（七）
7
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，尊者阿難在閑靜 之處，獨自思惟，便生是念：
諸有生民，興愛欲想，便生欲愛，晝夜習之，無有厭足。
At that time, the Venerable Aananda, in a quiet place, was reflecting alone and thought to himself:
“All living beings who give rise to thoughts of desire develop attachment to desire. They practice this day and night, never feeling satisfied.”
3. 爾時，尊者阿難向暮即從坐起，著衣正服，便往至世尊所。
到已，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
爾時，尊者阿難白世尊曰：
向在靜閑之處，便生此念：
諸有眾生，興欲愛想，便生欲愛，長夜習之，無有厭足。
At that time, the Venerable Aananda, toward evening, rose from his seat, adjusted his robes, and went to where the Bhagavaan was. Upon arriving, he bowed at the Bhagavaan’s feet, sat to one side, and said:
“Earlier, while in a quiet place, I thought to myself:
‘All living beings who give rise to thoughts of desire develop attachment to desire. They practice this day and night, never feeling satisfied.’“
4. 世尊告曰：
如是。阿難！
如汝所言，諸有人民，興欲愛想，便增欲想，長夜習之，無有厭足。
所以者何？昔者，阿難！
過去世時有轉輪聖王，名曰頂生，以法治化，無有奸罔，七寶成就。
所謂七寶者：
輪寶、象寶、馬寶、珠寶、玉女寶、居士寶、典兵寶，是謂七寶。
復有千子，勇猛強壯，能降伏諸惡，統領四天下不加刀杖。
阿難當知，爾時頂生聖王便生此念：
我今有此閻浮提地，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，我亦曾從耆年長老邊聞：
西有瞿耶尼土，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶。
我今當往統彼國土。爾時，阿難！
頂生適生斯念，將四部兵，從此閻浮地沒，便往至瞿耶尼土。
The Bhagavaan replied:
“So it is, Aananda! As you have said, when living beings give rise to thoughts of desire, their attachment to desire increases. They practice this day and night, never feeling satisfied.
Why is this so? Aananda, in the past, there was a Chakravartin (Wheel-Turning Monarch) named King Upashaanta, who ruled with righteousness, free from deceit, and possessed the seven treasures.
What are the seven treasures?
They are:
- The Cakra-ratna (Wheel Treasure),
- The Gaja-ratna (Elephant Treasure),
- The Ashva-ratna (Horse Treasure),
- The Ratna-ratna (Jewel Treasure),
- The Mahaa-raajni-ratna (Queen Treasure),
- The Grihapati-ratna (Householder Treasure),
- The Senapati-ratna (General Treasure).
These are the seven treasures.
He also had a thousand sons, brave and strong, capable of subduing all evils, who ruled the four continents without resorting to weapons.
Aananda, you should know that at that time, king Upashaanta thought to himself:
‘Now I rule this Jambudvipa, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. I have also heard from the elders that in the west lies the land of Godaaniya, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. I shall now go and rule that land.’
Aananda, as soon as King Upashaanta had this thought, he led his fourfold army, vanished from Jambudvipa, and arrived in the land of Godaaniya.”
5. 爾時，彼土人民見聖王來，皆悉前迎，禮跪問訊：
善來，大王！
今此瞿耶尼國，人民熾盛，唯願聖王當於此治化諸人民，使從法教！
爾時，阿難！
聖王頂生即於瞿耶尼統領人民，乃經數百千年。
At that time, the people of that land saw the noble king arriving and all came forward to greet him, bowing and inquiring:
“Welcome, great king! This land of Godaaniya is prosperous and its people are thriving. We beseech you to rule over us and guide the people according to the Dharma!”
Aananda, King Upashaanta then ruled over the land of Godaaniya for hundreds of thousands of years.
6. 是時，聖王頂生復於餘時便生此念：
我有閻浮提，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，亦雨七寶，乃至于膝；
今亦復有此瞿耶尼，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶。
我]亦曾從長年許聞：
復有弗于逮，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶。
我今當往統彼國土，以法治化。
爾時，阿難！
頂生聖王適生斯念，將四部兵，從瞿耶尼沒，便往至弗于逮。
At that time, King Upashaanta thought to himself again:
“I rule over Jambudvipa, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. The seven treasures rain down, even up to the knees. Now I also rule over Godaaniya, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound.
I have also heard from the elders that there is another land called Purvavideha, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. I shall now go and rule that land, governing it with righteousness.”
Aananda, as soon as King Upashaanta had this thought, he led his fourfold army, vanished from Godaaniya, and arrived in the land of Purvavideha.”
7. 爾時，彼土人民見聖王來，皆悉前迎，禮跪問訊，異口同響而作是語：
善來，大王！
今此弗于逮，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，唯願大王當於此治化諸人民，使從法教！
爾時，阿難！
頂生聖王即於弗于逮統領人民，乃經百千萬歲。
At that time, the people of that land saw the noble king arriving and all came forward to greet him, bowing and inquiring in unison:
“Welcome, great king! This land of Purvavideha is prosperous, its people thriving, and treasures abound. We beseech you to rule over us and guide the people according to the Dharma!”
