- 聞如是：
一時，佛在羅閱城迦蘭陀竹園所，與大比丘眾五百人俱。
Thus I have heard:
One time, the Budha was dwelling in Raajagriha at the Bamboo Grove of Karanda, together with a great assembly of five hundred Bhikshus.
2. 爾時，有一比丘聞如來記別調達，受罪一劫不可療治。
時，彼比丘便至尊者阿難所，共相問訊已，在一面坐。
爾時，彼比丘問阿難曰：
「云何，阿難！如來盡觀提婆達兜原本已，然後記別，受罪一劫不可療治乎？
頗有所由可得而記耶？」
At that time, a certain Bhikshu heard that the Tathaagata had predicted Devadata would suffer retribution for one kalpa beyond cure. That Bhikshu then went to the Venerable Aananda, exchanged greetings, and sat to one side.
He asked Aananda: “How is it, Aananda? Did the Tathaagata completely examine Devadata’s original nature before predicting he would suffer for one kalpa beyond cure? Was there some basis for this prediction?”
3. 時，阿難告曰：
「如來所說終不虛設，身口所行而無有異。
如來真實記提婆達兜別，受罪深重，當經一劫不可療治。」
Aananda replied: “The Tathaagata’s words are never false, his speech and actions never differ. The Tathaagata truthfully predicted Devadata would suffer grave retribution for one kalpa beyond cure.”
4. 爾時，尊者阿難即從坐起至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面住。
爾時，阿難白世尊曰：
「有一比丘來至我所，而作是說：
『云何，阿難！如來盡觀提婆達兜原本已，然後記別，受罪一劫不可療治乎？頗有因緣可得記別耶？』
作是語已，各自捨去。」
Then the Venerable Aananda rose from his seat, went to Bhagavaan, bowed his head at his feet, and stood to one side.
He said: “A Bhikshu came to me asking: ‘Did the Tathaagata completely examine Devadata’s original nature before predicting…’ After saying this, he left.”
5. 世尊告曰：
「彼比丘者必晚暮學出家，未久方來至我法中耳。
如來所說終不虛妄，云何於中復起猶豫？」
Bhagavaan said: “That Bhikshu must have recently gone forth late in life and newly entered my teaching. The Tathaagata’s words are never false – why should there be any doubt?”
6. 爾時，世尊告阿難曰：
「汝往至彼，語比丘言：
『如來呼卿。』」
Then Bhagavaan told Aananda: “Go tell that Bhikshu: ‘The Tathaagata summons you.'”
7. 阿難對曰：「如是。
世尊！」
是時，阿難受世尊教，便往至彼比丘所，到已，語彼比丘曰：
「如來呼卿。」
彼比丘對曰：「如是。
尊者！」爾時，彼比丘便嚴衣服，共阿難至世尊所。
到已，禮世尊足，在一面坐。
Aananda consented and went to that Bhikshu, saying: “The Tathaagata summons you.” The Bhikshu replied: “Very well, Venerable One.” He then straightened his robes and went with Aananda to Bhagavaan, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side.
8. 爾時，世尊告彼比丘：
「云何，愚人！汝不信如來所說乎？
如來所教無有虛妄，汝今乃欲求如來虛妄。」
Bhagavaan said to him: “Foolish man! Do you not trust the Tathaagata’s words? The Tathaagata’s teaching contains no falsehood, yet you seek falsehood in it.”
9. 時，彼比丘白世尊曰：
「提婆達兜比丘者，有大神力，有大威勢。
云何世尊記彼一劫受罪重耶？」
The Bhikshu replied: “Devadata possessed great spiritual power and majesty. Why did Bhagavaan predict he would suffer heavy retribution for one kalpa?”
10. 佛告比丘曰：
「護汝口語，勿於長夜受苦無量。」
Budha told the Bhikshu: “Guard your speech, lest you suffer endlessly through the long night [of samsara].”
11. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「遊禪世俗通，
至竟無解脫，
不造滅盡跡，
復還墮地獄。
Then Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“Though one masters worldly meditation skills,
ultimate liberation remains unattained;
failing to tread the path of cessation,
one falls back into hell.”
12. 「若使我當見提婆達兜，身有毫釐之善法者，我終不記彼提婆達兜受罪一劫不可療治。
是故，愚人！
我不見提婆達兜有毫釐之善法，以是故，記彼提婆達兜受罪一劫不可療治。
所以然者，提婆達兜愚癡，貪著利養，起染著心，作五逆惡，身壞命終，入地獄中。
所以然者，利養心重，敗人善本，令人不到安隱之處！
是故，諸比丘！
設有利養心起，便當求滅；若不有心，勿興想著。
如是，諸比丘！當作是學。」
“Were I to perceive even a hair’s breadth of wholesome dharma in Devadata, I would never declare his karmic retribution incurable for a kalpa.
Therefore, O fool! Since I find no trace of wholesome dharma in him, I pronounce Devadata’s punishment incurable for a kalpa.
Why? This fool Devadata, obsessed with material gain and consumed by craving, committed the five heinous crimes – now doomed to hell upon death. Truly, material gain crushes virtuous roots and bars the path to peace!
TTherefore, O bhikshus! When greed for gain arises, eradicate it; if unarisen, don’t entertain it. Thus train yourselves.”
13. 爾時，彼比丘從坐起，整衣服，禮世尊足，白世尊曰：
「今自悔過，唯願垂恕！
愚癡所致，造不善行。
如來所說，無有二言，然我愚癡，起猶豫想。
唯願世尊受我悔過，改往修來。」乃至再三。
At that time, that bhikshu rose from his seat, straightened his robes, bowed at Bhagavaan’s feet, and pleaded:
“Now I repent my faults and beg for your forgiveness!
Through foolishness, I committed unwholesome deeds.
The Tathaagata’s words are never false, yet in my folly I harboured doubts.
I beg the Bhagavaan to accept my repentance – I will reform and practice diligently.”
He repeated this plea three times.
14. 世尊告曰：
「善哉！比丘！悔汝所念，恕汝不及，莫於如來興猶豫想。
今受汝悔過，後更莫作。」
乃至三四。
Bhagavaan said: “Good! Your repentance is accepted. Never again doubt the Tathaagata.”
He repeated this three times.
15. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「設有作重罪，
悔過更不犯，
此人應禁戒，
拔其罪根原。」
Then Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“Should someone commit grave offenses,
but repents and never repeats them,
Upholding pure precepts thus,
Uproots karmic seeds at core.”
16. 爾時，彼比丘及四部眾聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
When the bhikshus heard what the Budha said, they followed it with joy.