1.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，尊者難陀不堪行梵行，欲脫法衣，習白衣行.
At that time, Venerable Nanda was unable to uphold the noble life. He wished to discard his bhikshu robes and return to the life of a layperson.
3.爾時，眾多比丘往至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
爾時，眾多比丘白世尊曰：「難陀比丘不堪行梵行，欲脫法服，習居家行。」
At that time, many bhikshus went to Budha. They bowed their heads at his feet, paid their respects, and sat to one side.
Then, the many bhikshus addressed Budha, saying,
“Bhikshu Nanda is unable to uphold the noble life. He wishes to discard his bhikshu robes and return to the household life.”
4.爾時，世尊告一比丘：「汝往至難陀所，云：『如來喚卿。』」
At that time, Budha addressed a bhikshu, saying, “Go to Nanda and tell him, ‘The Tathaagata summons you.'”
5.對曰：「如是。世尊！」時，彼比丘受世尊教，即從坐起，禮世尊足，便退而去。
至彼難陀比丘所云：「世尊喚。」
The Bhikshu replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan!”
Then, that bhikshu, having received Budha’s instruction, rose from his seat, bowed at Budha’s feet, and withdrew.
He went to Bhikshu Nanda and said, “Budha summons you.”
6.難陀對曰：「如是。」
爾時難陀比丘尋隨此比丘至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
Nanda replied, “Very well.”
Then, Bhikshu Nanda followed that bhikshu to Budha. He bowed his head at Budha’s feet, paid his respects, and sat to one side.
7.是時，世尊告難陀曰：「云何，難陀！不樂修梵行，欲脫法衣，修白衣行乎？」
At that time, Budha said to Nanda,
“Why is it, Nanda, that you do not delight in cultivating the noble life? Do you wish to discard your bhikshu robes and return to the life of a layperson?”
8.難陀對曰：「如是。世尊！」
Nanda replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan!”
9.世尊告曰：「何以故？難陀！」
Budha said, “Why is that, Nanda?”
10.難陀對曰：「欲心熾然，不能自禁。」
Nanda replied, “My desire burns intensely, and I cannot control it.”
11.世尊告曰：「云何，難陀！汝非族姓子出家學道乎？」
Budha said, “How is it, Nanda? Did you not leave the household life as a noble youth to pursue the path of the Dharma?”
12.難陀對曰：「如是。世尊！我是族姓子，以信牢固出家學道。」
Nanda replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan! I am a noble youth who left the household life with firm faith to pursue the path of the Dharma.”
13.世尊告曰：「汝族姓子！此非其宜，以捨家學道修清淨行。
云何捨於正法欲習穢污？
難陀當知，有二法無厭足，若有人習此法者終無厭足。
云何為二法？
所謂婬欲及飲酒。
是謂二法無厭足。
若有人習此二法，終無厭足，緣此行果，亦不能得無為之處。
是故，難陀！當念捨此二法，後必成無漏之報。
汝今，難陀！善修梵行，趣道之果，靡不由之。」
Budha said, “Noble youth, this is not fitting. You left the household life to cultivate purity, yet now you wish to abandon the true Dharma and indulge in defilements.
Nanda, know that there are two things that are insatiable. If someone indulges in these, they will never be satisfied.
What are the two?
They are sexual desire and drinking alcohol.
These two things are insatiable. If someone indulges in them, they will never be satisfied, and as a result, they will not attain the state of the unconditioned.
Therefore, Nanda, you must resolve to abandon these two things. By doing so, you will surely attain the fruit of the unconditioned. Now, Nanda, cultivate the noble life well, and the fruits of the path will surely be yours.”
14.爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「蓋屋不密， 天雨則漏； 人不惟行，
漏婬怒癡。 蓋屋善密， 天雨不漏；
人能惟行， 無婬怒癡。」
At that time, Budha spoke this verse:
“If a roof is not well-thatched, rain will leak through.
If a person does not guard their conduct,
They will leak with lust, anger, and delusion.
If a roof is well-thatched, rain will not leak through.
If a person guards their conduct,
They will be free from lust, anger, and delusion.”
