Dhammapada verse # 17, 18
現世此處苦，死後他處苦，作諸惡業者，兩處俱受苦，（現）悲『我作惡』，墮惡趣更苦。
Here one burns, one burns hereafter,
in both ways does the evil-doer burn;
evil I've done, remorsefully one burns,
and more one burns passed to realms of woe.
現世此處喜，死後他處喜，修諸福業者，兩處俱歡喜，（現）喜『我修福』，生善趣更喜。
Here one's glad, one's glad hereafter,
in both ways is the merit-maker glad;
'Merit I've made', serenely one is glad,
and more one's glad passed to blissful states.
☆☆☆
【第17偈的故事】
提婆達多是佛陀的表弟。有一次他和佛陀一起停留在憍賞彌，那時候，提婆達多認為佛陀受到太多的尊敬、榮耀和供養，因此妒忌佛陀，而企圖領導僧團。有一天，佛陀在王舍城的竹林精舍說法時，他向佛陀提出一個自私的意見，他認為佛陀日漸衰老，所以應該把領導僧團的責任交給他。佛陀予以拒絕，並且告訴他，說他不配擔當這重責大任。佛陀也要求僧團對他的傲慢加以懲戒並公開宣告（注1) 。
提婆達多憤憤不平，發誓報復。他因此三次迫害佛陀：第一次雇請弓箭手企圖殺害佛陀；第二次在靈鷲山上，滾落大石，企圖砸死佛陀；最後一次則利用醉象那拉吉利攻擊佛陀。但第一次的刺客不僅沒有刺殺佛陀，反而成為佛陀的弟子；第二次的大石只碰傷佛陀的腳拇指而已；最後一次的大象沖向佛陀時，為佛陀的慈悲所馴服了。
三次陰謀都失敗後，提婆達多改變他的策略，他慫恿一些新出家的比丘離開僧團，跟隨他到象頂山去另立門戶。但是後來，大部分的比丘都在舍利弗和目犍連的勸告之下，都自動回到佛陀的身邊，並在佛陀的指導下修行。後來，提婆達多病了九個月，有一天，他要求弟子護送他回祇樹給孤獨園去向佛陀懺悔過去的罪行。
當提婆達多抵達祇樹給孤獨園外圍的水塘時，十分口渴，想喝水，他的弟子就把他靠水塘邊放下，而前去取水，這時提婆達多也起身，用雙腳踏在地面，但卻立即陷入地中，悲慘而死。由於過去的罪行，提婆達多竟然沒有機會見佛陀最後一面。他死後，墮落到悲慘、痛苦的境界，償還所有的罪行。（注2)
備注：
1. 僧團公開宣告，某一出家眾觸犯僧團戒律，所以自今以後，其一切言行純屬其個人行為，與佛、法、僧團完全無關。
2. 經過無數長時間（劫)的償還，提婆達多有一天往生為獨覺佛，這是因為他在違背戒律之前證得某一程度的修行境界。在輪回中，即使地獄和天的境界也不是永恒不變的，只有涅槃是究竟永恒的。
1. 僧團公開宣告，某一出家眾觸犯僧團戒律，所以自今以後，其一切言行純屬其個人行為，與佛、法、僧團完全無關。
2. 經過無數長時間（劫)的償還，提婆達多有一天往生為獨覺佛，這是因為他在違背戒律之前證得某一程度的修行境界。在輪回中，即使地獄和天的境界也不是永恒不變的，只有涅槃是究竟永恒的。
【第18偈的故事】
舍衛城的給孤獨長者和毘舍佉兩人都是佛教徒，也固定在家裏供養眾多比丘。毘舍佉家的供養由她的孫女負責，而給孤獨長者家則首先由長女負責，長女證得初果，後來嫁人離家，便由次女接手，接著次女也證得初果並嫁人離家，最後由最小的女兒修摩那戴葳負責布施的工作。修摩那戴葳證得二果，一直留在家中並未婚嫁。
後來，修摩那戴葳生病命在旦夕的時候想要見父親，他父親來的時候，她稱呼父親為“弟弟”，交談數句之後就逝世了。她的稱呼使她的父親困惑不安，以為她的女兒在臨終時正念沒有現前。所以，他就去找佛陀，向佛陀報告這件事。佛陀說，修摩那戴葳臨終時，意識清楚，而且正念現前。佛陀說修摩那戴葳稱呼父親為弟弟是正確的，因為她的修行層次比父親高，她已經證得二果，而父親只證得初果。佛陀並且向給孤獨長者說，修摩那戴葳已經往生都兜率天了。
While residing at the Jētavana Monastery in Sàvatthi, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Sumanàdēvi, the youngest daughter of Anàthapiõóika.
Every day, two thousand monks took their meal in the house of Anàthapiõóika at Sàvatthi, and a like number in the house of the eminent female lay disciple Visàkhà. Anàthapiõóika appointed his oldest daughter Mahà Subhadda; the latter showed the monks the customary attentions, hearkened to the Law, and as a result obtained the Fruit of Conversion; afterwards she married and went to live with her husband’s family. Then he appointed Culla Subhaddà, who followed her older sister’s example, obtaining the Fruit of Conversion, and afterwards marrying and going to live with the family of her husband. Finally he appointed his youngest daughter Sumanà. Sumanà obtained the Fruit of the Second Path, but remained unmarried.
