Dhammapada verse # 3, 4
『彼罵我打我，敗我劫奪我』，若人懷此念，怨恨不能息。
Who bears within them enmity:
"He has abused and beaten me,
defeated me and plundered me",
hate is not allayed for them.
『彼罵我打我，敗我劫奪我』，若人捨此念，怨恨自平息。
Who bears within no enmity:
"He has abused and beaten me,
defeated me and plundered me",
hate is quite allayed for them.
『彼罵我打我，敗我劫奪我』，若人懷此念，怨恨不能息。
Who bears within them enmity:
"He has abused and beaten me,
defeated me and plundered me",
hate is not allayed for them.
『彼罵我打我，敗我劫奪我』，若人捨此念，怨恨自平息。
Who bears within no enmity:
"He has abused and beaten me,
defeated me and plundered me",
hate is quite allayed for them.
☆☆☆
【第3, 4偈的故事】
兩偈法句是佛陀在舍衛城的時候，為笛沙尊者而說的。
笛沙尊者是佛陀的表兄弟（佛陀的姑母之子），笛沙很老的時候才跟隨佛陀出家，仰仗著佛陀的關係，接受了很多供養，衣食豐厚，因此不久笛沙就變得又肥又胖，穿起袈裟來就顯得臃腫不堪，偏偏他又喜歡在接待訪客的大廳坐。每一次前來拜謁佛陀的比丘們看到笛沙年老的模樣，都以為他是一位出家很久，德行很高的比丘，當下就在客廳裏先頂禮笛沙尊者 ，甚或幫他老人家按摩手腳，舒緩筋骨，笛沙尊者從不分辯，默然不響地 一一接受比丘們對他所有表示尊敬的行為，而且還時常擺出一副大法師的派頭。
有一次，一位年輕的比丘前來拜見佛陀，笛沙一如往常，在客廳裏傲然地坐著，似乎又再等著年輕比丘來向他頂禮膜拜，誰知年輕比丘劈頭第 一句話便問：「你出家多久了﹖」（注一），笛沙很不高興地回答：「我沒有戒臘，我老了才出家的。」（事實上未滿一年），年輕比丘一聽，毫不客氣地說：「你這算什麼出家人﹖老了出家還不知遵守戒律，不知待客之道，也絲毫沒有慚愧心。」說罷一巴掌打得圓滾滾的笛沙眼冒金星，昏頭轉向。笛沙被打，面上無光，惱羞成怒的問道：「你來做什麼﹖」「我來拜見佛陀。」「你以為我是誰﹖我要砍掉你的根。」（注二）。笛沙尊者說罷即跑到佛前哭訴，年輕比丘也隨後跟來，向佛陀頂禮後，一邊坐下。
佛陀問道：「你為何哭﹖」「這個比丘打我、罵我。」「你當時在那裡﹖」「在客廳。」「這個人來時，你有沒有看到他﹖」「有。」「你有沒有起來迎接﹖」「沒有。」「有沒有幫忙拿缽和袈裟﹖」「沒有。」「他進來時，你有沒有問他要不要喝水﹖」「沒有。」佛陀溫和的說道：「這些都是新出家比丘必需要遵守的規則，否則就不要到大廳坐，你沒有依照這些規則去做是你的不對，他打你並沒有錯，你現在應該向他頂禮道歉。」
笛沙老比丘說什麼也不肯道歉；「他打我、罵我，我不要道歉。」佛陀好言好語地勸他：「你不要這樣，這是你的錯，你應該道歉。」「我不要！」佛陀最後說：「你這個不聽話的比丘；過去如此，這輩子還是改不了舊習氣。」於是佛陀演說了以下有關笛沙尊者過去生的故事：
從前有一個年老的苦行者到一作陶的人家借宿，陶家很高興的恭請他住下，再晚一些，又有一年輕的苦行者也來要求借宿，陶家徵得老苦行者的同意，兩人共住一間房間，但是這位老苦行者卻對這位年輕苦行者有傲慢的心理，很自然地輕視這位年輕人，以為年紀輕輕，那有什麼修行﹖
夜裏睡覺時，老苦行者就睡在靠門的地方，年輕苦行者半夜醒來要出門小解，在黑暗中不小心踩到老苦行者的頭髮，老苦行者痛得醒過來，年輕苦行者很不好意思地連連道歉，老苦行者也無可奈何，為了避免年輕人再重蹈覆轍，這一次，老苦行者就掉轉方位，將頭部移到腳的位置，誰知年輕人回來時也走不同的方位，唯恐再踩到老苦行者的頭部，就這樣陰錯陽差地，又不幸踩到老苦行者，這一回更嚴重──踩到脖子，老苦行者痛得大叫，怒罵道：「你這個少年仔，是存心踩死老夫﹖」年輕苦行者心裡非常惶恐，一再道歉，說他不是故意的，老苦行者那裡肯相信，一口咬定年輕人存心歹毒要害死他，並且咀咒道：「要是誰錯了，在明天太陽出來時，誰的腦袋就爆開。」
年輕苦行者躺在床上仔細思惟方才所發生的經過，確定自己沒有錯，如果這樣，明天早晨太陽出來時，腦袋爆開死掉的就一定是老苦行者了，想到這裏，心下起了一念不忍──他不想讓老苦行者因為這事情而送命。 於是年輕行者也運用神通，在太陽出來之前，集中所有的烏雲將太陽緊緊密蓋住，因此，這一天太陽始終沒有露面，整個城國一片愁雲慘霧似的陰霾，不知情的老百姓以為是國王昏庸失德，才使得天候如此，一時民怨沸騰，國王卻瞭解這種情形可能是城裏住著修行者的關係，一聲令下，立刻查出陶家兩位修行者的事，年輕苦行者向國王稟明原諉，為了挽救老苦行 者的性命，害得全國百姓不見天日，也著實過意不去，因此就想了一個辦法：在陶家取了一團陶土罩在老苦行者的頭上，當太陽出來時，將老苦行者溺在水裏，只剩頭上那一撮陶土。
