1. 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, Budha was staying at the Venuvana, Kalandaka-nivaasa, in Raajagriha, together with a great assembly of five hundred Bhikshus.
2. 爾時，王阿闍世有象，名那羅祇梨，極為兇弊暴虐，勇健能降外怨，緣彼象力，使摩竭一國，無不靡伏。
At that time, King Ajaatashatru had an elephant named Naalaagiri, which was extremely fierce, violent, and ruthless. It was powerful and brave, capable of subduing external enemies. Because of the strength of this elephant, the entire kingdom of Magadha was brought under submission.
3. 爾時，提婆達兜便往至王阿闍世所。
到已，而作是說：「大王當知，今此象惡，能降伏眾怨，可以醇酒，飲彼象醉。
清旦，沙門瞿曇必來入城乞食，當放此醉象，蹋蹈殺之。」
At that time, Devadata went to King Ajaatashatru and said, “Great King, you should know that this elephant is fierce and capable of subduing many enemies. You can make it drink strong wine to intoxicate it. Early in the morning, when the Shramana Gautama comes into the city for alms, release this drunken elephant to trample and kill him.”
4. 時，王阿闍世聞提婆達兜教，即告令國中：「明日清旦，當放醉象，勿令人民在里巷遊行。」
At that time, when King Ajaatashatru heard Devadata’s suggestion, he immediately issued an order throughout the kingdom:
“Early tomorrow morning, the drunken elephant will be released. The people must not wander in the streets or alleys.”
5. 是時，提婆達兜告王阿闍世曰：「若彼沙門瞿曇有一切智，知當來事者，明日必不入城乞食。」
At that time, Devadata said to King Ajaatashatru, “If that Shramana Gautama possesses omniscience and knows future events, then tomorrow he will surely not enter the city for alms.”
6. 王阿闍世曰：「亦如尊教，設有一切智者，明日清旦不入城乞食。」
King Ajaatashatru said, “As you have instructed, if he truly possesses omniscience, then tomorrow at dawn, he will not enter the city for alms.”
7. 爾時，羅閱城內男女大小事佛之者，聞王阿闍世清旦當放醉象害於如來，聞已，各懷愁憂，便往至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面住，白世尊曰：「明日清旦，願世尊勿復入城！所以然者，王阿闍世今有教令，勅語城內人民之類：『明日勿復在里巷行來，吾欲放醉象，害沙門瞿曇。
設沙門有一切智，明日清旦不入城乞食。』
唯願世尊勿復入城，傷害如來，世人喪目，無復救護。」
At that time, the men and women, young and old, in Raajagriha who revered Budha heard that King Ajaatashatru planned to release a drunken elephant at dawn to harm Tathaagata.
Upon hearing this, they were filled with sorrow and worry. They went to Budha, bowed their heads at his feet, stood to one side, and said, “Tomorrow at dawn, may Budha not enter the city! The reason is that King Ajaatashatru has issued an order instructing the people of the city:
‘Tomorrow, do not walk through the streets and alleys. I will release a drunken elephant to harm Shramana Gautama. If Shramana truly possesses omniscience, then tomorrow at dawn, he will not enter the city for alms.’ We earnestly beseech Budha not to enter the city, lest harm befall Tathaagata, and the world be deprived of its guiding light, with no one left to offer salvation.”
8. 世尊告曰：「止！止！諸優婆塞！勿懷愁惱。
所以然者，如來之身非俗數身，然不為他人所害，終無此事。
諸優婆塞當知，閻浮里地東西廣七千由旬，南北長二十一千由旬；瞿耶尼縱廣八千由旬，如半月形；弗于逮縱廣九千由旬，土地方正；欝單越縱廣十千由旬，土地圓如滿月。
正使此四天下醉象滿其中，如似稻、麻、叢林，其數如是，猶不能得動如來毫毛，況復得害於如來？終無此事！
Budha said, “Stop! Stop! O upaasakas! Do not be troubled or grieve. The reason is that the body of Tathaagata is not an ordinary mortal body and cannot be harmed by others—such a thing will never happen.
O upaasakas, you should know that Jambu-dviipa extends seven thousand yojanas from east to west and twenty-one thousand yojanas from north to south. Puurva-videha spans eight thousand yojanas in width, shaped like a half-moon. Apara-godaaniiya is nine thousand yojanas wide, with a square landscape. Utara-kuru measures ten thousand yojanas in width, with land shaped like a full moon.
Even if these four continents were filled with drunken elephants, densely packed like rice, hemp, or a thick forest, they still would not be able to move even a single hair of Tathaagata. How, then, could they possibly cause harm to Tathaagata? Such a thing will never happen!”
