- 聞如是：
一時，佛在羅閱城耆闍崛山中，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，提婆達兜壞亂眾僧，壞如來足，教阿闍世取父王殺，復殺羅漢比丘尼，在大眾中而作是說：
「何處有惡？惡從何生？
誰作此惡當受其報？
我亦不作此惡而受其報。」
At that time, Devadata caused schism in the Sangha, injured the Tathaagata’s foot, instigated Ajaatashatru to kill his father, the king; and murdered an Arhat bhikshunii. In the midst of the assembly he declared: “Where is evil? From what does evil arise? Who commits evil and receives its retribution? I neither commit evil nor receive its consequences.”
3. 爾時，有眾多比丘，入羅閱城乞食而聞此語。
提婆達兜愚人在大眾中而作是說：
「何處有惡？惡從何生？誰作此惡而受其報？」
爾時，眾多比丘食後攝取衣鉢，以尼師壇著右肩上，便往至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
Many bhikshus heard these words while begging for alms in Raajagriha. That foolish Devadata was proclaiming in the assembly: “Where is evil? From what does evil arise? Who commits evil and receives its retribution?”
After their meal, the bhikshus gathered their robes and bowls, placed their sitting mats upon their right shoulders, and went to the Bhagavaan. They bowed their heads at his feet and sat to one side.
4. 爾時，眾多比丘白世尊曰：
「提婆達兜愚人在大眾中而作是說：
『云何為惡無殃，作福無報，無有受善惡之報。』」
The bhikshus addressed the Bhagavaan:
“That foolish Devadata is declaring in the assembly: ‘How can there be evil without consequence, good deeds without reward, no retribution for good or evil?’“
5. 爾時，世尊告諸比丘：
「有惡、有罪，善惡之行皆有報應。
若彼提婆達兜愚人知有善惡報者，便當枯竭，愁憂不樂；沸血便從面孔出，以彼提婆達兜不知善惡之報，是故在大眾中而作是說：
『無善惡之報，為惡無殃，作善無福。』」
The Bhagavaan told the bhikshus:
“Evil exists, wrongdoing exists – all actions bear their corresponding results. If that foolish Devadata truly understood karmic retribution, his body would wither with grief and boiling blood would burst from his face.
Precisely because he doesn’t understand karmic law, he dares proclaim: ‘No retribution exists, evil brings no misfortune, good earns no merit.’“
6. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
Then the Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
7.「愚者審自明， 為惡為有福；
我今豫了知， 善惡之報應。
“The fool thinks himself wise,
Believing evil brings reward;
But I clearly perceive
The true fruits of karma.”
8.「如是，諸比丘！
當遠離惡，為福莫惓。
諸比丘！當作是學。」
“Thus, O bhikshus!
You should abandon evil,
And tirelessly cultivate merit.
O bhikshus! Train yourselves thus.”
9. 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.