Dhammapada verse #100

雖誦一千言，若無義理者，不如一義語，聞已得寂靜。

Through a thousand speeches be
composed of meaningless lines,
better the single meaningful line
one hears, then comes to calm.

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【第100偈的故事】

坦巴達提卡擔任政府行刑者的任務屆滿五十五年後正式退休。在擔任行刑者之前，他曾經是一名小偷。退休後有一天，他到河中去沐浴，並且攜帶特別的食物回家。回家後，正要享受這份美味時，卻看見剛出禪定的舍利弗站在門口，這時候他心裏想著：「我這一生，都在行刑處決小偷，現在我應該供養這位比丘。」所以就邀請舍利弗進入屋內，並尊敬地供養食物。

供養後，舍利弗向他說佛法。但坦巴達提卡卻無法集中心思聽講，因為他的心思受到過去擔任行刑人時種種往事的干擾。舍利弗明白他的困擾，為了導正他的心念，就機敏地問他是否出於憤怒、仇恨而行刑？或只是執行公務而已。坦巴達提卡回答說，他只是接受國王的命令，自己沒有任何殺人的惡意或願望。「既然如此，你有何罪過可言！」舍利弗說。

舍利弗的說法讓坦巴達提卡內心較為寧靜，就請舍利弗繼續說法。這時，他專心聞法，更具耐心與理解力。聞法後，他恭送舍利弗走了一段路，然後獨自回家，但卻意外喪生。

當天傍晚，佛陀抵達比丘的聚會時，比丘們告訴佛陀有關坦巴達提卡的惡訊，並請問他往生何處。佛陀說，雖然坦巴達提卡今生造惡業，但後來領悟佛法，所以往生兜率天。比丘們卻懷疑，一個造做惡業的人，怎麼可能只聽聞一次佛法後，就獲得如此殊勝的法益。佛陀向他們解釋說，時間長短不是問題，如果能夠正確理解的話，即使一句法語也可以帶來莫大的法益。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Tambadàñhika, the executioner of thieves.

Tambadàñhika served the king as an executioner of thieves for fifty-five years. In old age he could no longer cut off a man’s head with a single blow. On the day he was retired from office, he gave orders that sweet milk-porridge should be cooked for him. And taking with him old clothes and jasmine flowers and perfumes, he went to the river and bathed. Having so done, he put on the old clothes, decked himself with garlands, anointed his limbs, and went home and sat down. They set before him sweet milk-porridge made with fresh ghee and water for rinsing the hands. At that moment Venerable Sàriputta showed himself at the door of the former executioner’s house. When the man saw the Venerable, he paid obeisance to him. And escorting him into his house, he provided him with a seat, poured the sweet milk-porridge into his bowl, spread fresh ghee thereon, and standing beside him, began to fan him.

After the meal, the monk taught him the Dhamma, but Tambadàñhika could not pay attention, because he was so agitated as he recollected his past life as an executioner. When the monk knew this, he decided to ask Tambadàñhika tactfully whether he killed the thieves because he wished to kill them or because he was ordered to do so. Tambadàñhika answered that he was ordered to kill them by the king and that he had no wish to kill. Then the monk asked, “If that is so, would you be guilty or not?” Tambadàñhika then concluded that, as he was not responsible for the evil deeds, he was not guilty. He, therefore, calmed down, and requested the monk to continue his exposition.

As he listened to the Dhamma with proper attention, he came very close to attaining sōtàpatti magga and reached as far as anulōma ¤àõa (adaption-to-truth-knowledge). After the discourse, Tambadàñhika accompanied Venerable Sàriputta for some distance and then returned home. On his way home a cow (actually a demon in the guise of a cow) gored him to death.

When the Buddha came to the congregation of the monks in the evening, they informed him about the death of Tambadàñhika. When asked where Tambadàñhika was reborn, the Buddha told them that although Tambadàñhika had committed evil deeds throughout his life, because he comprehended the Dhamma after hearing it from Venerable Sàriputta and had already attained anulōma ¤àõa before he died, he was reborn in the Tusita dēva world. The monks wondered how such an evildoer could have such great benefit after listening to the Dhamma just once. To them the Buddha said that the length of a discourse is of no consequence, for one single word of sense can produce much benefit.