9.「則捨四天下，復有如千天下、千日月、千須彌山、千四海水、千閻浮提、千瞿耶尼、千弗于逮、千欝單越、千四天王、千三十三天、千兜術天、千豔天、千化自在天、千他化自在天，此名千世界；乃至二千世界，此名中千世界；乃至三千世界，此名三千大千世界；滿其中伊羅鉢龍王，猶不能動如來一毛，況復此象欲害如來哉？終無是處。
所以然者，如來神力不可思議，如來出世，終不為人所傷害也。
汝等各歸所在，如來自當知此變趣。」
爾時，世尊與四部眾廣為說微妙之法。
時，優婆塞、優婆斯聞正法已，各從坐起，頭面禮足，便退而去。
“Beyond the four continents, there exist a thousand worlds, each with a thousand suns and moons, a thousand Mount Sumerus, a thousand four great oceans, a thousand Jambu-dviipas, a thousand Purva-videhas, a thousand Apara-godaniyas, and a thousand Utara-kurus.
There are also a thousand realms of the Four Great Kings, a thousand realms of the Traayastrimsha (Thirty-Three Gods), a thousand realms of the Tushita Heaven, a thousand realms of the Yama Heaven, a thousand realms of the Paranirmita-vashavartin heavens, and a thousand realms of the Heaven of Nirmanarati. This is known as a ‘Thousandfold World.’
Beyond this, there exist two thousand worlds, known as a ‘Middle Thousandfold World.’
Further beyond, there exist three thousand great thousandfold worlds, known as the ‘Three Thousand Great Thousand Fold World System.’ Even if all the naagas of Lake Anavatapta filled this vast cosmos, they would still be unable to move even a single hair of the Tathaagata. How then could this elephant hope to harm the Tathaagata? Such a thing is impossible!
The reason for this is that the spiritual power of the Tathaagata is inconceivable, and once the Tathaagata has appeared in the world, he will never be harmed by others. You may all return to your places; the Tathaagata fully understands the course of these events.”
At that time, Bhagavaan extensively expounded the profound Dharma to the fourfold assembly. Upon hearing the true Dharma, the laymen and laywomen rose from their seats, respectfully bowed at his feet, and then departed.
10. 爾時，世尊清旦著衣持鉢，欲入羅閱城乞食。
是時，提頭賴吒天王將乾沓惒等，從東方來，侍從世尊。
是時，毘留勒王將拘槃茶眾，侍從如來。
西方毘留波叉將諸龍眾，侍從如來。
北方天王拘毘羅將羅剎鬼眾，侍從如來。
是時，釋提桓因將諸天人數千萬眾，從兜術天沒，來至世尊所，時，梵天王將諸梵天數千萬眾，從梵天上來至世尊所。
釋、梵、四天王及二十八天，大鬼神王各各相謂言：「我等今日當觀二神，龍象共鬪，誰者勝負？」
At that time, Bhagavaan, early in the morning, donned his robe, took his alms bowl, and prepared to enter Raajagriha to collect alms.
At that moment, Dhritaraashtra, the king of the eastern direction, along with the Gandharvas, came from the east to attend upon Bhagavaan.
At the same time, Viruudhaka, the king of the southern direction, led the Kumbhaanda spirits in attendance upon the Tathaagata.
From the west, Viruupaaksa arrived, accompanied by his retinue of Naagas, attending upon the Tathaagata.
From the north, Kuvera, the king of the northern direction, led the Raaksasa spirits in attendance upon the Tathaagata.
At that moment, Shakra, the ruler of the gods, along with tens of millions of celestial beings, descended from the Tushita Heaven and arrived before Bhagavaan.
Simultaneously, Mahaabrahmaa, the king of the Brahmaa heavens, along with countless Brahmaa deities, descended from the Brahmaa world to Bhagavaan’s presence.
The gods, the Brahmaa kings, the Catur-mahaaraaja-kayikas, and the twenty-eight great celestial deities, along with the great demon kings, spoke among themselves, saying, “Today, we shall witness the battle between two mighty beings—who will emerge victorious, and who will be defeated?”
11. 時，羅閱城四部之眾遙見世尊將諸比丘入城乞食，時城內人民皆舉聲喚曰。
王阿闍世復聞此聲，問左右曰：「此是何等聲響，乃徹此間？」
At that time, the fourfold assembly of Raajagriha saw Budha leading the bhikshus into the city for alms. The people within the city raised their voices and called out. King Ajatashatru also heard this sound and asked his attendants,
“What is this sound that reaches even here?”