15.爾時，世尊復作是念：「此族姓子欲意極多，我今宜可以火滅火。」
是時，世尊即以神力手執難陀，猶如力人屈伸臂頃，將難陀至香山上。
爾時，山上有一巖穴，復有一瞎獼猴在彼住止。
是時，世尊右手執難陀而告之曰：「汝，難陀！頗見此瞎獼猴不？」
At that time, Budha thought, “This noble youth is overwhelmed by desire. I should use fire to extinguish fire.”
Then, Budha, with his divine power, took Nanda by the hand and, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, brought Nanda to the Gandha–maadana (Fragrant Mountain). On the mountain, there was a cave where a blind monkey lived.
Budha, holding Nanda with his right hand, said, “Nanda, do you see this blind monkey?”
16.對曰：「如是。世尊！」
Nanda replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan!”
17.世尊告曰：「何者為妙？為孫陀利釋種妙耶？為此瞎獼猴妙乎？」
Budha said, “Which is more beautiful? Is it the Shaakya maiden Sundarii, or this blind monkey?”
18.難陀對曰：「猶如有人傷極惡犬鼻，復加毒塗，彼犬倍惡。
此亦如是。
孫陀利釋女，今以此瞎獼猴相比，不可為喻，猶如大火焚燒山野，加益以乾薪，火轉熾然，此亦如是。
我念彼釋女，不去心懷。」
Nanda replied, “It is like someone injuring the nose of an extremely vicious dog and then applying poison, making the dog even more vicious. It is the same here. Comparing the Shaakya maiden Sundarii to this blind monkey is beyond comparison. It is like a great fire burning through a mountain forest, fed by dry wood, causing the fire to blaze even more intensely. It is the same with me. My thoughts of that Shaakya maiden do not leave my mind.”
19. 爾時，世尊如屈伸臂頃，從彼山不現，便至三十三天。
爾時，三十三天上諸天普集善法講堂，去善法講堂不遠，復有宮殿，五百玉女自相娛樂，純有女人，無有男子。
爾時，難陀遙見五百天女，作倡伎樂，自相娛樂，見已，問世尊曰：「此是何等，五百天女作倡伎樂，自相娛樂？」
At that time, Budha, in the time it takes to bend and stretch an arm, disappeared from that mountain and arrived in the Traayastrimsha heaven.
At that time, the gods of the Traayastrimsha Heaven had gathered in the Hall of Saddharma (Good Dharma).
Not far from the hall, there was a palace where five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens) were amusing themselves, all women and no men.
Nanda, seeing the five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens) from a distance, asked Budha, “What is this? Why are these five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens) amusing themselves with music and dance?”
20.世尊告曰：「汝難陀自往問之。」
Budha said, “Nanda, go and ask them yourself.”
21.是時，尊者難陀便往至五百天女所，見彼宮舍，敷好坐具若干百種，純是女人，無有男子。
是時，尊者難陀問彼天女曰：「汝等是何天女，各相娛樂，快樂如是？」
Then, Venerable Nanda went to the five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens). He saw their palace, adorned with hundreds of fine seats, and it was filled only with women, with no men.
Nanda asked the yaksinis (celestial maidens), “Who are you, yaksinis (celestial maidens), amusing yourselves so joyfully?
22.天女報曰：「我等有五百人，悉皆清淨，無有夫主。
我等聞有世尊弟子，名曰難陀，是佛姨母兒，彼於如來所，清淨修梵行，命終之後當生此間，與我等作夫主，共相娛樂。」
The yaksinis (celestial maidens) replied, “We are five hundred in number, all pure and without husbands. We have heard that there is a disciple of Budha named Nanda, the son of Budha’s aunt. He is cultivating the pure noble life under the Tathaagata. After his life ends, he will be reborn here and become our husband, amusing himself with us.”
23.是時，尊者難陀甚懷喜悅，不能自勝，便作是念：「我今是世尊弟子，且又復是姨母兒，此諸天女皆當為我作婦。」
是時，難陀便退而去，至世尊所。
At that time, Venerable Nanda was filled with joy and could not contain himself. He thought, “I am a disciple of Budha and also the son of his aunt. These yaksinis (celestial maidens) will all become my wives.”
Then, Nanda withdrew and returned to Budha.
24.世尊告曰：「云何，難陀！彼玉女何所言說？」
Budha said, “Nanda, what did those yaksinis (celestial maidens) say?”
