《南傳法句經》第 28 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 28 偈的故事挺有意思，縱使是大修行者也難抵好奇心發作，疏忽了正經事。話說有一回，大迦葉（Mahā Kassapa）尊者在畢缽離（Pipphali）洞窟修行的時候，運用神通去察看誰正念現前、誰放逸混日，還有誰快要撒手人寰了、誰即將再度出生。

　　這時，佛陀從精舍裡透過天眼察見大迦葉的行為，想要勸告他，他只是在浪費時間罷了（註）。於是放光出現在大迦葉的面前，告誡他：「大迦葉！眾生的生死輪迴是無法了知的。它超越你的智慧所能理解的範疇，惟有證悟的諸佛才能夠明白並解釋眾生的生死輪迴。」

（註）這則故事告訴我們，人不應該好高騖遠從事無法帶來益處的事情。大迦葉企圖了解的事不能幫助他證悟生命的實相。佛陀不斷勸告弟子切實參透生命的實相，惟有努力解脫生死輪迴，其他的追求皆屬徒勞無果。藉由不放逸，可以證得阿羅漢。一旦成為具有無上證智的佛陀，自然會明白究竟。

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

028 Heedlessness Should Be Conquered by Heedfulness

Pamādaṃ appamādena

Yadā nudati paṇḍito

Paññāpāsādamāruyha

Asoko sokiniṃ pajaṃ

Pabbataṭṭho’ va bhummaṭṭhe

Dhīro bāle avekkhati

When a wise man dispels heedlessness by heedfulness, he ascends the palace of wisdom and, free from sorrow, surveys the sorrowing beings. Just as one standing on the mountain top looks at those on the ground below, so the wise one (the Arahant) looks at the ignorant.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

正念除放逸，慧生無憂苦，

智者觀眾苦，如山巔下望。

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

Pamāda: (m) sloth, heedlessness, indifference

Appamāda: (m) heedfulness, diligence, vigilance, earnestness, carefulness

Yadā: (adv) when, whenever

Nudati: to dispel, remove, avert, reject

Paṇḍita: (adj) learned, skilled, wise   (m) a learned man, wise man, pandit

Paññā: (f) wisdom, intellect, reason, insight, knowledge, recognition

Pāsāda: (m) a lofty platform, a building on high foundations, a terrace, palace

Paññāpāsāda: (m) the stronghold of supreme knowledge

Āruhati / ārohati: to mount, climb, ascend, go up into  ger. āruyha

Asoka: (adj) free from sorrow

Sokī: (adj) sorrowful  (f) sokinī

Pajā: (f) creature, people, mankind, race, descendants

Pabbata: (m) a mountain, hill, rock

Pabbataṭṭha: (adj) standing on the mountain

Iva, viya, va: (part.) like, as

Bhumma: (adj) belonging to the earth, earthly, terrestrial (n) soil, ground

Bhummaṭṭha: (adj) standing on the ground; being in the earth, found on or in the earth, earthly

Dhīra: (adj) wise; resolute, firm; brave   (m) a wise person

Bāla: (adj) ignorant, foolish; young   (m) a fool; a child up to 16

Avekkhati: to look down upon, look at, perceive, contemplate, consider