12. 侍臣對曰：「此是如來入城乞食，人民見已，故有此聲。」
The attendant replied, “This is the sound of Budha entering the city for alms. The people, upon seeing him, have raised their voices.”
13. 阿闍世曰：「沙門瞿曇亦無聖道，不知人心來變之驗。」
王阿闍世即勅象師：「汝速將象飲以醇酒，鼻帶利劍，即放使走。」
Ajaatashatru said, “Shramana Gautama has no sacred path and does not understand the signs of human intentions.”
Then, he immediately ordered the elephant trainer, “Quickly make the elephant drink strong liquor, equip its trunk with sharp swords, and release it to charge forward.”
14. 爾時，世尊將諸比丘詣城門，適舉足入門。
時，天地大動，諸神尊天在虛空中散種種之華。
時，五百比丘見醉象來，各各馳走，莫知所如。
時，彼暴象遙見如來，便走趣向。
侍者阿難見醉象來，在世尊後，不自安處，白世尊曰：「此象暴惡，將恐相害，宜可遠之。」
At that time, as Budha, along with the bhikshus, approached the city gate and stepped inside, the earth trembled, and the divine beings in the sky scattered various flowers.
Seeing the drunken elephant charging forward, the five hundred bhikshus fled in all directions, not knowing where to go.
The furious elephant, upon seeing Budha from afar, rushed straight toward him.
Seeing this, the attendant Aananda stood behind Budha, feeling uneasy, and pleaded, “This elephant is violent and fierce. I fear it may cause harm. It would be wise to avoid it.”
15. 世尊告曰：「勿懼！阿難！吾今當以如來神手降伏此象。」
Budha said, “Do not fear, Aananda! I shall now subdue this elephant with the divine power of the Tathaagata’s hand.”
16. 如來觀察暴象不近不遠，便化左右作諸師子王，於彼象後作大火坑。時，彼暴象見左右師子王及見火坑，即失尿放糞，無走突處，便前進向如來。爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「汝莫害於龍， 龍現甚難遇，
不由害龍已， 而得生善處。」
The Budha observed the raging elephant from neither too near nor too far and then manifested mighty lion kings on either side. Behind the elephant, he conjured a vast pit of fire. Upon seeing the lions on both sides and the blazing pit behind, the frenzied elephant lost control, urinating and defecating in fear, finding no way to escape. It then charged forward towards the Budha.
At that moment, the Budha recited this verse:
“You shall not harm the Naaga,
For the Naaga is most rare to encounter.
By harming the Naaga,
You shall not attain a virtuous rebirth.”
17. 爾時，暴象聞世尊說此偈，如被火燃，即自解劍，向如來跪雙膝，投地以鼻舐如來足。
時，世尊伸右手摩象頭，而作是說：
「瞋恚生地獄， 亦作蛇蚖形；
是故當捨恚， 更莫受此身。」
At that time, the raging elephant, upon hearing Budha recite this verse, felt as if set aflame. It immediately dropped its sword, knelt on both knees before Budha, and lowered its trunk to the ground, licking Budha’s feet.
Then, Budha extended his right hand, gently stroking the elephant’s head, and spoke these words:
“Anger leads to hell,
It also gives rise to forms of serpents and vipers;
Therefore, abandon anger,
And never take on such a form again.”
18. 爾時，神尊諸天在虛空中，以若干百千種花散如來上。
是時，世尊與四部之眾、天、龍、鬼神說微妙法。
爾時，見降象男女六萬餘人諸塵垢盡，得法眼淨，八萬天人亦得法眼淨。
時，彼醉象身中刀風起，身壞命終，生四天王宮。
At that time, the divine gods in the sky scattered hundreds of thousands of various flowers upon Budha. Then, Budha expounded the profound Dharma to the fourfold assembly, celestial beings, Naagas, and spirits.
At that moment, more than sixty thousand men and women who witnessed the subduing of the elephant were freed from all defilements and attained the pure Dharma eye.
Likewise, eighty thousand celestial beings also attained the pure Dharma eye. As for the drunken elephant, a blade-like wind arose within its body, and upon its death, it was reborn in the palace of the Catur-mahaaraaja-kayikas.
19. 爾時，比丘、比丘尼，諸優婆塞、優婆夷，及天、龍、鬼神，聞世尊所說，歡喜奉行。
When the bhikshus, bhikshunis, upaasakas, upasikas, as well as celestial beings, Naagas, and spirits, heard what the Budha said, they followed it with joy.