這事老苦行者那裏肯依，認為自己沒有錯，國王只好動員全國的衛兵將老苦行者抓住，強行在老苦行者「頭上鞍頭」，此時年輕苦行者才解開神通，一時撥雲見日，就在太陽要出來的那一剎那，衛兵們迅速將事先浸在水中的老苦行者的頭往水裏一按，只露出頭上那一團陶土，說時遲那時 快，那陶土作的頭果然爆開了，老苦行者因此逃過一劫，幸免於難。而那位老苦行者正是笛沙尊者。
笛沙尊者在聽了佛陀演說自己過去生中的故事後，豁然有悟，於是心平氣和的向年輕比丘道歉。
佛陀因此而說偈言：
「『彼罵我打我，敗我劫奪我』，若人懷此念，怨恨不能息。
『彼罵我打我，敗我劫奪我』，若人捨此念，怨恨自平息。」
佛說此偈己，會中大眾同霑法益。
備注：
1.依照南傳的戒律，兩位彼此不認識的比丘第一次見面都會互相請問出家多久，亦即戒臘，確定自己戒臘少於對方後，依律就該向對方頂禮。
2.意即踢除對方出家的根源，使他還俗，笛沙仗勢自己是佛陀的親戚，以為自己有這份能耐。
While residing at the Jētavana Monastery in Sàvatthi, the Buddha uttered these Verses, with reference to Monk Tissa. Tissa, son of the Buddha’s maternal aunt, was at one time staying with the Buddha. He had become a monk only in his old age, but he posed as a senior monk and was very pleased when visiting monks asked his permission to do some service for him. On the other hand, he failed to perform the duties expected of junior monks; besides, he often quarrelled with the younger monks. Should anyone rebuke him on account of his behaviour, he would go complaining to the Buddha, weeping, very much dissatisfied and very upset.
Once, the Teacher asked him, “Tissa, why have you come to me so sad and sorrowful with tears in your eyes, weeping?” The other monks had discussed among themselves, “If he goes alone, he may cause trouble.” So they too went along with him, paid obeisance to the Teacher, and sat down respectfully on one side. Tissa answered the Teacher’s question, “Venerable, these monks are abusing me.” The Teacher asked, “But where were you sitting?” “In the centre of the monastery in the Hall of State, Venerable.” “Did you see these monks when they came?” “Yes, Venerable I saw them.” “Did you rise and go to meet them?” “No, Venerable, I did not.” “Did you offer to take their monastic utensils?” “No, Venerable, I did not offer to take them.” “Tissa, do not act thus. You alone are to be blamed; ask their pardon.” “I will not ask their pardon, Venerable.” The monks said to the Teacher, “He is an obstinate monk, Venerable.” The Teacher replied, “Monks, this is not the first time he has proved obstinate; he was obstinate also in a previous state of existence.” “We know all about his present obstinacy, Venerable; but what did he do in a previous state of existence?” “Well then, monks, listen,” said the Teacher. So saying, he told the following story.
