《南傳法句經》第106偈

故事為鄙人摘譯自 K. Sri Dhammananda 長老主編的英文版 The Dhammapada，添枝減葉若干。

　　《法句經》第106偈揭示往生梵天界（Brahma world）的穩當方法。有一回，舍利弗問他的婆羅門舅舅：「您近來是否做了功德？」舅舅答說：「我每個月都布施給裸形梵志，希望來世能投生到梵天界。」舍利弗搖頭分說：「您的師長根本不明白往生梵天界的法門呀。」說完後，便領著舅舅前往拜見佛陀，請求佛陀說法，指出一條絕對能投生梵天界的路子。

　　佛陀對機開示說：「供養一位真正的聖者，儘管只是一湯勺的食物，也遠勝於你供養其他不值得尊崇的人。」

［巴利原文與英譯取自 Nārada 長老編譯的 The Dhammapada］

106 A Moment’s Honour to the Worthy Is Better than Long Continued Honour to the Unworthy

Māse māse sahassena

Yo yajetha sataṃ samaṃ

Ekañ ca bhāvitattānaṃ

Muhuttam api pūjaye

Sā yeva pūjanā seyyo

Yañ ce vassasataṃ hutaṃ

Though month after month, with a thousand kahāpaṇas, one should make an offering for a hundred years, yet, if, only for a moment, one should honour (a saint) who has perfected himself, that honour is, indeed, better than a century of sacrifice.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

月月祭千金，祭祀供百年，

未若須臾頃，供養修己者。

如是之供養，勝祭祀百年。

NOTES　

註釋主要依據: A Dictionary of the Pali Language, by R. C. Childers;

Pali-English Dictionary, by T. W. Rhys Davids and W. Stede

Māsa: (m/n) a month     loc. māse māse: every month, month after month

Sahassaṃ: (num) a thousand     sahassena: a thousand times

Yo: (pron. m) who, what, which; he who, whoever     (n) yaṃ     (f) yā

Yajati: to sacrifice, worship, revere, make an offering, give alms   opt. yajetha   pp. yajita, yiṭṭha     (n) yiṭṭhaṃ: sacrifice, almsgiving

Sahassena yajati: to give alms or make sacrifices of the value of a thousand kahāpaṇas (kahāpaṇa: a certain coin made of copper, silver, or gold)

Sataṃ: (num) a hundred

Samā: (f) a year

Sataṃ samaṃ: for a hundred years

Eka: (adj) one, single; alone; a certain; the same; chief; unique

Bhāveti: to cultivate, cause to exist, produce; increase, perfect; practice, be versed in, develop; dwell upon, contemplate     pp. bhāvita: practiced, perfected, trained, developed

Attā, ātumā: (m) self, body, person, individuality; life, mind, soul           acc. attaṃ, attānaṃ   ins./abl. attanā    gen./dat. attano: of oneself, one’s

Bhāvitattā: (m) one who has perfected himself

Muhutta: (m) a moment, a while    acc. muhuttaṃ: for a moment, for a while

Muhuttam api: even for a moment

Pūjeti, pūjayati: to revere, honor (with), offer, present (with)    opt. pūjaye

Sā: (pron. f) this; that

Eva, yeva: (adv) just, quite, even, only

Pūjanā: (f) veneration, honor, worship

Ce: (adv) even, if

Seyya: (adj) better, excellent     (m/n/f nom.) seyyo

Vassa: (m/n) a year, rain

Vassasataṃ: for a hundred years

Huta: (n) sacrifice     (pp. of juhoti: to sacrifice)