1. 聞如是：
一時，佛在羅閱城迦蘭陀竹園所，與大比丘五百人俱。
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Budha was staying at the Kalandaka Venuvana in Raajagriha, accompanied by a great assembly of five hundred bhikshus.
2. 爾時，提婆達兜惡人便往至婆羅留支王子所，告王子言：
昔者，民氓壽命極長，如今人壽不過百年。
王子當知，人命無常，備不登位，中命終者不亦痛哉！
王子，時可斷父王命，統領國人。
我今當殺沙門瞿曇！
作無上至真、等正覺，於摩竭國界，新王、新佛，不亦快哉！
如日貫雲，靡所不照，如月雲消，眾星中明。
爾時，婆羅留支王子即收父王，著鐵牢中，更立臣佐，統領人民。
At that time, the wicked Devadatta went to Prince Bhallika and said:
“In the past, people lived extremely long lives, but now human lifespans do not exceed a hundred years. Prince, you should know that human life is impermanent. If you do not ascend to the throne and die midway, would that not be tragic? Prince, now is the time to end your father’s life and rule over the people.
I will kill the ascetic Gautama!
Then, in the land of Magadha, there will be a new king and a new Budha—how wonderful that would be!
Like the sun piercing through the clouds, illuminating all, or like the moon dispersing the clouds, shining brightly among the stars.”
At that time, Prince Bhallika imprisoned his father in an iron cell, appointed new ministers, and took control of the people.
3. 爾時，有眾多比丘入羅閱城乞食，便聞提婆達兜教王子收父王，著鐵牢中，更立臣佐。
是時，眾多比丘乞食，還歸所在，攝舉衣鉢，往至世尊所。
頭面禮足，白世尊曰：
朝入城乞食，聞提婆達兜愚人教王子使收父王，閉著牢獄，更立臣佐。
復勅王子言：
汝殺父王，我害如來，於此摩竭國界，新王、新佛，不亦快哉！
At that time, many bhikshus entered Raajagriha to beg for alms and heard that Devadatta had advised Prince Bhallika to imprison his father in an iron cell and appoint new ministers.
After begging for alms, the bhikshus returned to their dwelling, gathered their robes and bowls, and went to the Bhagavaan. They bowed at his feet and said:
“This morning, while begging for alms in the city, we heard that the foolish Devadatta advised Prince Bhallika to imprison his father in a cell and appoint new ministers. He also told the prince: ‘You kill your father, and I will kill the Tathaagata. In the land of Magadha, there will be a new king and a new Budha—how wonderful that would be!’“
4. 爾時，臣佐亦行非法；
臣佐已行非法，爾時王太子亦行非法；
太子已行非法，爾時群臣、長吏亦行非法；
群臣、長吏已行非法，爾時國界人民亦行非法；
國界人民已行非法，爾時人眾兵馬亦行非法；
兵眾已行非法，爾時日月倒錯運度失時；
日月已失時，便無年歲；
已無年歲，日差月錯，無復精光；
日月已無精光，爾時星宿現怪。
星宿已現變怪，便有暴風起；
已有暴風起，神祇瞋恚；
神祇已瞋恚，爾時風雨不時。
爾時穀子在地者便不長大，人民之類、蜎飛蠕動，顏色改變，壽命極短。
At that time, the ministers also acted unrighteously.
When the ministers acted unrighteously, the crown prince also acted unrighteously.
When the crown prince acted unrighteously, the officials and administrators also acted unrighteously.
When the officials and administrators acted unrighteously, the people of the kingdom also acted unrighteously.
When the people acted unrighteously, the soldiers and armies also acted unrighteously.
When the soldiers acted unrighteously, the sun and moon reversed their courses, and timekeeping became disordered.
When the sun and moon lost their proper course, years and months became meaningless.
When years and months became meaningless, the sun and moon deviated from their paths and lost their brilliance.
When the sun and moon lost their brilliance, the stars and constellations displayed strange omens.
When the stars displayed strange omens, violent winds arose.
When violent winds arose, the deities became angry.
When the deities became angry, the rains and winds became untimely.
When the rains and winds became untimely, the crops in the fields failed to grow.
The people, along with all creatures—whether crawling or flying—changed in appearance, and their lifespans became extremely short.”
5. 若復有時，王法治正，爾時群臣亦行正法；
群臣已行正法，時王太子亦行正法；
王太子已行正法，爾時長吏亦行正法；
長吏已行正法，國界人民亦行正法；
日月順常，風雨以時，災怪不現，神祇歡喜，五穀熾盛；
君臣和穆相視，如兄如弟，終無增損；
有形之類，顏色光潤，食自消化，無有災害，壽命極長，人所愛敬。
On the other hand, when the king governs with righteous laws,
The ministers also act righteously.
When the ministers act righteously, the crown prince also acts righteously.
When the crown prince acts righteously, the officials and administrators also act righteously.
When the officials and administrators act righteously, the people of the kingdom also act righteously.
The sun and moon follow their proper courses,
The winds and rains come at the right time,
Disasters and omens do not appear,
The deities are joyful,
And the five grains flourish abundantly.
The king and his ministers live in harmony,
Treating each other like brothers,
Without conflict or harm.
All living beings are radiant in appearance,
Their food is easily digested,
There are no disasters or calamities,
Lifespans are extremely long,
And they are loved and respected by all.”
6. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
猶如牛渡水，導者而不正；
一切皆不正，斯由本導故。
眾生亦如是，眾中必有導；
導者行非法，況復下細人。
萠類盡受苦，由王法不正；
以知非法行，一切民亦然。
猶如牛渡水，導者而行正；
從者亦皆正，斯由本導故。
眾生亦如是，眾中必有導；
導者行正法，況復下庶人。
萠類盡受樂，由王法教正；
以知正法行，一切民亦然。
At that time, the Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“Just as when cattle cross water,
If the leader strays from the path,
All will stray—
This is because of the leader’s guidance.
So too with living beings:
Among them, there must be a leader.
If the leader acts unrighteously,
How much more so will the common people?
All will suffer,
For the king’s laws are unrighteous.
Thus, when unrighteousness prevails,
All the people suffer alike.
But when cattle cross water,
If the leader follows the right path,
All will follow—
This is because of the leader’s guidance.
So too with living beings:
Among them, there must be a leader.
If the leader acts righteously,
How much more so will the common people?
All will experience joy,
For the king’s laws are righteous.
Thus, when righteousness prevails,
All the people rejoice alike.”
7. 是故，諸比丘！
當捨非法而行正法。
如是，諸比丘！
當作是學。
爾時，諸比丘聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
“Therefore, bhikshus, you should abandon unrighteousness and practice righteousness. In this way, bhikshus, you should train yourselves.”
At that time, the bhikshus, hearing the Budha’s words, accepted them with joy and practiced accordingly.