《南傳法句經》第 46 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 46 偈的主角頗具慧眼禪心，見天地萬象，即能善加體會，進而悟道。話說某次佛陀住在舍衛城的祇樹給孤獨園時，有個比丘得到佛陀給予的觀想業處後，就到森林裡禪修。

　　儘管他精勤不懈，卻進步甚微，因此他對自己很不滿意，思忖道：「不如回去祇園精舍，請佛陀另給一個較適合我性氣的業處也罷。」如此一想，他立即出發回舍衛城。

　　返途中，他看見海市蜃樓，於是停下腳步，仔細觀照思惟後，豁然明白這種蜃景無非是一片海水造成的幻影罷了。同樣的，他的色身也只是生滅造成的幻像，是無我、不真實的。他全神貫注於海市蜃樓的現象，以此持續進行禪修。

　　之後，他來到阿利羅跋提（Aciravatī）河岸洗浴，接著坐在河邊的樹下歇息。望著水花泡沫飛濺，他更深刻體悟色身的無常性質。

　　此時佛陀在祇園精舍觀見他的情形，就放光向他開示：「比丘！你的思路是正確的，繼續保持下去。你已了悟色身如泡沫般無常，如蜃景般無我，很好！」

　　佛陀激勵後，這位比丘當下證得阿羅漢。

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

046 Like A Mirage Is This Body

Pheṇūpamaṃ kāyam imaṃ viditvā

Marīcidhammaṃ abhisambudhāno

Chetvāna mārassa papupphakāni

Adassanaṃ maccurājassa gacche

Knowing that this body is like foam, and comprehending its mirage-nature, one should destroy the flower-shafts of sensual passions (Māra) and pass beyond the sight of the king of death.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

當觀色無常，如泡如幻影；

斷魔欲花箭，死魔無從見。

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

Pheṇa: (m) foam, froth

Upama: (adj) like, similar, equal

Upamā: (f) comparison, similarity, simile, illustration, parable, allegory

Kāya: (m) body, collection, multitude.

Ayaṃ: (pron. m/f. nom.) this, it, he, etc.   (n) idaṃ, imaṃ   [acc.] (m/f) imaṃ   (n) idaṃ, imaṃ

Vidati: to know, ascertain     ger. viditvā: having known, learned, perceived, understood     pp. vidita     pfp. veditabba: to be known or understood

Marīci: (f) mirage, a ray of light

Marīcidhamma: (m) mirage-like, unsubstantial

Abhisambuddha: (pp. abhisambujjhati) thoroughly understood, perfectly known, enlightened, known fully

Abhisambudhāna: (adj./ppr. med.) realizing, awaking, knowing, understanding

Chindati: to cut, cut off, cut down, stop, destroy, remove   ger. chetvā, chetvāna, chitvā, chinditvā

Māra: (m) Death, killing, the evil principle

Papupphaka: (n/adj.) [pa+pupphaka] "with flowers in front," flower-tipped (of the arrows of Māra), an arrow tipped with a flower

Adassana: (n) not seeing, not meeting with, disappearance, concealment

Maccu, maccurājā: (m) Death, Yama

Gacchati: to go, go to, proceed; depart   opt. gacche, gaccheyya