《南傳法句經》第 33-34 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 33-34 偈的故事提醒我們，看似舒適的地方未必是修行的好所在。話說某日，彌醯亞比丘（Meghiya）化緣後，在返回精舍的途中，看見一座幽美怡人的芒果園。當下眼睛一亮，這豈不是禪修的理想地方嘛！於是請求佛陀允許他去那兒禪修。佛陀深知這位年輕弟子的心性，光憑對一個地方的喜愛，無助於他的修行，要他過一陣子再說。但彌醯亞念茲在茲，巴不得立馬奔去，一而再、再而三懇求。最後佛陀禁不住他的纏磨，只好應允。

　　彌醯亞歡天喜地來到芒果園，坐在樹下開始禪修。怪的是，儘管他整天待在樹下，卻是心念紛飛，完全定不下來，毫無進展。傍晚時分，他就返回精舍，向佛陀報告修行感想，說自己一直遭受各式各樣的雜念干擾。

　　佛陀觀機逗教告誡他，正因為心容易受到刺激，反覆無常，所以無論身處何地，都應以恰當的方法控御心。彌醯亞以正念思惟佛陀的教誨後，證得初果。

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

033 Straighten Your Fickle Mind

Phandanaṃ capalaṃ cittaṃ

Dūrakkhaṃ dunnivārayaṃ

Ujuṃ karoti medhāvī

Usukāro’ va tejanaṃ

The flickering, fickle mind, difficult to guard, difficult to control - the wise person straightens it as a fletcher straightens an arrow.

034 Straighten Your Fickle Mind

Vārijo’ va thale khitto

Okamokata ubbhato

Pariphandati idaṃ cittaṃ

Māradheyyaṃ pahātave

Like a fish that is drawn from its watery abode and thrown upon land, even so does this mind flutter. Hence should the realm of the passions be shunned.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

心念亂無序，難護難制御，

智者調其心，如匠矯箭直。

心如棄地魚，跳抖而不安。

仁者故遠離，煩惱惡魔界(煩惱境)。

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

Phandana: (adj) trembling, unsteady, wavering, agitated, palpitating   (n) throb, trembling, agitation, quivering

Capala: (adj) fickle, unsteady, swift

Citta: (n) the mind, the heart; thought, idea; will, intention

Dūrakkha: (adj) difficult to guard or watch

Dunnivāraya: (adj) difficult to hold back or control

Uju, ujju: (adj) straight, direct, honest, upright, straightforward

Karoti: to act, perform, make, do

Ujuṃ karoti: to straighten, to set right, to correct

Medhāvī: (adj) intelligent, wise     (m) a wise man

Usu: (m/f) an arrow

Usukāra: (m) a fletcher, arrow-maker

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

Tejana: (n) the point or shaft of an arrow; an arrow

Vāri: (n) water

Vārija: (m) a fish   (n) a lotus

Thala (n), Thalī (f): land, dry ground

Khitta: (pp. khipati) thrown, discharged, shot

Oka: (n) water; a resting-place, asylum, shelter, resort; house, a dwelling

Okamokata: (okaṃ-okata) from its watery home; from this and that abode, from all places

Ubbhata: (pp. uddharati) thrown up, drawn out, pulled out, brought out

Uddharati: to pull out, draw out; take up, lift, raise; remove, take away   pp. uddhaṭa, ubbhata

Pariphandati: to tremble, quiver, throb, totter

Idaṃ: (n) this  (m/f) ayaṃ (adv) just (this), even so, only

Māra: (m) Death, the Tempter; the Evil principle; killing

Dheyya: (n) realm, region

Māradheyya: (n) the realm of Māra or Death; being under the sway of Māra

Pahātave: (used in the sense of pahātabba) should be shunned

Pajahati: to forsake, abandon, give up, renounce, get rid of pfp. pahātabba, pajahitabba ger. pahāya (= hitvā), pahatvāna, pajahitvā    pp. pahīna    aor. pajahi, pahāsi