- 聞如是：
一時，佛在占波國雷聲池側。
Thus have I heard:
At one time, Budha was staying by the Vajra-nirghosha–saras in the country of Champa.
2. 是時，尊者二十億耳在一靜處，自修法本，不捨頭陀十二法行，晝夜經行，不離三十七道品之教，若坐、若行，常修正法，初夜、中夜、竟夜，恒自剋勵，不捨斯須，然復不能於欲漏法心得解脫。
是時，尊者二十億耳所經行處，脚壞血流，盈滿路側，猶如屠牛之處，烏鵲食血，然復不能於欲漏心得解脫。
是時，尊者二十億耳便作是念：
「釋迦文佛苦行精進弟子中，我為第一，然我今日漏心不得解脫；
又我家業，多財饒寶，宜可捨服，還作白衣，持財物廣惠施。
然今作沙門，甚難不易！」
At that time, the venerable Shrona Koti–vimsha was in a quiet place, practicing the Dharma. He did not abandon the twelve shramanic practices, walked in meditation day and night, and never strayed from the teachings of the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment (Sapta–trimshad bodhi-pakshika dharmaah).
Whether sitting or walking, he constantly cultivated the true Dharma. During the first, middle, and last watches of the night, he continually disciplined himself without a moment’s rest. Yet, he was still unable to free his mind from the defilements of desire. The place where the venerable Shrona walked was stained with blood from his injured feet, filling the roadside like a slaughterhouse where crows and magpies feed on blood.
Still, he could not free his mind from the defilements of desire. Then, the venerable Shrona thought, “Among the disciples of Shaakyamuni Budha, I am the foremost in ascetic practice and diligence. Yet, today, my mind is still not free from the defilements of desire. Moreover, my family is wealthy and possesses many treasures. Perhaps I should renounce the bhikshu life, return to lay life, and use my wealth to practice generosity. Being a bhikshu is indeed very difficult!”
3. 爾時，世尊遙知二十億耳心之所念，便騰遊虛空，至彼經行處，敷坐具而坐。
是時，尊者二十億耳前至佛所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
At that time, Bhagavaan, knowing Shrona’s thoughts from afar, traveled through the air and arrived at the place where Shrona was walking. He spread out his sitting mat and sat down. The Venerable Shrona approached Bhagavaan, bowed his head at his feet, and sat to one side.
4. 爾時，世尊問二十億耳曰：
「汝向何故作是念：
『釋迦文尼佛精進苦行弟子中，我為第一，然我今日漏心不得解脫；
又我家業，饒財多寶，宜可捨服，還作白衣，持財物廣施。
然今作沙門，甚難不易。』」
Bhagavaan asked Shrona, “Why did you think, ‘Among the disciples of Shaakyamuni Budha, I am the foremost in diligence and shramanic practice. Yet, today, my mind is still not free from the defilements of desire. Moreover, my family is wealthy and possesses many treasures. Perhaps I should renounce the bhikshu life, return to lay life, and use my wealth to practice generosity. Being a bhikshu is indeed very difficult’?”
5. 二十億耳對曰：「如是。世尊！」
Shrona replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan.”
6. 世尊告曰：
「我今還問汝，隨汝報我。
云何，二十億耳！
汝本在家時，善彈琴乎？」
Bhagavaan said, “I will now ask you, and you shall answer me. Tell me, Shrona, when you were a householder, were you skilled at playing the lute?”
7. 二十億耳對曰：「如是。世尊！
我本在家時，善能彈琴。」
Shrona replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan. When I was a householder, I was skilled at playing the lute.”
8. 世尊告曰：
「云何，二十億耳！
若彈絃極急，嚮不齊等，爾時琴音可聽採不？」
Bhagavaan asked, “Tell me, Shrona, if the strings are tuned too tightly, so that the sound is uneven, can the music be pleasing to hear?”
9. 二十億耳對曰：「不也。世尊！」
Shrona replied, “No, Bhagavaan.”
10. 世尊告曰：「云何，二十億耳！若琴絃復緩，爾時琴音可聽採不？」
Bhagavaan asked, “Tell me, Shrona, if the strings are tuned too loosely, can the music be pleasing to hear?”
11. 二十億耳對曰：「不也，世尊！」
Shrona replied, “No, Bhagavaan.”
12. 世尊告曰：「云何，二十億耳！若琴絃不急不緩，爾時琴音可聽採不？」
Bhagavaan asked, “Tell me, Shrona, if the strings are tuned neither too tightly nor too loosely, can the music be pleasing to hear?”
13. 二十億耳對曰：「如是。世尊！
若琴絃不緩不急，爾時琴音便可聽採。」
Shrona replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan. If the strings are tuned neither too tightly nor too loosely, the music is pleasing to hear.”
14. 世尊告曰：「此亦如是。
極精進者，猶如調戲；若懈怠者，此墮邪見；若能在中者，此則上行。
如是不久，當成無漏人。」
Bhagavaan said, “It is the same with practice. Excessive diligence is like tuning the strings too tightly; laziness leads to wrong views. But if you practice with balance, this is the superior path. In this way, you will soon become one who is free from defilements.”
15. 爾時，世尊與二十億耳比丘說微妙法已，還雷音池側。
After Bhagavaan had expounded this profound teaching to the Venerable Shrona, he returned to the side of the Vajra-nirghosha-saras.
16. 爾時，尊者二十億耳思惟世尊教勅，不捨須臾，在閑靜處修行其法。所以族姓子出家學道，剃除鬚髮，修無上梵行：
生死已盡，梵行已立，所作已辦，更不復受有，如實知之。
尊者二十億耳便成阿羅漢。
At that time, the venerable Shrona reflected on Bhagavaan’s teaching without a moment’s rest. He practiced the Dharma in a quiet place.
As a noble son who had left home to pursue the path, shaved his head, and cultivated the supreme noble life, he realized:
“Birth and death are exhausted, the noble life has been established, what needed to be done has been done, and there will be no further becoming.”
Thus, the venerable Shrona became an Arhant.
17. 爾時，世尊告諸比丘：
「我聲聞中第一弟子精懃苦行，所謂二十億耳比丘是。」
At that time, Bhagavaan said to the Bhikshus,
“Among my disciples, the foremost in diligence and ascetic practice is the bhikshu Shrona Koti–vimsha.”
18. 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.