1. 聞如是: 一時,佛在舍衛國、祇樹、給孤獨園。
Thus I have heard: One time, the Budha was staying at
Anaathapindidas Ashrama in Jetavana of Shraavastii.
2. 爾時,世尊告諸比丘:「世有二人,無有厭足而取命終。云何為二人?所謂得財物恒藏舉之;復有得物而喜與人。是謂二人無有厭足而取命終。」
At that time, the Bhagavaan addressed the bhikshus, saying:
“There are two kinds of people who, even until the end of their lives, are never truly satisfied.
Who are these two?
One is the person who accumulates wealth and hoards it, never using it;
the other is the person who acquires wealth and takes joy in giving it away.
These two, O bhikshus, never experience contentment before their passing.”
3. 爾時,有比丘白世尊曰:「我等,世尊!不解此略說之義。云何得物藏舉?云何得物與人?唯願世尊廣演其義。」
At that time, a bhikshu addressed the Bhagavaan, saying:
“Bhagavaan, we do not fully understand the concise teaching you have given.
What does it mean to accumulate wealth and hoard it?
And what does it mean to acquire wealth and give it away?
We earnestly request the Bhagavaan to expound upon this teaching in detail.”
4. 世尊告曰:「諦聽!諦聽!善思念之,吾當為汝分別其義。」
The Bhagavaan said:
“Listen attentively! Listen attentively!
Reflect deeply on this, and I shall explain the meaning to you in detail.”
5. 對曰:「如是。」
爾時,佛告諸比丘:「於是,有族姓子學諸 技術,或習田作,或習書疏,或習計算,或習天文,或習地理,或習卜相,或學遠使,或作王佐,不避寒暑、飢寒、懃苦,而自營己。彼作是功力而獲財物,彼人不能食噉,亦不與妻子,亦不與奴婢親親之屬,皆悉不與。彼所得財物,或王劫奪,或 復被賊,或火燒水 漂,分散異處,不獲其利,即於家中有人分散此物,不得停住。是謂,比丘!得財藏舉者也。
The Bhagavaan said:
“There is a certain kulaputra (noble-born person) who learns various vidyaa (skills): some engage in farming, some in writing and correspondence, some in calculations, some study astronomy, some geography, some practice divination, some serve as messengers in distant lands, and some become royal ministers.
Regardless of extreme heat or cold, hunger or exhaustion, they strive diligently for their livelihood.
Through such efforts, they accumulate artha (wealth), yet they neither enjoy it themselves nor share it with their wife, servants, relatives, or kin.
Their hoarded wealth may be seized by the king, stolen by thieves, consumed by fire, or swept away by floods, scattered beyond their reach.
Ultimately, their possessions are dispersed among others in the household and do not remain with them.
This, O bhikshus, is called ‘accumulating wealth but never using it.'”
6. 「彼云何得財分布?有族姓子學諸 伎術,或習田作,或習書䟽,或習計算,或習天 文、地理,或習卜相,或學遠使,或作王佐,不避寒暑、飢寒、懃苦,而自營己。彼作是功力而獲財物,彼人惠施眾生,給與父母、奴婢、妻子,亦復廣及沙門、婆羅門,造諸功德,種天上之福。是謂,比丘!得而惠施。是謂,比丘!二人無厭足。如前一人得財物而舉者,當念捨離;第二人得而廣布,當學此業。如是,諸比丘!當作是學。」
The Bhagavaan continued:
“And how does one distribute wealth wisely?
There is a certain kulaputra (noble-born person) who, like the previous one, learns various vidyaa (skills): some engage in farming, some in writing and correspondence, some in calculations, some study astronomy, some geography, some practice divination, some serve as messengers in distant lands, and some become royal ministers.
Regardless of extreme heat or cold, hunger or exhaustion, they strive diligently for their livelihood.
Through such efforts, they accumulate artha (wealth), but unlike the previous person, they practice daana (generosity). They share their wealth with parents, servants, wife, and kin.
Furthermore, they extend their generosity to shramana and braahmana, performing meritorious deeds and planting the seeds of svarga (heavenly) blessings.
This, O bhikshus, is called ‘gaining wealth and practicing generosity.’
Thus, these are the two kinds of people who never feel satisfied:
the one who hoards wealth and the one who shares it freely.
The first should be urged to abandon attachment, while the second should be encouraged to continue their noble practice.
Therefore, O bhikshus, train yourselves in this way!”
7. 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.