Aananda, King Upashaanta then ruled over the land of Purvavideha for hundreds of thousands of years.
8. 是時，聖王頂生復於餘時便生此念：
我於閻浮提，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，亦雨七寶，乃至于膝；
今亦復有此瞿耶尼，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶；
今亦復有此弗于逮國，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶。
我亦曾從耆年長老邊聞：
復有欝單越，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，所為自由，無固守者。
壽不中夭，正壽千歲。
在彼壽終必生天上，不墮餘趣，著劫波育衣，食自然粳米。
我今當往統領彼國土，以法治化。
At that time, King Upashaanta thought to himself again:
“I rule over Jambudvipa, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. The seven treasures rain down, even up to the knees. Now I also rule over Godaaniya, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. I also rule over Purvavideha, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound.
I have also heard from the elders that there is another land called Uttarakuru, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. They live freely, without constraints, their lifespans are not cut short, and they live a full thousand years. When they pass away, they are reborn in the heavens, not falling into other realms. They wear robes made of karpasa (cotton), and eat natural, fragrant rice.
I shall now go and rule that land, governing it with righteousness.”
9. 爾時，阿難！
頂生聖王適生斯念，將四部兵，從弗于逮沒，便往至欝單越。
遙見彼土欝然青色，見已，便問左右臣曰：
汝等普見此土欝然青色不乎？
對曰：唯然，見之。
王告群臣曰：此是柔軟之草，軟若天衣而無有異。
此等諸賢當於 斯坐。
小復前行，遙見彼土晃然黃色，便告諸臣曰：
汝等普見此土晃然黃色不乎？
對曰：皆悉見之。
大王曰：此名自然粳米，此等諸賢恒食此食。
如今卿等，亦當食此粳米。
爾時，聖王小復前行，復見彼土普悉平正，遙見高臺顯望殊特，復告諸臣：
汝等頗見此土普地平正乎？
對曰：如是，皆悉見之。
大王報曰：此名劫波育樹衣，汝等亦復當著此樹衣。
At that time, Aananda, as soon as King Upashaanta had this thought, he led his fourfold army, vanished from Purvavideha, and arrived in Uttarakuru.
From afar, he saw the land glowing with a lush green color.
Seeing this, he asked his ministers:
“Do you all see this land glowing with a lush green color?”
They replied, “Yes, we see it.”
The king said: “This is the karpasa (cotton) tree, from which garments are made. You too shall wear garments made from this tree.”
The king told his ministers: “This is soft grass, as soft as heavenly garments, with no difference.”
After a short while, they proceeded further and saw the land glowing with a bright yellow color. The king said to his ministers:
“Do you all see this land glowing with a bright yellow color?”
They replied, “Yes, we all see it.”
The king said: “This is natural, fragrant rice. The people here always eat this rice. Now, you too shall eat this rice.”
Then, the noble king proceeded further and saw the land perfectly level and flat. From afar, he saw a high platform, strikingly magnificent. He again asked his ministers:
“Do you all see this land perfectly level and flat?”
They replied, “Yes, we all see it.”
The king told his ministers: “You all shall sit here.”
9. 爾時，阿難！
彼土人民見大王來，皆起前迎，禮跪問訊，異音同響而作是說：
善來，聖王！此欝單越，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，唯願大王當於此治化諸人民，使從法教！
爾時，阿難！頂生聖王即於欝單越統領人民，乃經百千萬歲。
At that time, Aananda, the people of that land saw the great king arriving and all came forward to greet him, bowing and inquiring in unison:
“Welcome, noble king! This land of Uttarakuru is prosperous, its people thriving, and treasures abound. We beseech you to rule over us and guide the people according to the Dharma!”
Aananda, King Upashaanta then ruled over the land of Uttarakuru for hundreds of thousands of years.
10. 是時，頂生聖王復於餘時便生此念：
我今有閻浮地，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，亦雨七寶，乃至于膝；
今亦復有此瞿耶尼、弗于逮及此欝單越，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶。
我亦曾從耆年長老邊聞：
有三十三天，快樂無比，壽命極長，衣食自然，玉女營從，不可稱計。
我今當往領彼天宮，以法治化。
At that time, King Upashaanta thought to himself again:
“I now rule over Jambudvipa, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. The seven treasures rain down, even up to the knees. I also rule over Godaaniya, Purvavideha, and Uttarakuru, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. I have also heard from the elders that there is the realm of the Trayastrimsa (Thirty-Three) Heaven, where the happiness is incomparable, lifespans are extremely long, food and clothing arise naturally, and the number of celestial maidens and attendants is beyond calculation. I shall now go and rule that heavenly realm, governing it with righteousness.”
