Sunday, December 18, 2011


Dhammapada verse #90

路行盡無憂,於一切解脫,斷一切繫縛,無有苦惱者。

With journey finished and sorrowless,
from everything completely free,
for one who has loosened all the ties
passion’s fever is not found.

☆☆☆

【第90偈的故事】

提婆達多曾經多次試圖謀害佛陀。其中一次是自靈鷲山頂上推下大石,企圖砸死佛陀,但巨石墮落下來時,撞到山崖。破裂的碎片打中佛陀腳的大姆指。佛陀因此被人護送至耆域在芒果園內的精舍(註3)。名醫耆域為佛陀敷藥並且包紮傷口。之後,耆域就進城去治療其他的病人,但答應在傍晚前趕回來,將包紮拆掉。當天晚上,耆域要回去時,卻發現城門已經提早關了,而無法回去照顧佛陀。這令他很懊惱,因為包紮若不及時拿掉,病情會加重。

當天晚上,佛陀判斷耆域無法回來,就要阿難協助他把包紮拿掉,卻發現傷口已經痊癒了。第二天早晨,耆域趕回來時,問佛陀昨天晚上是否感覺劇痛和不舒服呢?佛陀回答說:「耆域!證悟成為佛陀以後,我就具足隨時都可以止息苦痛和憂愁的能力。」佛陀接著解釋解脫聖者的心性。

(註1)有四種繫縛:貪、瞋、戒禁取和見取 。
(註2)無有苦惱者即阿羅漢 。
(註3)精舍啟用典禮之後,耆域就證得初果。佛陀在他的建議之下,吩咐比丘要適當 運動,如打掃和走路等。《耆域經》記載佛陀對食肉的看法,該經就是佛陀對耆域的說法。

While residing at the mango-grove Monastery of Jãvaka, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to the question raised by Jãvaka to the Buddha.

Now on a certain occasion Dēvadatta joined forces with Ajàtasattu, climbed Vulture Peak, and out of the wickedness of his heart, saying to himself, “I will kill the Buddha,” hurled down a rock. Two mountain crags caught the rock and splintered it; but one of the flying pieces struck the foot of the Buddha and caused blood to flow. The Buddha suffered intense pains and was removed by the monks to Maddakucchi. Desiring to go on to Jãvaka’s Mango-grove, the Buddha said to the monks, “Carry me thither.” So the monks took the Buddha and carried him to Jivaka’s Mango-grove. When Jãvaka heard the news, he immediately went to the Buddha and to heal the wound applied an ointment. Then he bound up the wound and said to the Buddha, “Venerable, I have a patient in the city. As soon as I have visited him, I will return. Let this dressing remain exactly as it is until I return.” So saying, Jãvaka went and treated his patient. But the gate was closed when he returned, and he was therefore unable to enter. Thereupon the following thought occurred to him, “I have committed a grievous fault. I applied an astringent to the foot of the Buddha and bound up his wound, just as I should have bound up the wound of any other man. It is now time to remove the bandage. For if the bandage remains unbound all night long, the Buddha will suffer intense pain.”

At that moment the Buddha addressed the Venerable ânanda, “ânanda, Jãvaka returned late in the evening and was unable to enter the gate. This was the thought in his mind, ‘Now it is time to remove the bandage.’ Therefore remove the bandage, whereupon the scar disappeared like bark from a tree. At early dawn Jãvaka hastened to the Buddha’s side and asked, “Venerable, did you suffer intense pain?” Said the Buddha, ‘Jãvaka, all suffering is extinguished for the Buddha, even as when he sat on the Throne of Enlightenment.”

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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:《法句經故事集》 達摩難陀長老著 周金言譯