- 聞如是：一時，佛在羅閱城耆闍崛山中，與大比丘五百人俱。
Thus have I heard
At one time, Budha was staying on Mount Grdhrakuuta in Raajagriha, accompanied by five hundred great Bhikshus.
2. 爾時，尊者須菩提亦在王舍城耆闍崛山側，別作屋廬而自禪思。爾時，尊者須菩提身得苦患，甚為沈重，便作是念：「我此苦痛為從何生？復從何滅？為至何所？」爾時，尊者須菩提便於露地而敷坐具，直身正意，專精一心，結跏趺坐，思惟諸入，欲害苦痛。
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti was also staying in a small hut on the side of Mount Grdhrakuuta in Raajagriha, meditating in solitude.
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti was afflicted with a severe illness and thought, “Where does this pain arise from? Where does it cease? Where does it lead?” Then, the Venerable Subhuuti spread his sitting mat in an open area, straightened his body, focused his mind, and sat in full lotus posture, contemplating the sense bases to overcome the pain.
3. 爾時，釋提桓因知尊者須菩提所念，便以偈勅波遮旬曰：
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, knowing the thoughts of the Venerable Subhuuti, addressed the celestial musician Pancashikha with this verse:
4.「善業脫諸縛， 居在靈鷲山；
今得極重患， 樂空諸根定。
速來往問疾， 覲省尊上顏；
既得獲大福， 種德莫過是。」
“Subhuuti, who is freed from all bonds through good deeds,
Resides on Vulture Peak.
Now he is afflicted with severe illness,
Yet he delights in emptiness and meditative concentration.
Quickly go and inquire about his health,
And pay respects to his noble countenance.
By doing so, you will attain great merit—
No act of virtue surpasses this.”
5. 時，波遮旬對曰：「如是。尊者！」
Pancashikha replied, “Yes, lord!”
6. 爾時，釋提桓因將五百天人及波遮旬，譬如士夫屈伸臂頃，便從三十三天沒，來至靈鷲山中，離尊者須菩提不遠，復以此偈語波遮旬曰：
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, along with five hundred devas and Pancashikha, vanished from the Heaven of the Thirty-Three and, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, appeared on Mount Grdhrakuuta, not far from the Venerable Subhuuti. Shakra then addressed Pancashikha with this verse:
7.「汝今覺善業， 樂禪三昧定；
柔和清淨音， 今使從禪坐。」
“Now awaken Subhuuti, who delights in meditative concentration,
With your gentle and pure voice,
And rouse him from his meditation.”
8. 波遮旬對曰：「如是。」
Pancashikha replied, “Yes, lord.”
9. 爾時，波遮旬從釋提桓因聞語已，便調琉璃之琴，前至須菩提所，便以此偈歎須菩提曰：
At that time, Pancashikha, having heard Shakra’s words, tuned his crystal lute and went to Subhuuti. He then praised Subhuuti with this verse:
10.「結盡永無餘， 諸念不錯亂；
諸塵垢悉盡， 願速從禪覺。
心息渡有河， 降魔度諸結；
功德如大海， 願速從定起。
眼淨如蓮花， 諸穢永不著；
無歸與作歸， 空定速時起。渡四流無為， 善解無老病；以脫有為災， 唯尊時定覺。
五百天在上， 釋種躬自來；
欲覲聖尊顏， 解空速時起。」
“You who have exhausted all fetters without remainder,
Whose thoughts are never disturbed,
And whose defilements are completely eradicated—
Please rise quickly from your meditation.
You who have calmed your mind and crossed the river of existence,
Who have subdued Maara and overcome all fetters,
Whose merit is as vast as the ocean—
Please rise quickly from your concentration.
Your eyes are as pure as lotuses,
Forever free from all impurities.
You are the refuge for those without refuge—
Please rise quickly from your meditation on Sunya.
You have crossed the four floods and attained the unconditioned,
Skillfully understanding the absence of old age and sickness.
Having escaped the calamities of conditioned existence—
O Honored One, please rise from your meditation.
Five hundred devas are above,
And Shakra himself has come in person,
Wishing to behold your noble countenance—
O master of Sunya, please rise quickly.”
