《南傳法句經》第18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18偈中，才貌兼具的蘇茉娜德薇（Sumanā Devī）翩然登場。Sumanā 是一種大花茉莉，Devī 則有女神或皇后之意，的確是人如其名。講她的故事前，先來認識一下佛陀的兩大在家弟子，也就是布施第一的毗舍佉（Visākhā）和給孤獨（Anāthapiṇḍika）。這兩大功德主定居舍衛城，經常在自宅供養大群的比丘。在毗舍佉家中，負責監督供養事宜的是她的孫女。而給孤獨長者這邊，最初是由他的長女掌管，之後交由次女負責。兩個女兒皆已了悟佛法，出嫁後，住在夫家，因此由最小的女兒蘇茉娜德薇接下供養任務。

　　某日，蘇茉娜德薇病得很嚴重，要求見父親一面。給孤獨長者來到女兒床前，蘇茉娜德薇竟然開口稱呼自己的父親「弟弟」，不久便撒手人寰。女兒怎會把爹爹喊成弟弟？莫非臨死前精神錯亂了？給孤獨長者百思不解，內心惴惴不安。於是，他來到佛陀跟前，稟報此事。佛陀解釋說，蘇茉娜德薇在死亡那個當下，神智清楚，沉靜自若。她之所以稱呼給孤獨為弟弟，因為她的修證成就比父親來得高。蘇茉娜德薇已證得二果，而她的父親尚停留在初果。佛陀接著告訴給孤獨，蘇茉娜德薇已經往生兜率天。

　　有女如此，給孤獨長者歡喜之餘，大概也有幾分慚愧吧？

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

018 Happy Are the Righteous

Idha nandati pecca nandati

Katapuñño ubhayattha nandati

Puññaṃ me katan ti nandati

Bhiyyo nandati suggatiṃ gato

Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy. In both states the well-doer is happy. “Good have I done,” (thinking thus) he is happy. Furthermore, is he happy, having gone to a blissful state.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

今世喜樂受，來世喜樂受，

造作善業者，兩處喜樂受。

念己造善業，心中更愉悅，

趣向善道時，享受諸喜樂。

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

Idha: (adv) here, hither, in this world

Nandati: to be pleased, to rejoice, to delight

Pecca: (ger) having departed, after death, in the next world or existence, hereafter

Puñña: (n) good works, goodness, virtue, pious act, righteousness, merit

Katapuñña: (m) one who has done meritorious deeds, a well-doer

Ubhayattha: (adv) in both places, in both cases

Me: (pron) by me

Karoti: to act, do, cause, cause to become, render, make, perform   pp. kata

Ti, iti: (adv) thus; as a particle used in cases of indirect narration, or of enumeration, or of quoting the words or thoughts of others

Bhiyyo, bhīyo: (adv) again, further, besides; repeatedly; much, more

Sugati, suggati: (f) happy condition, heaven, being reborn in heaven

Gacchati: to go, go to, proceed; depart     pp. gata