Dhammapada verse #123
商人避險道，伴少而貨多；愛生避毒品，避惡當亦爾。
As merchant on a perilous path,
great wealth having little guard,
as life-loving man with poison
so with evil heedful be.
☆☆☆
【第123偈的故事】
摩訶達那是舍衛城的一位富商。有一次，一群搶匪計劃搶劫他，卻苦無下手機會，他們打聽到摩訶達那將搭載裝滿貴重商品的車子外出，並且知道他也邀請一群比丘同行，因為彼此的目的地相同，摩訶達那甚至答應比丘們，會提供比丘們一路上所需要的任何東西。這群搶匪打聽到確實的消息後，就先行出發，並且在路上躲了起來，等待摩訶達那一行人車的來臨。
但摩訶達那抵達搶匪躲藏的森林外圍時，就停了下來，準備停留幾天之後再上路。這些搶匪知道他們要駐紮幾天，就準備動手搶劫。而這時候摩訶達那也知道有人要打劫他，便決定打道回府，搶匪探聽到車隊要回去了，就又躲到回去的路上。這時候，村子裡的一些人向摩訶達那通風報信，說搶匪已經移往他們回去的路上。
摩訶達那最後又決定停留在村子裡幾天，並且把這決定告訴同行的比丘，比丘們就自行回舍衛城。回去之後，他們向佛陀報告這次行程取消的原因。佛陀告誡他們：「比丘，摩訶達那知道遠離被搶匪圍困的旅程，珍惜生命的人遠離有毒的人、事、物。同理，有智慧的比丘了解人生就像充滿危險的旅程，所以要精進努力，不犯惡行！」
While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Mahàdhana the merchant.
Mahàdhana was a rich merchant from Sàvatthi. On one occasion, five hundred robbers were planning to rob him, but they did not get the chance to rob him. In the meantime, they heard that the merchant would soon be going out with five hundred carts loaded with valuable merchandise. The merchant Mahàdhana also invited the monks who would like to go on the same journey to accompany him, and he promised to look to their needs on the way. So, five hundred monks accompanied him. The robbers got news of the trip and went ahead to lie in wait for the caravan of the merchant. But the merchant stopped at the outskirts of the forest where the robbers were waiting. The caravan was to move on after camping there for a few days. The robbers got the news of the impending departure and made ready to loot the caravan; the merchant, in his turn, also got news of the movements of the bandits and he decided to return home. The bandits now heard that the merchant would go home; so they waited on the homeward way. Some villagers sent word to the merchant about the movements of the bandits, and the merchant finally decided to remain in the village for some time. When he told the monks about his decision, the monks returned to Sàvatthi by themselves.
On arrival at the Jãtavana Monastery, they went to the Buddha and informed him about the cancellation of their trip. To them, the Buddha said, “Monks, Mahàdhana keeps away from the journey beset with bandits, one who does not want to die keeps away from poison; so also, a wise monk, realizing that the three levels of existence are like a journey beset with danger, should strive to keep away from doing evil.”
但摩訶達那抵達搶匪躲藏的森林外圍時，就停了下來，準備停留幾天之後再上路。這些搶匪知道他們要駐紮幾天，就準備動手搶劫。而這時候摩訶達那也知道有人要打劫他，便決定打道回府，搶匪探聽到車隊要回去了，就又躲到回去的路上。這時候，村子裡的一些人向摩訶達那通風報信，說搶匪已經移往他們回去的路上。
摩訶達那最後又決定停留在村子裡幾天，並且把這決定告訴同行的比丘，比丘們就自行回舍衛城。回去之後，他們向佛陀報告這次行程取消的原因。佛陀告誡他們：「比丘，摩訶達那知道遠離被搶匪圍困的旅程，珍惜生命的人遠離有毒的人、事、物。同理，有智慧的比丘了解人生就像充滿危險的旅程，所以要精進努力，不犯惡行！」
While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Mahàdhana the merchant.
Mahàdhana was a rich merchant from Sàvatthi. On one occasion, five hundred robbers were planning to rob him, but they did not get the chance to rob him. In the meantime, they heard that the merchant would soon be going out with five hundred carts loaded with valuable merchandise. The merchant Mahàdhana also invited the monks who would like to go on the same journey to accompany him, and he promised to look to their needs on the way. So, five hundred monks accompanied him. The robbers got news of the trip and went ahead to lie in wait for the caravan of the merchant. But the merchant stopped at the outskirts of the forest where the robbers were waiting. The caravan was to move on after camping there for a few days. The robbers got the news of the impending departure and made ready to loot the caravan; the merchant, in his turn, also got news of the movements of the bandits and he decided to return home. The bandits now heard that the merchant would go home; so they waited on the homeward way. Some villagers sent word to the merchant about the movements of the bandits, and the merchant finally decided to remain in the village for some time. When he told the monks about his decision, the monks returned to Sàvatthi by themselves.
On arrival at the Jãtavana Monastery, they went to the Buddha and informed him about the cancellation of their trip. To them, the Buddha said, “Monks, Mahàdhana keeps away from the journey beset with bandits, one who does not want to die keeps away from poison; so also, a wise monk, realizing that the three levels of existence are like a journey beset with danger, should strive to keep away from doing evil.”
☆☆☆
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
