《南傳法句經》第107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107偈承續前一偈的要旨，但主角換成舍利弗的外甥，出家前，他也是婆羅門。有一回，舍利弗問他：「你近來是否做了任何功德？」外甥答說：「我每個月都貢獻一隻羊當火供祭品，期望下輩子能投生梵天界。」舍利弗語重心長說：「你的老師教你的，無非是虛幻的期待，他們根本不曉得往生梵天界的方法。」

　　隨後，舍利弗引領這位年輕的婆羅門外甥去見佛陀。佛陀向他開示，教他可以往生梵天界的佛法，並告訴他：「頂禮真正的聖人，儘管只有須臾片刻，遠勝於火供祭獻一百年。」

注：「火供」最早源自婆羅門的吠陀祭祀，當時盛行於伊朗和印度。有些人把火視為神祇之一；有些人則相信透過火供，他們可以討好神祇，因而獲得賜福與庇護。此外，祭獻動物、在聖河沐浴也是普遍的修行儀式。那時，佛陀是唯一指出這些方法全是徒勞無益的宗教導師。

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

107 A Moment’s Honour to the Pure Is Better than a Century of Fire-Sacrifice

Yo ce vassasataṃ jantu

Aggiṃ paricare vane

Ekañ ca bhāvitattānaṃ

Muhuttam api pūjaye

Sā yeva pūjanā seyyo

Yañ ce vassasataṃ hutaṃ

Though, for a century, a man should tend the (sacred) fire in the forest, yet, if, only for a moment, he should honour (a saint) who has perfected himself, that honour is, indeed, better than a century of fire-sacrifice.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

林中拜火神，事火一百年，

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

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

Ce: (adv) even, if

Vassa: (m/n) a year, rain

Vassasataṃ: for a hundred years

Jantu: (m) a creature; an animal; a man, person

Aggi: (m) fire, flames, sparks; sacrificial fire; Agni - the deity of fire

Paricarati: to attend, minister to, serve, honor; wander about    opt. paricare

Aggiṃ paricarati: to keep a fire constantly burning, to keep up the sacred fire (worship Agni – the Hindu fire god)

Vana: (n) forest, a wood, grove

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

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

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