- 聞如是：
一時，佛在羅閱城耆闍崛山中，與大比丘眾五百人俱。
Thus have I heard: At one time, Budha was staying on Mount Gridhra–kuuta in Raajagriha, accompanied by a great assembly of five hundred bhikshus.
2. 爾時，尊者婆拘盧在一山曲，補納故衣。
是時，釋提桓因遙見尊者婆拘盧在一山曲補納故衣，見已，便作是念：「此尊者婆拘盧已成阿羅漢，諸縛已解，長壽無量，恒自降伏，思惟非常、苦、空、非身，不著世事，亦復不與他人說法，寂默自修如外道異學。
不審此尊能與他說法？
為不堪任乎？
我今當與試之。」
At that time, the venerable Bakula was in a mountain valley, mending his old robes. From afar, Shakra, the lord of the devas, saw the venerable Bakula in the mountain valley mending his robes.
Seeing this, he thought, “This venerable Bakula has become an Arhant, freed from all bonds, with immeasurable life span. He constantly subdues himself, contemplating impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and selflessness. He is unattached to worldly affairs and does not teach others, remaining silent and cultivating himself like non-Buddha’s shramanas. I wonder if this venerable one is capable of teaching others or not. I shall test him.”
3. 爾時，天帝釋便從三十三天沒不現，來至耆闍崛山，在尊者婆拘盧前住，頭面禮足，在一面立。
爾時，釋提桓因便說此偈：
「智者所歎說， 何故不說法？
壞結成聖行， 何為寂然住？」
Then, Shakra, the lord of the devas, disappeared from the Trayastrimsha Heaven (Heaven of the Thirty-Three) and reappeared on Mount Gridhra–kuuta. He stood before the venerable Bakula, bowed his head at his feet, and stood to one side. Shakra then spoke this verse:
“Praised by the wise, why do you not teach? Having destroyed the fetters and attained the noble path, why do you remain silent?”
4. 爾時，尊者婆拘盧復以此偈，報釋提桓因曰：
「有佛舍利弗， 阿難均頭槃，
亦及諸尊長， 善能說妙法。」
At that time, the venerable Bakula replied to Shakra with this verse:
“There are the Budha, Shaariputra,
Aananda, and Kondanna,
As well as other elders,
Who are skilled in teaching the wonderful Dharma.”
5. 爾時，釋提桓因白尊者婆拘盧曰：
「眾生之根有若干種，然尊當知，世尊亦說眾生種類，多於地土，何故尊者婆拘盧不與他人說法？」
Shakra then said to the venerable Bakula,
“The faculties of beings are of many kinds. You should know, venerable One, that Bhagavaan has also said that the varieties of beings are more numerous than the grains of soil.
Why, then, does the venerable Bakula not teach others?”
6. 婆拘盧報曰：
「眾生之類難可覺知，世界若干，國土不同，皆著我所、非我所。
我今觀察此義已，故不與人說法。」
Bakula replied, “The nature of beings is difficult to discern. The worlds are many, and the lands are different. All beings are attached to ‘mine’ and ‘not mine.’ Having contemplated this, I do not teach others.”
7. 釋提桓因曰：
「願尊與我說我所、非我所之義。」
Shakra said, “May the venerable one explain to me the meaning of ‘mine’ and ‘not mine.’”
8. 尊者婆拘盧曰：
「我人壽命，若男、若女士夫之類，盡依此命而得存在。
然復，拘翼！
世尊亦說：『比丘當知，當自熾然，無起邪法，亦當賢聖默然。』
我觀此義已，故默然耳。」
The venerable Bakula said, “The life span of beings, whether male, female, or of any other kind, depends on this life for their existence. Moreover, Kaushika, Bhagavaan has said, ‘Bhikshus, you should know that you should be diligent, not give rise to wrong teachings, and practice noble silence.’ Having contemplated this, I remain silent.”
9. 是時，釋提桓因遙向世尊叉手，便說此偈：
「歸命十力尊， 圓光無塵翳，
普為一切人， 此者甚奇特。」
At that time, Shakra, facing Bhagavaan from afar, joined his palms and spoke this verse:
“I pay homage to the One of Ten Powers,
Whose perfect light is free from dust and obscuration.
He universally benefits all beings—
This is truly extraordinary!”
10. 尊者婆拘盧報曰：
「何故帝釋而作是說：
『此者甚奇特』？」
The venerable Bakula asked, “Why does Shakra say, ‘This is truly extraordinary’?”
11. 釋提桓因報言：
「自念我昔至世尊所，到已，禮世尊足，而問此義：
『天、人之類有何想念？』
爾時，世尊告我曰：
『此世界若干種，各各殊異，根原不同。』
我聞此語已，尋對曰：
『如是，世尊所說世界若干種，各各不同，設與彼眾生說法，咸共受持有成果者。』
我以此故說：
『此者甚奇特！』
然尊者婆拘盧所說，亦復如是。
世界若干種，各各不同。」
Shakra replied, “I recall that in the past, I went to Bhagavaan, bowed at his feet, and asked him, ‘What are the thoughts of gods and humans?’
At that time, Bhagavaan told me, ‘The worlds are of many kinds, each distinct, with different origins.’ Hearing this, I replied, ‘Indeed, Bhagavaan, the worlds are of many kinds, each distinct. If one teaches those beings, they will all receive and uphold the teachings, and some will attain results.’
For this reason, I said, ‘This is truly extraordinary!’ What the venerable Bakula has said is also like this: the worlds are of many kinds, each distinct.”
12. 是時，釋提桓因便作是念：
「此尊堪任與人說法，非為不能。」
是時，釋提桓因即從坐起而去。
At that time, Shakra thought, “This venerable one is capable of teaching others; it is not that he cannot.” Then, Shakra rose from his seat and departed.
13. 爾時，釋提桓因聞尊者婆拘盧所說，歡喜奉行。
At that time, Shakra, having heard the venerable Bakula’s words, followed it with joy.