through just a cursory statement, and those for whom the words are paramount and who rely on a detailed explanation for their understanding. He thus saw that sentient beings were grouped into three categories: one that was sure to be wrong, one that was sure to be correct, and one was undetermined. Monks, just as when a person standing on the bank of a lotus pond sees some lotuses submerged in the water, some lotuses at water level, and some lotuses above the water, this was how the Thus-Gone One saw sentient beings situated in three groups when he looked throughout the whole world with his awakened eye.
25.47比丘們，如來用佛眼遍觀整個世界，看到眾生有下劣的、中等的、殊勝的；有高的、低的、中等的；有善根深厚、容易清淨的，有善根淺薄、難以清淨的；有能通過簡略說法就理解的，有需要詳細解釋才能理解的。他因此看到眾生分為三類：一類必然錯誤，一類必然正確，一類則未定。比丘們，就像一個人站在蓮池的岸邊，看到有些蓮花沉沒在水下，有些蓮花與水面齊平，有些蓮花高出水面，如來用佛眼遍觀整個世界時，就是這樣看到眾生分成三個群體的。
25.48Monks, the Thus-Gone One thought, “Whether I teach the Dharma or not, this group that is sure to be wrong will not understand the Dharma. And whether I teach the Dharma or not, this group that is sure to be correct will understand the Dharma. Yet the group that is undetermined will understand the Dharma if I teach it, but will not understand the Dharma if I do not teach it.”
25.48比丘們，如來思想：「無論我是否傳授法，這確定會犯錯的一群眾生都不會理解法。無論我是否傳授法，這確定會正確的一群眾生都會理解法。但這不確定的一群眾生，如果我傳授法，他們就會理解法；如果我不傳授法，他們就不會理解法。」
Monks, the Thus-Gone One then engendered great compassion, starting with the sentient beings situated in the undetermined group. Monks, from the perspective of his own perfect wisdom, the Thus-Gone One then understood the request made by Great Top-Knotted Brahmā and thus spoke to him with this verse:
比丘們，如來於是發起大悲心，首先針對處於未定根性的眾生。比丘們，如來從自己究竟圓滿的智慧出發，於是領悟了大髻梵天所提出的請求，因此以偈頌回答他說：
Once Great Top-Knotted Brahmā understood that the Thus-Gone One had acquiesced, he rejoiced with satisfaction and glee. [F.192.a] Ecstatic and elated, he bowed with his head to the feet of the Thus-Gone One and vanished right there. [401]
大梵天主一旦明白如來已經同意，就欣喜滿足，歡欣鼓舞。他狂喜踴躍，以頭頂禮如來的足，隨即在那裡隱沒不見。
25.50Monks, on that occasion the earth gods then proclaimed and announced to the gods of the atmosphere:
25.50比丘們，在那個時刻，地神隨後向大氣中的天神宣佈和宣告：
“Friends, today the venerable, perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One has acquiesced to turn the wheel of Dharma. He will do this to benefit many beings, to bring happiness to many beings, to compassionately care for the world, for the welfare, betterment, and happiness of gods, humans, and the majority of beings. Listen, friends! The demigod realms will be reduced. The god realms will be filled. And many sentient beings in the world will reach complete nirvāṇa!”
