《南傳法句經》第 48 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 48 偈的故事結局看似圓滿，其實頗發人深省。世人供佛齋僧，積善求福，圖的是什麼？若只為了往生天界享樂，或企求與所愛纏綿不斷，天上人間來來去去，流轉生死輪迴，真的有意義嗎？話說芭蒂布赭卡（Patipūjakā Kumārī）住在舍衛城，十六歲就嫁為人妻，育有四子。她品性賢良，樂善好施，喜歡以食物和其他必需品供養修行者。她經常到寺院打掃房舍，裝滿瓶瓶罐罐的水，並且幫忙其他雜事。芭蒂布赭卡擁有宿智，記得自己前世是忉利天天神之子瑪拉巴哩（Mālabhāri）的妻子之一，她也記得自己是在大家都去花園摘花嬉戲時投生人間的。因此每次供養比丘或做其他功德時，她總是祈願往生忉利天，再度與前世丈夫瑪拉巴哩共結姻緣。

　　一天，芭蒂布赭卡生了病，一病不起。由於她熱切祈求往生忉利天，果真如願以償，再度成為瑪拉巴哩的妻子。忉利天一日相當於人間一百年，芭蒂布赭卡重返忉利天時，瑪拉巴哩等眾神仍在花園嬉遊，幾乎沒想到她。當她跟大家會合時，瑪拉巴哩問她一早上都上那兒去了。她告訴丈夫，自己已經到人間走一回啦。

　　比丘們向佛陀稟報芭蒂布赭卡的死訊。佛陀開示說，眾生的生命是短暫的，在滿足感官欲望之前，死亡已然降臨。

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

048 With Ungratified Desires the Sensual Die

Puppāni h’eva pacinantaṃ

Byāsattamānasaṃ naraṃ

Atittaṃ yeva kāmesu

Antako kurute vasaṃ

The man who gathers flowers (of sensual pleasure), whose mind is entangled, and who is insatiate in desires, is overpowered by death.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

採集百花卉，心生諸染著；

貪欲無厭者，死魔得所乘。

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

Puppha: (n) flower

Hi: (part.) for, because; indeed, surely

Eva, yeva: (adv) so, even, just

Pacinati: to pick, pluck, gather, take up, collect, accumulate; to pick out (mentally), discern, distinguish, realize, know     ppr. pacinanta

Byāsatta, vyāsatta: (pp. vi+ā+sañj, v>b) attached to (pleasure), clinging to

Mānasa: (n) the mind (as active force), intention, purpose, mental action

Byāsattamānasa: (adj) possessed with longing

Nara: (m) man

Atitta: (adj) insatiate, unsatisfied, dissatisfied

Kāma: (m) wish, desire, desired object, passion, lust, the god of love

Antaka: (m) being at the end, or making an end; epithet of Death or Māra

Kurute: (pres. ātm. 3^rd sing. of karoti) to act, perform, make, do

Vasa: (m/n) wish, desire, will, control, power, influence, authority

Antako kurute vasaṃ: Death gets (him) into his power, overpowers (him)