25.難陀報曰：「彼玉女各作是說：『我[4]等各無夫主，聞有世尊弟子善修梵行，命終之後，當來生此。』」
Nanda replied, “Those yaksinis (celestial maidens) each said, ‘We have no husbands. We have heard that there is a disciple of Budha who cultivates the noble life well. After his life ends, he will be reborn here.'”
26.世尊告曰：「難陀，汝意云何？難陀！汝意云何？」
Budha said, “Nanda, what do you think? Nanda, what do you think?”
27.難陀報曰：「爾時，即自生念：『我是世尊弟子，又且復是佛姨母兒，此諸天女盡當與我作妻。』」
Nanda replied, “At that time, I thought, ‘I am a disciple of Budha and also the son of his aunt. These yaksinis (celestial maidens) will all become my wives.'”
28.世尊告曰：「快哉，難陀！善修梵行，我當與汝作證，使此五百女人皆為給使。」
Budha said, “Excellent, Nanda! Cultivate the noble life well, and I will bear witness that these five hundred women will all serve you.”
29.世尊復告：「云何，難陀！孫陀利釋女妙耶？為是五百天女妙乎？」
Budha further said, “Nanda, which is more beautiful? Is it the Shaakya maiden Sundarii, or these five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens)?”
30.難陀報曰：「猶如山頂瞎獼猴在孫陀利前，無有光澤，亦無有色。
此亦如是。
孫陀利在他天女前，亦復如是，無有光澤。」
Nanda replied, “Just as a blind monkey on a mountaintop has no radiance or beauty compared to Sundarii, so too is Sundarii compared to these yaksinis (celestial maidens). She has no radiance in their presence.”
31.世尊告曰：「汝善修梵行，我當證汝得此五百天人。」
Budha said, “Cultivate the noble life well, and I will bear witness that you will attain these five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens).”
32.爾時，世尊便作是念：「我今當以火滅難陀火。」
猶如力人屈伸臂頃，世尊右手執難陀臂將至地獄中。
爾時，地獄眾生受若干苦惱。爾時，彼地獄中有一大鑊，空無有人。
見已，便生恐懼，衣毛皆竪，前白[11]世尊曰：「此諸眾生皆受苦痛，唯有此釜而獨空無人。」
At that time, Budha thought, “I will now use fire to extinguish Nanda’s fire.”
In the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, Budha took Nanda by the arm with his right hand and brought him to hell.
At that time, the beings in hell were suffering various torments. In that hell, there was a large cauldron, empty and without anyone inside. Seeing this, Nanda became terrified, his hair standing on end, and he said to Budha, “All these beings are suffering, yet this cauldron is empty and without anyone inside.”
33.世尊告曰：「此者名為阿毘地獄。」
Budha said, “This is called the Aviici Hell.”
34.爾時，難陀倍復恐怖，衣毛皆竪，白世尊曰：「此是阿毘地獄，而獨自空，亦無罪人？」
At that time, Nanda became even more terrified, his hair standing on end, and he said to Budha, “This is the Aviici Hell, yet it is empty and without any sinners?”
35.世尊告曰：「汝難陀自往問之。」
Budha said, “Nanda, go and ask yourself.”
36.是時，尊者難陀便自問曰：「云何，獄卒！此是何獄？此是何獄空無有人？」
Then, Venerable Nanda went and asked, “Prison guard, what is this hell? Why is this hell empty and without anyone?”
37.獄卒報曰：「比丘當知，釋迦文佛弟子名曰難陀，彼於如來所，淨修梵行，身壞命終，生善處天上，於彼壽千歲，快自娛樂。
復於彼終，生此阿毘地獄中，此空鑊者即是其室。」
The prison guard replied, “Bhikshu, you should know that there is a disciple of Shaakyamuni Budha named Nanda. He cultivated the pure noble life under the Tathaagata. After his body perishes and his life ends, he will be reborn in a heavenly realm, where he will enjoy himself for a thousand years. After that, he will be reborn in this Aviici Hell, and this empty cauldron will be his chamber.”
38.時，尊者難陀聞此語已，便懷怖懅，衣毛皆竪，即生此念：「此之空釜，正為我耳。」
來至世尊所，頭面禮足，白世尊曰：「願受懺悔，我自罪緣，不修梵行，觸嬈如來。」
When Venerable Nanda heard this, he was filled with terror, his hair standing on end, and he thought, “This empty cauldron is meant for me.”
