- 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 Shraavasti.
2. 爾時，王波斯匿乘寶羽之車，出舍衛城，至祇洹精舍，欲覲世尊。
諸王常法有五威容，捨著一面，前至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。
At that time, King Prasenajit rode in his bejeweled chariot from Shraavasti to Jetavana to visit the Bhagavaan. Following royal custom with five dignified manners of approach, he laid aside his royal ornaments to one side, approached Bhagavaan, bowed with his head at Bhagavaan’s feet, and sat to one side.
3. 爾時，世尊告大王曰：
「大王當知，世間有四種人出現於世。
云何為四？
或有一人，先闇而後明；
或有一人，先明而後闇；
或有一人，先闇而後闇；
或有一人，先明而後明。
Then Bhagavaan said to the king:
“Great King, you should know there are four kinds of people in the world.
What four?
- One who progresses from darkness to light;
- One who declines from light to darkness;
- One who remains in darkness;
- One who abides in light.
4. 「彼人云何先闇而後明？
於是，或有一人生卑賤家，或旃陀羅種、或噉人種、或工師種、或婬泆家生，或無目、或無手足、或時裸跣、或諸根錯亂；
然復身、口行善法，意念善法。
彼若見沙門、婆羅門、諸尊長者，恒念禮拜，不失時節，迎來起送，先笑後語，隨時供給。
若復有時見乞兒者，若沙門、婆羅門，若路行者，若貧匱者，若有錢財，便持施與，設無財貨者，便往至長者家，乞求施與。
若復見彼施者，便還歡喜踊躍，不能自勝。
身行善法，口修善法，意念善法，身壞命終，生善處天上。
猶如有人，從地至床，從床乘馬，從馬乘象，從象乘講堂，由是故我今說，此人先闇而後明。
如是，大王！此人名曰先闇而後明。
“How does one progress from darkness to light?
Someone born in a low caste – as a chandala, outcaste, labourer, or in a family of loose morals – perhaps blind, limbless, naked, or with impaired faculties; yet who practices bodily, verbal and mental virtue.
When seeing shramanas, brahmanas or elders, they respectfully greet them, properly receive and see them off, speak kindly, and make offerings.
Seeing beggars, shramanas, travelers or the poor, they give what they have, or seek donations from the wealthy to give.
Seeing others give, they rejoice exceedingly.
Practicing bodily, verbal and mental virtue, after death they’re reborn in heaven. Like one ascending from ground to bed, to horse, to elephant, to palace – thus I declare this person progresses from darkness to light.
This, Great King, is called one who progresses from darkness to light.”
5. 「彼人云何先明而後闇？
於是，或有一人在大家生，若剎利種、若長者種、若婆羅門種，饒財多寶，金、銀、珍寶、車、馬碯、水精、琉璃，僕從、奴婢不可稱計，象、馬、䐗、羊皆悉具足。
然復此人顏貌端政，如桃華色，彼人恒懷邪見，邊見相應，彼便有此見：無施、無受，亦無前人何所施物，亦無善惡之行，亦無今世、後世，亦無得道者，世無阿羅漢可承敬者，於今世、後世可作證者。
彼若見沙門、婆羅門，便起瞋恚，無恭敬心。
若見人惠施者，心不喜樂，身、口、意所作行而不平均，以行非法之行，身壞命終，生地獄中。
猶如有人從講堂至象，從象至馬，從馬至床，從床至地。
由是故，我今說此人，如是，大王！所謂此人先明而後闇。
“How does one decline from light to darkness?
Someone born into a noble family – whether kshatriya, wealthy, or brahmana – with abundant treasures of gold, silver, jewels, lapis lazuli, and crystal;
with countless servants, elephants, horses and livestock;
with handsome peach-blossom complexion – yet holding wrong views:
‘There is no giving, no offering, no fruit of good deeds, nor this world or next, no liberated ones, no worthy recipients of offerings.’
Seeing shramanas and brahmanas, they become angry and disrespectful. Seeing others give, they feel displeased. Their bodily, verbal and mental actions are unwholesome. After death, they fall into hell. Like one descending from palace to elephant, to horse, to bed, to ground – thus I declare this person declines from light to darkness.
This, Great King, is called one who declines from light to darkness.”
6. 「彼云何有人從闇至闇？
若復有人生卑賤家，或旃陀羅家、或噉人家、或極下窮家，此人必生此中，或復有時，諸根不具，顏色麁惡。
然復彼人恒懷邪見，彼便有此見：無今世、後世，無沙門、婆羅門，亦無得道者，亦無阿羅漢可承敬者，亦無今世、後世可作證者。
彼若見沙門、婆羅門，便起瞋恚，無恭敬心。
若見人來惠施者，心不喜樂，身、口、意所作行而不平等，誹謗聖人，毀辱三尊。
彼既自不施，又見他施，甚懷瞋恚，以行瞋恚，身壞命終，生地獄中。
猶如有人從闇至闇，從火焰至火焰，捨智就愚。
由是而言，此人可謂先闇而後闇，大王當知，故名此人從闇至闇。
“How does one remain in darkness?
Someone born into a low caste family – chandala, outcaste, or extremely poor – perhaps with impaired faculties and ugly appearance, holding wrong views such as:
“There is no this world, no next world, no shramanas, no brahmanas, no one who has attained the path, no Arhats worthy of reverence, no witnesses to the truth of this world or the next.”