11. 爾時，阿難！
頂生聖王適生斯念，將四部兵，從欝單越沒，便往至三十三天上。
爾時，天帝釋遙見頂生 聖王來，便作是說：
善來，大王！可就此坐。
爾時，阿難！頂生聖王即共釋提桓因一處坐。
二人共坐，不可分別，顏貌舉動，言語聲響，一而不異。
爾時，阿難！頂生聖王在彼，乃經數千百歲已，便生此念：
我今有此閻浮地，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶，亦雨七寶，乃至于膝；亦有瞿耶尼，亦復有弗于逮，亦復有欝單越，人民熾盛，多諸珍寶。
我今至此三十三天，我今宜可害此天帝釋，便於此間獨王諸天。
爾時，阿難！頂生聖王適生此念，即於座上而自退墮，至閻浮里地，及四部兵皆悉落墮。
爾時，亦失輪寶，莫知所在，象寶、馬寶同時命終，珠寶自滅，玉女寶、居士寶、典兵寶斯皆命終。
At that time, Aananda, as soon as King Upashaanta had this thought, he led his fourfold army, vanished from Uttarakuru, and arrived in the Trayastrimsa (Thirty-Three) Heaven.
At that time, Shakra, the lord of the devas, saw King Upashaanta arriving from afar and said:
“Welcome, great king! Please take a seat here.”
Aananda, King Upashaanta then sat together with Shakra. The two sat side by side, indistinguishable in appearance, demeanor, speech, and voice—completely identical.
Aananda, King Upashaanta remained there for hundreds of thousands of years. Then he thought to himself:
“Now I rule over Jambudvipa, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. The seven treasures rain down, even up to the knees. I also rule over Godaaniya, Purvavideha, and Uttarakuru, where the people are prosperous and treasures abound. Now I have reached the Trayastrimsa Heaven. I should now overthrow Shakra and rule alone over the heavens.”
Aananda, as soon as King Upashaanta had this thought, he fell from his seat and plummeted back to Jambudvipa, along with his fourfold army. At that time, the Wheel Treasure was lost, its whereabouts unknown. The Elephant Treasure and Horse Treasure died simultaneously. The Jewel Treasure vanished. The Queen Treasure, Householder Treasure, and General Treasure all perished.”
12. 爾時，頂生聖王身得重病，諸宗族親屬普悉 運集，問訊王 病：
云何，大王！
若使大王命終之後，有人來問此義：
頂生大王臨命終時，有何言教？
設有此問，當何以報 之？
頂生聖王報曰：
若使我命終，命終之後有人問者，以此報之：
頂生王者，領此四天下而無厭足，復至三十三天，在彼經數百千歲，意猶生貪，欲害天帝，便自墮落，即取命終。
At that time, King Upashaanta fell gravely ill. His relatives and clan members all gathered around him and inquired about his condition:
“Great king, if, after your passing, someone were to ask: ‘What were the final teachings of King Upashaanta as he approached death?’ How should we respond to such a question?”
King Upashaanta replied:
“If, after my death, someone asks this question, respond as follows: ‘King Upashaanta ruled over the four continents, yet he was never satisfied. He ascended to the Trayastrimsa Heaven and remained there for hundreds of thousands of years. Still, his greed persisted, and he sought to overthrow Shakra. As a result, he fell from heaven and met his end.'”
13. 汝今，阿難！勿懷狐疑。
爾時，頂生王者豈異人乎？莫作是觀。所以然者，時頂生王者即我身是。
爾時，我領此四天下，及至三十三天，於五欲中，無有厭足。
阿難！當以此方便，證知所趣，興貪欲心，倍增其想，於愛欲中而無厭足；
欲求厭足，當從聖賢智慧中求。
“Now, Aananda, do not doubt this. The King Upashaanta of that time was none other than myself. At that time, I ruled over the four continents and ascended to the Trayastrimsa Heaven, yet I was never satisfied with the pleasures of the senses.
Aananda, take this as a teaching: Understand that the path of desire leads to endless craving. The more one indulges in desire, the more it grows. There is no satisfaction in the pursuit of sensual pleasures. If you seek true satisfaction, seek it through the wisdom of the noble ones.”
14. 爾時，世尊於大眾中，便說此偈：
貪婬如時雨，於欲無厭足；
樂少而苦多，智者所屏棄。
正使受天欲，五樂而自娛；
不如斷愛心，正覺之弟子。
貪欲延億劫，福盡還入獄；
受樂詎幾時，輒受地獄痛。
At that time, the Bhagavaan, in the midst of the assembly, spoke this verse:
“Desire and lust are like a sudden rain,
Yet in sensual pleasures, there is no satisfaction.
Little joy and much suffering—
This is what the wise reject.
Even if one enjoys heavenly pleasures,
Indulging in the five senses,
It is not as good as cutting off desire—
This is the way of the enlightened disciple.
Greed and desire prolong existence for eons,
But when merit is exhausted, one falls into hell.
How long does such pleasure last?
Soon, the pain of hell will be endured.”
15. 是故，阿難！
當以此方便，知於欲而去欲，永不興其想。
當作是學。
爾時，阿難聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
“Therefore, Aananda, use this teaching to understand desire and abandon it, never allowing thoughts of desire to arise again. You should train yourselves in this way.”
At that time, Aananda, hearing the Budha’s words, accepted them with joy and practiced accordingly.