- 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，尊者阿難至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面住，斯須，復以兩手摩如來足已，復以口嗚如來足上，而作是說：
「天尊之體，何故乃爾？身極緩爾，如來之身不如本故。」
Then, the Venerable Ananda approached the Bhagavaan, bowed his head at the Tathaagata’s feet, and stood to one side.
After a moment, he massaged the Tathaagata’s feet with his hands and kissed them, saying:
“Why is the body of the Budha so different? It has become extremely weak – the Tathaagata’s body is not as it was before.”
3. 世尊告曰：「如是。
阿難！如汝所言，今如來身皮肉已緩，今日之體不如本故。
所以然者，夫受形體，為病所逼。若應病眾生，為病所困；
應死眾生，為死所逼。
今日如來，年已衰微，年過八十。」
The Bhagavaan replied:
“Indeed, Ananda! As you say, the Tathaagata’s skin and flesh have grown slack, this body is not as before.
Why is this?
Any embodied being is afflicted by illness. Those subject to illness are troubled by illness; those subject to death are oppressed by death. Now the Tathaagata has grown aged, over eighty years old.”
4. 是時，阿難聞此語已，悲泣哽噎，不能自勝，並作是語：
「咄嗟，老至乃至於斯。」
Hearing this, Ananda wept bitterly, overcome with emotion, and exclaimed:
“Alas! That old age should come even to this!”
5. 是時，世尊到時，著衣持鉢，入舍衛城乞食。
是時，世尊漸漸乞食，至王波斯匿舍。
當於爾時，波斯匿門前，有故壞車數十乘，捨在一面。
Then the Bhagavaan, robed and carrying his bowl, entered Shraavasti for alms. Gradually begging for food, he came to King Prasenajit’s palace.
At that time, several dozen broken old chariots were abandoned near the palace gates.
6. 是時，尊者阿難以見車棄在一面，見已，白世尊曰：
「此車王波斯匿車，昔日作時極為精妙，如今日觀之，與瓦石同色。」
Seeing these discarded chariots, Venerable Ananda said to the Bhagavaan:
“These were King Prasenajit’s chariots – once exquisitely crafted, but now they appear no different from common stones.”
7. 世尊告曰：「如是，阿難！
如汝所言，如今觀所有車，昔日之時極為精妙，金銀所造，今日壞敗，不可復用。
如是外物尚壞敗，況復內者？」
The Bhagavaan replied:
“So it is, Ananda! As you observe – though these chariots were once splendid, made of gold and silver, now they lie ruined and useless. If even external things decay thus, how much more this human body?”
8. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「咄此老病死， 壞人極盛色，
初時甚悅意， 今為死使逼。
Then the Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“Behold! Aging, sickness and death,
Destroy even the most vibrant form,
Once so full of joy and vigor,
Now oppressed by Death’s command.
雖當壽百歲， 皆當歸於死，
無免此患苦， 盡當歸此道。
Though one may live a hundred years,
All must eventually meet death,
None escape this suffering –
Every being walks this path.
如內身所有， 為死之所驅，
外諸四大者， 悉趣於本無。
This very body we possess,
Is driven onward toward death,
The external elements too,
All return to their origin.
是故求無死， 唯有涅槃耳，
彼無死無生， 都無此諸行。」
Therefore seek deathlessness
In Nirvana alone –
Where neither death nor birth exists,
And all conditioned things cease.”
9. 爾時，世尊即就波斯匿王坐。
Then the Bhagavaan took his seat at King Prasenajit’s invitation.
10. 是時，王波斯匿與世尊辦種種飲食。
觀世尊食竟，王更取一小座，在如來前坐，白世尊曰：
「云何，世尊！諸佛形體皆金剛數，亦當有老、病、死乎？」
King Prasenajit served the Bhagavaan various foods.
After the meal, the king took a low seat and asked:
“Bhagavaan, if the Tathaagata’s body is vajra-like, how can it be subject to aging, sickness and death?”
11. 世尊告曰：「如是，大王！如大王語，如來亦當有此生、老、病、死。
我今亦是人數，父名真淨，母名摩耶，出轉輪聖王種。」
The Bhagavaan replied:
“Indeed, great king! As you say, the Tathaagata experiences birth, aging, sickness and death. I too am human – born of King Shudhodana and Queen Maya, of the lineage of Chakravartin kings.”