Seeing shramanas and brahmanas, they become angry and disrespectful.
Seeing others give, they feel displeased.
Their bodily, verbal and mental actions are unvirtuous – slandering saints and insulting the Triple Gem. They neither give nor rejoice in others’ giving, but instead grow angry. After death, they fall into hell. Like moving from darkness to deeper darkness, from fire to fiercer fire, abandoning wisdom for folly.
Thus I declare this person remains in darkness.
Know this, Great King, as one who remains in darkness.”
7. 「彼名何等人從明至明？
或有一人生豪族家，或剎利種、或國王家、或大臣家，饒財多寶，不可稱計。
然復彼人顏色端政，如桃華色。
彼人恒有正見，心無錯亂。
彼有此正見：有施、有福、有受者，有善、惡之報，有今世、後世，有沙門、婆羅門。
設復彼人若見沙門、婆羅門，起恭敬心，和顏悅色，己身恒喜布施，亦復勸人使行布施之，設布施之日，心懷踊躍，不能自勝，彼身行善，口行善，意行善，身壞命終生善處。
猶如有人從講堂至講堂，從宮至宮。
由是而言，我今說此人從明至明。
是為，大王！世間有此四人。」
“Who abides in light? Someone born into nobility – kshatriya, royal or ministerial families – with immeasurable wealth and handsome peach-blossom complexion, possessing right view and their mind is not confused or deluded.
They possess this correct view: There is giving (daana), there is merit (punya), there are recipients, there are results of wholesome and unwholesome actions, there is this life and the next, and there are shramanas and brahmanas.
Seeing noble ones, they are respectful and cheerful. They delight in giving and encourage others to give, rejoicing exceedingly when giving. Practicing bodily, verbal and mental virtue, after death they are reborn in a good destination. Like moving from palace to grander palace.
Thus I declare this person abides in light.
These, Great King, are the four kinds of people in the world.”
8. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「王當知貧人， 有信好布施，
見沙門婆羅， 及諸可施者，
能復起迎逆， 而教於正見，
施時極歡喜， 所求不逆人。
Then the Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“O King, you should know – a poor person with faith who delights in giving,
When seeing shramanas, brahmanas, or any worthy recipients,
Rises to welcome them and teaches the right view,
Gives with utmost joy and never turns away those who ask.
彼人是良友， 終不為惡行，
恒喜行正見， 常念求善法。
Such a person is a true friend who never commits evil,
Always delights in right view and constantly seeks virtuous ways.
大王如彼人， 死時有所適，
必生兜術天， 先闇而後明。」
O King, when such a person dies,
They will surely be reborn in the Tusita heaven – from darkness to light.”
如人極為富， 不信好喜恚，
慳貪心怯弱， 邪見而不改。
“But an extremely wealthy person without faith, prone to anger,
stingy, cowardly, and stubborn in wrong views,
見沙門梵志， 及諸乞求者，
恒喜呵罵詈， 邪見言無有。
When seeing shramanas, brahmanas or those in need,
constantly abuses them, claiming ‘there is no merit’ with wrong views.
「見施起瞋恚， 不令有施人，
彼人行極弊， 造諸惡[26]元本。
“He grows angry at charity, preventing others from giving alms,
his conduct utterly depraved, planting seeds of wickedness.
如是彼人者， 臨欲命終時，
當生地獄中， 先明而後闇。
When such a man approaches death,
he shall descend to hell – from light into darkness.
如有貧賤人， 無信好瞋恚，
造諸不善行， 邪見不信正。
Or consider a poor and lowly man, faithless and wrathful,
Committing evil deeds, clinging to false views, rejecting truth –
設見沙門士， 及諸可事者，
「而[1]取輕毀之， 慳貪無有信。
Should he encounter noble shramanas or worthy recipients,
“He scorns and reviles them – miserly, devoid of faith,
施時而不喜， 見他施亦然，
彼人所造行， 所適無安處。
Gives reluctantly, resents others’ charity,
Such a man’s deeds lead to no place of peace.
如此彼之人， 必當取命終，
當生地獄中， 先闇而後闇。」
When this wretch meets his end,
Hell shall claim him – from darkness to deeper darkness.”
「如人極有財， 有信好布施，
正見不[2]他念， 恒喜求善法。
“But a wealthy man of faith, devoted to giving,
Steadfast in right view, ever seeking Dharma,
設見諸道士， 及諸可施者，
起[3]恭迎敬之， 而學於正見。
When seeing noble ones or worthy recipients,
He greets them reverently, learning right view.
與時極和悅， 常念於平均，
惠施無悋惜， 不逆於人心。
Gives joyfully, mindful of fairness,
Bestows gifts freely, never opposing others.
彼人受命[4]決， 不造諸非法，
當知彼之人， 臨欲命終時，
必生好善處， 先明而後明。」
His destiny is sure, avoiding wrongdoing,
Know when such a man dies,
He will reach blissful realms – from light to greater light.”
9. 「是故，大王！當學先[5]明而後明，莫學先明而後闇。
如是，大王！當作是學。」
“Therefore, O king! You should strive for light followed by greater light, not light followed by darkness.
Thus, O king, you should train yourself in this way.”
10. 爾時，波斯匿王聞佛所說，歡喜奉行。
When the King Prasenajit heard what the Budha said, he followed it with joy.