Once upon a time, when a certain king reigned at Benàres, an ascetic named Dēvala, who had resided for eight months in the Himàlaya country, desiring to reside near the city during the four months of the rains, for salt and vinegar returned from the Himàlayas. Seeing two boys at the gate of the city, he asked them, “Where do monks who come to this city spend the night?” “In the potter’s hall, Venerable.” So Dēvala went to the potter’s hall, stopped at the door, and said, “lf it is agreeable to you, Bhaggava, I would like to spend one night in your hall.” The potter turned over the hall to him, saying, “I have no work going on in the hall at night, and the hall is a large one; spend the night here as you please, Venerable.” No sooner had Dēvala entered the hall and sat down than another ascetic named Nàrada, returning from the Himàlayas, asked the potter for a night’s lodging. The potter thought to himself, “The ascetic who arrived first may or may not be willing to spend the night with him; I will therefore relieve myself of responsibility.” So he said to the ascetic who had just arrived, “Venerable, if the ascetic who arrived first approves of it, spend the night at your pleasure.” So Nàrada approached Dēvala and said, “Teacher, if it is agreeable to you, I would like to spend one night here.” Dēvala replied, “The hall is a large one; therefore come in and spend the night on one side.” So Nàrada went in and sat down beside the ascetic who had gone in before him. Both exchanged friendly greetings.
When it was bedtime, Nàrada noted carefully the place where Dēvala lay and the position of the door, and then lay down. But when Dēvala lay down, instead of lying down in his proper place, he lay down directly across the doorway. The result was that when Nàrada went out at night, he trod on Dēvala’s matted locks. Thereupon Dēvala cried out, “Who is treading on my locks?” Nàrada replied, “Teacher, it is I.” “False ascetic,” said Dēvala, “You come from the forest and tread on my locks.” “Teacher, I did not know that you were lying here; please pardon me.” Nàrada then went out, leaving Dēvala weeping as if his heart would break. Dēvala thought to himself, “I will not let him tread on me when he comes in also.” So he turned around and lay down, placing his head where his feet had been before. When Nàrada came in, he thought to himself, “The first time I injured the teacher; this time I will go in past his feet.” The result was that, when Nàrada entered, he trod on Dēvala’s neck. Thereupon Dēvala cried out, “Who is that?” Nàrada replied, “It is I, teacher.” “False ascetic,” said Dēvala, “The first time you trod on my locks. This time you tread on my neck. I will curse you.” “Teacher, I am not to blame. I did not know that you were lying in this position. When I came in I thought to myself, ‘The first time I injured the teacher; this time I will go in past his feet.’ Please pardon me.” “False ascetic, I will curse you.” “Do not do so, teacher.” But Dēvala, paying no attention to what Nàrada said, cursed him all the same, saying, “May your head split into seven pieces at sunrise.”
Now Nàrada, perceiving that the curse would fall back on his brother-ascetic, he felt compassion for him, and therefore put forth the power of his meditation and prevented the sunrise. When the sun did not rise, the king had to intervene and ask Dēvala to apologise. Dēvala refused. Then said Nàrada to Dēvala, “Teacher, I will put forth my power of meditation and make the sun to rise. At the moment of sunrise please keep a lump of clay on your head and submerge in water and rise in different places as you go your way.” As soon as the sun’s rays touched the lump of clay on his head, it divided into seven pieces. Thereupon Dēvala ducked in the water, and came up in a different place, and ran away. When the Buddha had given his instruction, he said, “Monks, at that time the king was Ânanda, Dēvala was Tissa, and Nàrada was myself, when at that time he was obstinate.”
The Buddha advised them not to keep thoughts of enmity, for this could be only appeased by thoughts of friendliness.
☆☆☆
English source: "Treasury of Truth: Illustrated Dhammapada" by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero
中文法句出處：《南傳法句經》 了參法師譯
中文故事出處：《法句經的故事》 護法法師譯