12. 爾時，世尊便說此偈：
「諸佛出於人， 父名曰真淨，
母名極清妙， 豪族剎利種。
Then the Bhagavaan spoke this verse:
“All Budhas arise among humans,
Born to a father named Shudhodana,
A mother most pure and noble,
Of the mighty Kshatriya lineage.
死徑為極困， 都不觀尊卑，
諸佛尚不免， 況復餘凡俗。」
Death’s path brings ultimate distress –
It spares none, high or low.
Even Budhas cannot escape it,
How much less ordinary beings?”
13. 爾時，世尊與波斯匿王而說此偈：
「祠祀火為上， 詩書頌為尊，
人中王為貴， 眾流海為首。
Then the Bhagavaan spoke this verse to King Prasenajit:
“Among sacrifices, fire is supreme;
Among scriptures, hymns are most revered.
Among men, the king is most honored;
Among waters, the ocean reigns foremost.
眾星月為上， 光明日為先，
八方上下中， 世界之所載。
Among stars, the moon shines brightest;
Among lights, the sun stands preeminent.
In all directions – above, below, between –
Throughout the entire world-system,
天及世人民， 如來最為尊，
其欲求福祿， 當供養三佛。」
Among gods and worldly people,
The Tathaagata is supreme.
Those seeking merit and blessings
Should make offerings to the Triple Budha.”
14. 是時，世尊說此偈已，便從座起而去，還祇洹精舍，就座而坐。
Having spoken this verse, the Bhagavaan rose from his seat and returned to the Jetavana monastery, where he took his place.
15. 爾時，世尊告諸比丘：
「有四法，在世間人所愛敬。
云何為四？
少壯之年，世間人民之所愛敬；無有病痛，人所愛敬；壽命，人所愛敬；恩愛集聚，人所愛敬。
是謂，比丘！有此四法，世間人民之所愛敬。
Then the Bhagavaan addressed the bhikshus:
“There are four things cherished by worldly people.
What are they?
Youth is cherished by worldly people;
freedom from illness is cherished;
long life is cherished; and
the gathering of loved ones is cherished.
These, O bhikshus, are the four things cherished by worldly people.
16. 「復次，比丘復有四法，世間人民所不愛敬。
云何為四？比丘當知，少壯之年，若時老病，世人所不喜；
若無病者，後便得病，世人所不喜；
若有得壽命，後便命終，世人所不喜；
恩愛得集，後復別離，是世人所不喜。
是謂，比丘！有此四法與世迴轉，諸天、世人，乃至轉輪聖王、諸佛世尊，共有此法，是為，比丘！世間有此四法與世迴轉。
Furthermore, O bhikshus, there are four things that worldly people do not cherish.
What are they? Know this, bhikshus:
when youth gives way to old age and sickness, it is unwelcome; when health turns to illness, it is unwelcome;
when long life ends in death, it is unwelcome; and
when the gathering of loved ones leads to separation, it is unwelcome.
These, O bhikshus, are the four inevitable changes of the world—shared by gods and men, even by Chakravartin kings and the Budhas, the Bhagavaans.
Thus, O bhikshus, these four changes revolve through the world.”
17. 「若不覺此四法時，便流轉生死，周旋五道。
云何為四？聖賢戒、賢聖三昧、賢聖智慧、賢聖解脫。
是為，比丘！有此四法而不覺知者，則受上四法。
我今及汝等，以覺知此賢聖四法，斷生死根，不復受有。
如今如來形體衰老，當受此衰耗之報。
是故，諸比丘！當求此永寂涅槃，不生、不老、不病、不死，恩愛別離，常念無常之變。
如是，比丘，當作是念。」
“Those who fail to awaken to these Four Arya Dharmas will continue revolving in samsara, cycling through the five realms.
What are these four?
1. Arya Shila – Noble Discipline,
2. Arya Samaadhi – Noble Meditative Concentration,
3. Arya Prajna – Noble Wisdom, and
4. Arya Vimukti – Noble Liberation.
O bhikshus! Those unaware of these Four Arya Dharmas remain bound to worldly suffering. But now, I and you all, having realized these four Dharmas, we have severed the root of rebirth.
Though this Tathaagata’s body decays according to natural law, you must pursue Nirvana’s eternal peace—where there is no birth, aging, sickness, death, or parting from loved ones. Constantly contemplate impermanence of all conditioned things.
Thus, O bhikshus, you should contemplate in this way.”
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.