「諸友，今日尊者、圓滿究竟覺悟的如來已經同意轉法輪。他將這樣做是為了利益眾多有情，為了給眾多有情帶來幸福，為了以慈悲之心照顧世界，為了天神、人類和大多數有情的福祉、改善和幸福。請聽著，諸友！阿修羅的領域將會減少。天神的領域將會充滿。世界上許多有情將會達到完全的涅槃！」
25.51Once the gods of the atmosphere heard this from the earth gods, they announced it to the gods in the Heaven of the Four Great Kings. The gods in the Heaven of the Four Great Kings told those in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. The gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three told those in the Heaven Free from Strife. The gods in the Heaven Free from Strife told those in the Heaven of Joy and the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations. The gods in the Heaven of Joy and the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations told those in the Heaven of Making Use of Others’ Emanations. Finally they announced and proclaimed this to the gods of the Brahmā realms:
25.51大氣天神聽到地神這樣宣說後，就向四天王天的天神宣告。四天王天的天神告訴忉利天的天神。忉利天的天神告訴兜率天的天神。兜率天的天神告訴喜樂天和化樂天的天神。喜樂天和化樂天的天神告訴他化自在天的天神。最後他們向梵天界的天神宣告和宣揚了這個消息：
25.52“Today, O friends, the venerable, perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One has acquiesced to turn the wheel of Dharma. He will do this to benefit many beings, to bring happiness to many beings, to compassionately care for the world, for the welfare, betterment, and happiness of gods, humans, and the majority of beings. Listen, friends! The demigod realms will be reduced. The god realms will be filled. And many sentient beings in the world will reach complete nirvāṇa!”
25.52「今日，諸友啊！尊者、圓滿究竟覺醒的如來已經答應轉法輪。他這樣做是為了利益眾多的有情，為了給眾多的有情帶來幸福，為了慈悲地照護世界，為了天神、人類和大多數有情的福祉、改善與幸福。請聽著，諸友啊！阿修羅的境界將會減少。天神的境界將會充滿。而世間許多的有情將會達到究竟涅槃！」
25.53Monks, then simultaneously all of them, beginning with the earth gods all the way up to the gods of the Brahma realm, announced in unison the same proclamation as before: “Today, O friends, the venerable, perfectly and completely awakened Thus-Gone One has consented to turn the wheel of Dharma. He will do this to benefit many beings, to bring happiness to many beings, to care compassionately for the world, for the welfare, betterment, and happiness of gods, humans, and the majority of beings. Listen, friends! The demigod realms will be reduced. The god realms will be filled. And many sentient beings in the world will reach complete nirvāṇa!” [F.192.b]
25.53比丘們，那時從地神開始一直到梵天界的所有天神，同時一起宣布與之前相同的宣言：「朋友們，今天尊敬的、圓滿而究竟覺醒的如來已經同意轉法輪。他這樣做是為了利益許多眾生，為了給許多眾生帶來幸福，為了慈悲地照顧世界，為了天神、人類以及大多數眾生的福祉、進步和幸福。朋友們，請聽！阿修羅界將會縮減。天神界將會充滿。世界中許多有情眾生將達到究竟涅槃！」
25.54Monks, then the four gods of the Bodhi tree named Dharmaruci, Dharmakāma, Dharmamati, and Dharmacārin [402] fell to the feet of the Thus-Gone One and asked, “Where will the Blessed One turn the wheel of Dharma?”
25.54諸比丘，那時菩提樹的四位天神，名叫法喜、法愛、法慧和法行天，俯伏在如來的腳下，請問道：「世尊將在何處轉法輪？」
Monks, to their question the Thus-Gone One replied, “At the Deer Park by the Hill of the Fallen Sages, outside of Vārāṇasī.”
比丘們，如來對他們的提問回答道：「在波羅奈外，仙人墮落山邊的鹿野苑。」
They said, “O Blessed One, the city of Vārāṇasī has merely a limited population, and the Deer Park has only a limited amount of tree shade. There are other big cities, O Blessed One, that are wealthy, flourishing, secure, and pleasant, with abundant provisions, teeming with many people and creatures, and adorned with gardens, forests, and mountains. May the Blessed One please turn the wheel of Dharma in one of these other places!”
他們說：「世尊啊，波羅奈城只有有限的人口，鹿野苑也只有有限的樹蔭。世尊啊，還有其他許多大城市，它們繁榮昌盛、安寧美好、物資充足，人類和眾生眾多，還裝飾著園林、森林和山峰。祈請世尊在這些其他地方轉法輪吧！」
25.55But the Thus-Gone One replied:
25.55但如來回答說：
25.58This concludes the twenty-fifth chapter, on exhortation. [B17]
25.58（結尾）