- 聞如是：
一時，佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。
Thus have I heard:
One time, the Budha was staying at Anaathapindidas Ashrama in Jetavana of Shraavastii.
2. 爾時，瞿波離比丘至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。爾時，彼比丘白世尊曰：「此舍利弗、目揵連比丘所行甚惡，造諸惡行。」
At that time, the Bhikshu Kokaalika went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side. He said to Budha, “The bhikshus Shaariputra and Maudgal-yaayana engage in very evil conduct and commit wicked deeds.”
3. 世尊告曰：「勿作是語。汝發歡喜心於如來所，舍利弗、目揵連比丘所行純善，無有諸惡。」
Budha said, “Do not speak like this. You should generate joy in the Tathaagata. The bhikshus Shaariputra and Maudgal-yaayana engage in pure conduct and have no evil deeds.”
4. 是時，瞿波離比丘再三白世尊曰：「如來所說誠無虛妄；然舍利弗、目揵連比丘所行甚惡，無有善本。」
At that time, Kokaalika repeatedly said to Budha, “The Tathaagata’s words are true and not false, but the bhikshus Shaariputra and Maudgal-yaayana engage in very evil conduct and have no good roots.”
5. 世尊告曰：「汝是愚人，不信如來之所說乎？方言：『舍利弗、目揵連比丘所行甚惡。』汝今造此惡行，後受報不久。」
Budha said, “You are a fool. Do you not believe the Tathaagata’s words? You say, ‘The bhikshus Shaariputra and Maudgal-yaayana engage in very evil conduct.’ Now you have committed this evil deed, and you will soon experience its retribution.”
6. 爾時，彼比丘即於坐上，身生惡瘡，大如芥子，轉如大豆，漸如阿摩勒果，稍如胡桃，遂如合掌，膿血流逸，身壞命終，生蓮華地獄中。
At that time, while still seated, the bhikshu’s body broke out in terrible sores, first the size of mustard seeds, then like soybeans, gradually like aamalaka fruits, then like walnuts, and finally like the size of a clasped hand. Pus and blood flowed out, his body decayed, and he died, being reborn in the Padma Hell.
7. 是時，尊者大目揵連聞瞿波離命終，便至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。斯須退坐，白世尊曰：「瞿波離比丘為生何處？」
At that time, the Venerable Maha-Maudgal-yaayana heard that Kokaalika had died. He went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side. After a moment, he rose and said to Budha, “Where has the bhikshu Kokaalika been reborn?”
8. 世尊告曰：「彼命終者生蓮華地獄中。」
Budha said, “He has been reborn in the Padma Hell.”
9. 是時，目連白世尊曰：「我今欲往至彼地獄，教化彼人。」
Maudgal-yaayana said to Budha, “I now wish to go to that hell and teach that person.”
10. 世尊告曰：「目連！不須往彼。」
Budha said, “Maudgal-yaayana, there is no need to go there.”
11. 目連復重白世尊曰：「欲往至彼地獄中，教化彼人。」
Maudgal-yaayana again said to Budha, “I wish to go to that hell and teach that person.”
12. 爾時，世尊亦默然不對。
At that time, Budha remained silent and did not respond.
13. 是時，尊者大目揵連如力士屈申臂頃，從舍衛沒不現，便至蓮華大地獄中。當爾時，瞿波離比丘身體火然，又有百頭牛，以犁其舌。
At that time, the Venerable Maha-Maudgal-yaayana, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, disappeared from Shraavastii and appeared in the great Padma Hell. At that time, Kokaalika’s body was burning, and a hundred oxen were plowing his tongue.
14. 爾時，尊者大目揵連在虛空中結跏趺坐，彈指告彼比丘。
At that time, the Venerable Maha-Maudgal-yaayana sat cross-legged in the air, snapped his fingers, and addressed that bhikshu.
15. 彼比丘即仰問曰：「汝是何人？」
The bhikshu looked up and asked, “Who are you?”
16. 目揵連報曰：「瞿波離！我是釋迦文佛弟子，字目揵連，姓拘利陀。」
Maudgal-yaayana replied, “Kokaalika, I am a disciple of Shaakyamuni Budha, named Maudgal-yaayana, of the Kolita clan.”
17. 是時，比丘見目連已，吐此惡言：「我今墮此惡趣，猶不免汝前乎？」說此語訖，即其時以有千頭牛以犁其舌。
At that time, the bhikshu, seeing Maudgal-yaayana, spoke these evil words: “Even though I have fallen into this wretched realm, I am still not free from your presence!” As soon as he finished speaking, a thousand oxen began plowing his tongue.
18. 目連見已，倍增愁悒，生變悔心，即於彼沒，還至舍衛國至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面住。爾時，目連以此因緣具白世尊。
Seeing this, Maudgal-yaayana felt even more sorrowful and regretful. He then disappeared from that place and returned to Shraavastii, where he went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and stood to one side. He then reported the entire matter to Budha.
19. 世尊告曰：「我前語汝，不須至彼見此惡人。」
Budha said, “I told you earlier that there was no need to go there and see that evil person.”
20. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「夫士之生， 斧在口中， 所以斬身，
由其惡言； 彼息我息， 此二俱善。
已造惡行， 斯墮惡趣， 此為最惡，
有盡無盡， 向如來惡， 此者最重。
一萬三千， 六一灰獄， 謗聖墮彼，身口所造。」
At that time, Budha spoke this verse:
“The tongue is like an axe,
Cutting down one’s own life,
All because of evil speech.
When one restrains oneself, and I restrain myself,
Both are good.
Having committed evil deeds,
One falls into wretched realms.
The worst of these is slandering the Tathaagata,
Which brings the heaviest retribution.
Thirteen thousand and six ash-hells
Await those who slander the noble ones,
All due to the deeds of body and speech.”
21. 爾時，世尊告諸比丘：「當學三法，成就其行。云何為三？身行善、口行善、意行善。如是，比丘！當作是學。」
At that time, Budha said to the bhikshus, “You should learn and practice three things to perfect your conduct. What are the three?
Good deeds of body, good deeds of speech, and good deeds of mind. Thus, bhikshus, you should train yourselves in this way.”
22. 爾時，諸比丘聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
When the bhikshus heard what the Budha said, they followed it with joy.