11. 爾時，尊者須菩提即從坐起，復歎波遮旬曰：「善哉！波旬！汝今音與琴合，琴與音合，而無有異。然琴音不離歌音，歌音不離琴音，二事共合，乃成妙聲。」
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti rose from his seat and praised Pancashikha, saying, “Excellent, Pancashikha! Your voice and the lute are in perfect harmony, and the lute and your voice are in perfect harmony, without any difference. Yet, the sound of the lute does not exist apart from the song, and the song does not exist apart from the sound of the lute. The two together create a wonderful melody.”
12. 爾時，釋提桓因便往至尊者須菩提所，頭面禮足在一面坐。爾時，釋提桓因白須菩提言：「云何善業所抱患苦有增損乎？今此身病為從何生？身生耶？意生乎？」
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, went to the Venerable Subhuuti, bowed at his feet, and sat to one side. Shakra then said to Subhuuti, “How is it that the suffering caused by illness increases or decreases? Does this bodily illness arise from the body or from the mind?”
13. 爾時，尊者須菩提語釋提桓因言：「善哉！拘翼！法法自生，法法自滅；法法相動，法法自息。猶如，拘翼！有毒藥，復有害毒藥。天帝釋！此亦如是，法法相亂，法法自息。法能生法，黑法用白法治，白法用黑法治。天帝釋！貪欲病者用不淨治，瞋恚病者用慈心治，愚癡病者用智慧治。如是，釋提桓因！一切所有皆歸於空，無我、無人，無壽、無命，無士、無夫，無形、無像，無男、無女。猶如，釋提桓因！風壞大樹，枝葉彫落；雷雹壞苗，華菓初茂，無水自萎；天降時雨，生苗得存。如是，天帝釋！法法相亂，法法自定，我本所患疼痛苦惱，今日已除，無復患苦。」
The Venerable Subhuuti replied, “Excellent, Kaushika! Phenomena arise by themselves and cease by themselves. Phenomena disturb each other and settle by themselves. Just as, Kaushika, there is poison and there is an antidote to poison, so too, Shakra, phenomena disturb each other and settle by themselves. Phenomena can give rise to other phenomena.
Dark phenomena are counteracted by bright phenomena, and bright phenomena are counteracted by dark phenomena. Shakra, the illness of desire is cured by the contemplation of impurity, the illness of anger is cured by loving-kindness, and the illness of ignorance is cured by wisdom.
Thus, Shakra, all things return to Sunya—there is no self, no person, no life, no soul, no man, no woman, no form, no image. Just as, Shakra, the wind destroys a great tree, causing its leaves to fall, and thunder and hail destroy young sprouts, causing flowers and fruits to wither without water, but timely rain allows the sprouts to survive—so too, Shakra, phenomena disturb each other and settle by themselves. The pain and suffering I previously experienced have now been eradicated, and I am free from illness.”
14. 是時，釋提桓因白須菩提言：「我亦有愁憂苦惱，今聞此法無復有愁憂。眾事猥多，欲還天上。已亦有事及諸天事，皆悉猥多。」
Shakra then said to Subhuuti, “I too had worries and troubles, but after hearing this teaching, I am free from worry. There are many matters to attend to, and I must return to heaven. Both my own affairs and the affairs of the devas are numerous.”
15. 時，須菩提言：「今正是時，宜可時去。」
Subhuuti said, “Now is the time. You may go.”
16. 是時，釋提桓因即從坐起，前禮須菩提足，遶三匝而去。
At that time, Shakra rose from his seat, bowed at Subhuuti’s feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed.
17. 是時，尊者須菩提便說此偈：
At that time, the Venerable Subhuuti spoke this verse:
18. 「能仁說此語， 根本悉具足；智者獲安隱， 聞法息諸病。」
“The Compassionate One has spoken these words,
Which are complete in their essence.
The wise attain peace and security,
And hearing the Dharma eradicates all illnesses.”
19. 爾時，釋提桓因聞尊者須菩提所說，歡喜奉行。
At that time, Shakra, the lord of devas, hearing the Venerable Subhuuti’s words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.