He went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and said, “I wish to confess. Due to my own faults, I did not cultivate the noble life and have disturbed the Tathaagata.”
39.爾時，尊者難陀便說此偈：
「人生不足貴，天壽盡亦喪；
地獄痛酸苦，唯有涅槃樂。」
At that time, Venerable Nanda spoke this verse:
“Human life is not precious,
Even a heavenly life ends in death;
The pains of hell are bitter,
Only Nirvana is bliss.”
40.爾時，世尊告難陀曰：「善哉！善哉！如汝所言，涅槃者最是快樂。
難陀！聽汝懺悔，汝愚、汝癡，自知有咎於如來所。
今受汝悔過，後更莫犯。」
At that time, Budha said to Nanda, “Excellent! Excellent! As you have said, Nirvana is the greatest bliss. Nanda, I accept your confession. You were foolish and deluded, and you recognized your faults before the Tathaagata. Now I accept your repentance. Do not transgress again in the future.”
41.爾時，世尊屈伸臂頃，手執難陀，從地獄不現，便至舍衛城祇樹給孤獨園。
爾時，世尊告難陀曰：「汝今，難陀！當修二法。
云何為二法？所謂止與觀也。
復當更修二法。
云何為二法？生死不可樂，知涅槃為樂，是謂二法。
復當更修二法。
云何為二法？所謂智與辯也。」
爾時，世尊以此種種法向難陀說。
At that time, Budha, in the time it takes to bend and stretch an arm, took Nanda by the hand and disappeared from hell, arriving at the Jetavana vihara in Shraavastii.
Budha said to Nanda,
“Now, Nanda, you should cultivate two things.
What are the two?
They are calmness (Samata) and insight (Vipasyana). You should also cultivate another two things.
What are the two?
They are understanding that Samsaara is not blissful and knowing that Nirvana is blissful. You should also cultivate another two things.
What are the two?
They are wisdom and eloquence.”
At that time, Budha explained these various teachings to Nanda.
42. 是時，尊者難陀從世尊受教已，從坐起，禮世尊足，便退而去，至安陀園。
到已，在一樹下結加趺坐，正身正意，繫念在前，思惟如來如此言教。
是時，尊者在閑靜處，恒思惟如來教，不去須臾。
所以族姓子，以信牢固出家學道，修無上梵行，生死已盡，梵行已立，所作已辦，更不復受有，如實知之。
是時，尊者難陀便成阿羅漢。
At that time, Venerable Nanda, having received Budha’s teachings, rose from his seat, bowed at Budha’s feet, and withdrew. He went to the Andha-vana and, upon arriving, sat in the lotus posture under a tree, straightened his body and mind, focused his thoughts, and contemplated the teachings of the Tathaagata.
At that time, Venerable Nanda, in a quiet place, constantly contemplated the teachings of the Tathaagata without interruption. As a noble youth who left the household life with firm faith to pursue the path of the Dharma, he cultivated the supreme noble life, ended the cycle of birth and death, established the noble life, completed what needed to be done, and would no longer be subject to rebirth. He knew this as it truly was.
At that time, Venerable Nanda became an Arhant.
43.已成阿羅漢，即從坐起，整衣服至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
是時，尊者難陀白世尊曰：「世尊前許證弟子五百天女者，今盡捨之。」
Having become an Arhant, he rose from his seat, straightened his robes, went to Budha, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side.
At that time, Venerable Nanda said to Budha,
“Bhagavaan, you previously promised me five hundred yaksinis (celestial maidens). Now I renounce them all.”
44.世尊告曰：「汝今生死已盡，梵行已立，吾即捨之。」
Budha said, “Now that you have ended the cycle of birth and death and established the noble life, I too renounce them.”
45.爾時，便說偈曰：
「我今見難陀，修行沙門法；
諸惡皆以息，頭陀無有失。」
At that time, Budha spoke this verse:
“Now I see Nanda,
Cultivating the shramana path;
All evils have ceased,
His shramana practice is flawless.”
46. 爾時，世尊告諸比丘言：「得阿羅漢者，今難陀比丘是。
無婬、怒、癡，亦是難陀比丘。」
At that time, Budha said to the bhikshus, “The one who has attained Arhantship is now bhikshu Nanda. He is free from lust, anger, and delusion. This is Bhikshu Nanda.”
47.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.