Later Sumanà fell ill and on her death-bed she asked for her father. Anàthapiõóika was in the refectory when he received his daughter’s message, but immediately went to her and said, “What is it, dear daughter Sumanà?” Sumanà said to him, “What say you, dear youngest brother?” “You talk incoherently, dear daughter.” I am not talking incoherently, youngest brother.” “Are you afraid, dear daughter?” “I am not afraid, youngest brother.” She said no more, but died immediately.
Although the treasurer had obtained the Fruit of Conversion, he was unable to bear the grief that arose within him. Accordingly, when he had performed the funeral rites over his daughter’s body, he went weeping to the Buddha. Said the Buddha, “Householder, how is it that you come to me sad and sorrowful, with tears in your eyes, weeping?” “Venerable, my daughter Sumanà is dead.” “Well, why do you weep? Is not death certain for all?” I know that, Venerable. But my daughter was so modest and so conscientious. What grieves me so much is the thought that when she died, she was not in her right senses.”
“But what did your youngest daughter say, great treasurer?” “Venerable, I addressed her as ‘dear Sumanà,’ and she replied, ‘What say you, dear youngest brother?’ Then I said to her, ‘You talk incoherently, dear daughter.’ ‘I am not talking incoherently, youngest brother.’ ‘Are you afraid, dear daughter?’ ‘I am not afraid, youngest brother.’ She said no more, but died immediately.” Said the Exalted One to Anàthapiõóika, “Great treasurer, your daughter did not talk incoherently.” “But why did she speak thus?” “Solely because you were her youngest brother. Householder, your daughter was old in the Paths and the Fruits, for while you have attained but the Fruit of Conversion, your daughter had attained Paths and the Fruits, that she spoke thus.” “Was that the reason, Venerable?” “That was the reason, householder.”
“Where has she now been reborn, Venerable?” In the World of the Tusita gods, householder.” “Venerable, while my daughter remained here among her kinsfolk, she went about rejoicing, and when she went hence, she was reborn in the Dēva world.” Then the Buddha said to him, “It is even so householder. They that are heedful, be they lay folk or religious, rejoice both in this world and in the world beyond.”
☆☆☆While residing at the Jētavana Monastery in Sàvatthi, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Sumanàdēvi, the youngest daughter of Anàthapiõóika.
Every day, two thousand monks took their meal in the house of Anàthapiõóika at Sàvatthi, and a like number in the house of the eminent female lay disciple Visàkhà. Anàthapiõóika appointed his oldest daughter Mahà Subhadda; the latter showed the monks the customary attentions, hearkened to the Law, and as a result obtained the Fruit of Conversion; afterwards she married and went to live with her husband’s family. Then he appointed Culla Subhaddà, who followed her older sister’s example, obtaining the Fruit of Conversion, and afterwards marrying and going to live with the family of her husband. Finally he appointed his youngest daughter Sumanà. Sumanà obtained the Fruit of the Second Path, but remained unmarried.
Later Sumanà fell ill and on her death-bed she asked for her father. Anàthapiõóika was in the refectory when he received his daughter’s message, but immediately went to her and said, “What is it, dear daughter Sumanà?” Sumanà said to him, “What say you, dear youngest brother?” “You talk incoherently, dear daughter.” I am not talking incoherently, youngest brother.” “Are you afraid, dear daughter?” “I am not afraid, youngest brother.” She said no more, but died immediately.
Although the treasurer had obtained the Fruit of Conversion, he was unable to bear the grief that arose within him. Accordingly, when he had performed the funeral rites over his daughter’s body, he went weeping to the Buddha. Said the Buddha, “Householder, how is it that you come to me sad and sorrowful, with tears in your eyes, weeping?” “Venerable, my daughter Sumanà is dead.” “Well, why do you weep? Is not death certain for all?” I know that, Venerable. But my daughter was so modest and so conscientious. What grieves me so much is the thought that when she died, she was not in her right senses.”
“But what did your youngest daughter say, great treasurer?” “Venerable, I addressed her as ‘dear Sumanà,’ and she replied, ‘What say you, dear youngest brother?’ Then I said to her, ‘You talk incoherently, dear daughter.’ ‘I am not talking incoherently, youngest brother.’ ‘Are you afraid, dear daughter?’ ‘I am not afraid, youngest brother.’ She said no more, but died immediately.” Said the Exalted One to Anàthapiõóika, “Great treasurer, your daughter did not talk incoherently.” “But why did she speak thus?” “Solely because you were her youngest brother. Householder, your daughter was old in the Paths and the Fruits, for while you have attained but the Fruit of Conversion, your daughter had attained Paths and the Fruits, that she spoke thus.” “Was that the reason, Venerable?” “That was the reason, householder.”
“Where has she now been reborn, Venerable?” In the World of the Tusita gods, householder.” “Venerable, while my daughter remained here among her kinsfolk, she went about rejoicing, and when she went hence, she was reborn in the Dēva world.” Then the Buddha said to him, “It is even so householder. They that are heedful, be they lay folk or religious, rejoice both in this world and in the world beyond.”
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯