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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

Dhammapada verse #99

林野甚可樂，世人所不樂，彼喜離欲樂，不求諸欲樂。

Delightful are the forests
where folk do not delight,
there the Passionless delight,
they’re not pleasure-seekers.

☆☆☆

【第99偈的故事】

有一位比丘得到佛陀給他的禪修題目後，到一處老舊的花園去禪修。當他正在禪修的時候，一位女子也來到這裡。卻見四下無人，只有一位比丘結跏趺坐，就想到：「我要使這比丘心思迷惑！」於是她走到比丘面前，反反覆覆地把自己的內衣退下、穿上；弄散頭髮，四處搖曳再予以繫好；而且鼓掌、放聲大笑。因為她的放浪形骸，使得這比丘全身思緒起伏，激盪不已。

「這究竟是怎麼一回事？」他迷惑了。

這時候，佛陀在精舍裡，心中記掛著這位比丘禪修的進展，就透過天眼而看見那女子的邪惡行為，正困惑著比丘。佛陀透過神通向比丘說：「比丘！追尋欲樂的人所流連的地方沒有喜悅可言。沒有激情的人所聚集的地方則充滿喜悅！」佛陀並且放光，示現在比丘面前，向他說法，這比丘因此證得阿羅漢果。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to a woman of doubtful character.

We were told that a certain monk who lived by his alms-bowl, got a meditation topic from the Buddha and retired to a dilapidated garden for the purpose of meditation. Now a certain courtesan made an appointment with a man, saying, “I will go to such and such a place and you meet me there.” The woman kept the appointment, but the man did not. For some time she watched in vain the path by which she expected him to come. Finally, disappointed at his failure to keep his appointment, she strolled hither and thither and went into the garden.

There she saw the monk sitting cross-legged. Looking this way and that, and seeing no one else about, she said to herself, “Here is a man; I will throw his thoughts into confusion.” So standing in front of the monk, she took down her undergarment several times and put it on again, unloosened her hair and bound it up again, and clapped her hands and laughed. The Venerable became excited; his whole body, in fact, was suffused with excitement. “What does this mean?” thought he.

The Buddha considered within himself, “A monk obtained a meditation topic from me and went forth to perform his meditations. How is he getting on?” Seeing that woman, and observing her evil conduct, and perceiving that her evil conduct was upsetting the Venerable, still remaining seated in his perfumed chamber he spoke as follows, “Monks, there is no delight where those abide who seek after their lusts. But where those abide who are free from passion, that place is full of delight.” So saying, he sent forth a radiant image of himself, and instructing the Venerable in the Dhamma, recited this stanza.

☆☆☆

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

Dhammapada verse #98

於村落林間，平地或丘陵，何處有羅漢，彼地即可慶。

Whether in town or woods,
whether in vale, on hill,
wherever dwell the Arahats
so pleasing there the earth.

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【第98偈的故事】

離婆達是舍利弗最小的弟弟，也是兄弟中唯一沒有出家的人。他的父母根據當時的習俗，急著要他趕快結婚。所以在離婆達還很年輕時就安排他和一年輕女子成親。婚禮當天，賓客中有位高齡一百二十歲的女士，離婆達看見她時，就明白世事不離生、老、病、死的變化，於是決定像長兄舍利弗一樣出家。他就離開家庭，直接到一處有三十位比丘的精舍去。而舍利弗已經事先請求這些比丘，如果離婆達提出願望時，就讓他成為沙彌，離婆達因此順利成為沙彌。

這些比丘給離婆達一個禪修的題目，他於是離開精舍到遙遠的林子裡去禪修。結夏安居結束時，離婆達就證得阿羅漢果。這時候，舍利弗請佛陀允許他去見離婆達，佛陀說他也要去。所以，佛陀、舍利弗、尸婆離和諸位比丘就一齊前去探視離婆達。

這段路程很長，而且路況不佳，人煙也很少，但天神們供應了所有的必需品。離婆達知道佛陀要來，也預先安排。他運用神通，為佛陀造了一座特別的精舍，並為其他比丘安排適當的居處，使眾人在停留期間能夠安住。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Venerable Rēvata of the Acacia (khadira) Forest.

Rēvata was the youngest brother of the Chief Disciple Sàriputta. He was the only one of the brothers and sisters of Sàriputta who had not left home for the homeless life. His parents were very anxious to get him married. Rēvata was only seven years old when his parents arranged a marriage for him to a young girl. At the wedding reception, he met an old lady who was one hundred and twenty years old, and he realized that all beings are subject to ageing and decay. So, he ran away from the house and went straight to a monastery, where there were thirty monks. Those monks had been requested earlier by Venerable Sàriputta to make his brother a novice monk if he should come to them. Accordingly, he was made a novice monk and Venerable Sàriputta was informed about it.

Monk Rēvata took a meditation topic from those monks and left for an acacia forest, thirty yōjanas (leagues) away from the monastery. At the end of the vassa (rainy season), the novice monk attained arahatship. Venerable Sàriputta then asked permission from the Buddha to visit his brother, but the Buddha replied that he himself would go there. So the Buddha accompanied by Venerable Sàriputta, Venerable Sãvalã and many other monks set out to visit Sàmanēra (novice) Rēvata.

The journey was long, the road was rough and the area was uninhabited by people; but the dēvas looked to all the needs of the Buddha and the monks on the way. At an interval of every yōjana (league), a monastery and food were provided, and they travelled at the rate of a yōjana a day. Rēvata, learning about the visit of the Buddha, also made arrangements to welcome him. By supernatural power he created a special hut for the Buddha and five hundred huts for the other monks, and made them comfortable throughout their stay there.

On their return journey, they traveled at the same rate as before, and came to the Pubbàràma Monastery on the eastern end of Sàvatthi at the end of the month. From there, they went to the house of Visàkhà, who offered them alms-food. After the meal, Visàkhà asked the Buddha if the place of Rēvata in the acacia forest was pleasant.  Buddha replied with the above stanzas.

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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

Dhammapada verse #97

無信知無為，斷繫因永謝，棄捨於貪欲，真實無上士。

With no beliefs, the Unmade known,
with fetters finally severed,
with kammas cut and craving shed,
attained to humanity’s heights.

☆☆☆

【第97偈的故事】

某一村子的三十名比丘前往祇樹給孤獨園向佛陀禮敬。佛陀知道他們證得阿羅漢果的機緣已經成熟，就請舍利弗來，並且在他們面前問舍利弗：「舍利弗！你相信觀身能證得涅槃嗎？」

「世尊！關於觀身而證得涅槃這件事，我並不只因為信仰佛陀 (註) 就相信這種說法，只有未親身證得涅槃的人才會接受別人這種說法。」很多比丘不明白舍利弗話中的涵意，而在內心想著：「舍利弗至今尚未放棄錯誤的見解，直到此刻，他仍未信仰佛陀。」

佛陀就解釋說：「比丘們！舍利弗的意思十分清楚：『他承認觀身可以證得涅槃，但他接受的原因，是由於他個人的親身體證，而不只是因為佛陀或其他人如是說的關係。』事實上，舍利弗信仰佛陀，舍利弗也相信善惡業報。」

（註）佛教中的信仰來自對真理的正確認知和了悟，而不是因為害怕神或者追求情感的滿足，當內心不再動搖時，才是真正的信仰。佛教不認可盲目的信仰和狂熱的宗教信仰。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Venerable Sàriputta.

One day thirty forest-dwellers approached the Buddha, paid obeisance to him, and sat down. The Buddha, seeing that they possessed the requisite faculties for attaining arahatship, addressed Venerable Sàriputta as follows, “Sàriputta, do you believe that the quality of faith, when it has been developed and enlarged, is connected with the deathless and terminates in the deathless?” In this manner the Buddha questioned the Venerable with reference to the five moral qualities.

Said the Venerable, “Venerable, I do not go by faith in the Buddha in this matter, that the quality of faith, when it has been developed and enlarged, is connected with the deathless and terminates in the deathless. But of course, Venerable, those who have not known the deathless or seen or perceived or realized or grasped the deathless by the power of reason, such persons must of necessity go by the faith of others in this matter; namely, that the faculty of faith, when it has been developed and enlarged, is connected with the deathless and terminates in the deathless.” Thus did the Venerable answer his question.

When the monks heard this, they began a discussion: “Venerable Sàriputta has never really given up false views. Even today he refused to believe even the supremely Enlightened One.” When the Buddha heard this, he said, “Monks, why do you say this? For I asked Sàriputta the following question, ‘Sàriputta, do you believe that without developing the five moral qualities, without developing tranquillity and spiritual insight, it is possible for a man to realize the paths and the fruits?’ And he answered me as follows, ‘There is no one who can thus realize the paths and the fruits.’ Then I asked him, ‘Do you not believe that there is such a thing as the ripening of the fruit of almsgiving and good works? Do you not believe in the virtues of the Buddhas and the rest?’ But as a matter of fact, Sàriputta walks not by the faith of others, for the reason that he has, in and by himself, attained states of mind to which the Paths and the Fruits lead, by the power of spiritual insight induced by ecstatic meditation. Therefore he is not open to censure.”

☆☆☆

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

Dhammapada verse #96

彼人心寂靜，語與業寂靜，正智而解脫，如是得安穩。

Peaceful his mind and peaceful
his speech and actions too,
perfect in knowledge of freedom,
One Thus is of utmost peace.

☆☆☆

【第96偈的故事】

有一位七歲的男孩，由於父親殷切的盼望，而出家為沙彌。剃度之前，男孩先得到一個觀想題目。剃度時，他專注觀想，也因為這觀想和前世的善業，剃度之後，他就證得聖果。

後來，提舍尊者在沙彌的陪同下，出發前往舍衛城，準備向佛陀頂禮。

半路上，他們暫宿某一村落的精舍。當天晚上提舍入睡後，沙彌卻徹夜坐在提舍的身邊未眠，只在接近清晨的時候，稍為睡臥一會。

第二天一大早，提舍認為該是搖醒沙彌的時候了，於是用扇子搖醒小沙彌。但不幸的，扇柄卻打傷了他的一隻眼睛。小沙彌急忙用單手遮住受傷的眼睛，出去打水，準備給提舍尊者洗臉，並清洗精舍的地板等。

但當他單手捧水給提舍時，尊者告誡他，服務別人時，應該用雙手。這時候，尊者才發現小沙彌的一眼已經因為自己的疏忽而失明了。剎那間，尊者明白小沙彌實在是一位高貴的人，他深感歉疚，謙虛地向小沙彌道歉。但小沙彌告訴他，這既不是尊者錯，也不是他自己的錯，而是業報。小沙彌更請尊者不要因此難過，但尊者卻無法忘懷這件不幸的意外。

後來，他們繼續上路，終於抵達佛陀停留的舍衛城祇樹給孤獨園。佛陀知道路上所發生的事，就說：「阿羅漢不與人動氣，阿羅漢克制感官的衝動，內心究竟寧靜、安祥。」

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to a novice monk, a pupil of Venerable Tissa from Kōsambi.

A certain youth of respectable family, residing at Kōsambi, retired from the world and became a monk in the religion of the Buddha. After making his full profession, he was known as Venerable Kōsambivàsã Tissa. After he had kept residence during the season of the rains at Kōsambi, his supporter brought a set of three robes and offerings of ghee and palm sugar and laid them at his feet. “Venerable, if it be true that you have no novice to minister to your needs, my son will become your novice.” The Venerable graciously accepted the offer. The lay disciple brought his own son, but seven years old, to the Venerable, and committed him into the Venerable’s hands, saying, “Pray receive him into the Sangha, Venerable.” The Venerable moistened the boy’s hair, taught him how to meditate on the first five of the consistent parts of the body, and received him into the Sangha. The instant the razor touched the boy's hair, the boy attained arahatship, together with the supernatural faculties. The Venerable, having received the youth into the Sangha, remained at Kōsambi for a fortnight. Then, deciding to visit the Buddha, he directed the novice to take the requisites, and set out on his journey. On the way he entered a monastery. The novice obtained lodging for the Venerable and looked after it for him. While he was thus engaged, it grew dark and he was therefore unable to provide a lodging for himself. So assuming a cross-legged posture near the bed of his preceptor, the novice spent the night sitting up.

The Venerable rose at dawn and said to himself, I must cause the novice to go out.” So he took a fan which was placed at the side of the bed, struck the mat of the novice with the tip of the palm-leaf, and then, tossing the fan into the air, said, “Novice, go out.” The handle of the fan struck the novice in the eye and straightaway blinded his eye. “What did you say, Venerable?” said the novice. “Rise and go out,” was the reply. The novice, instead of saying, “Venerable, my eye has been blinded,” covered his eye with one hand and went out. Moreover, when it was time for him to perform his duties as novice, he did not say, “My eye has been blinded,” nor did he remain seated, but covering his eye with one hand and taking a hand-broom in the other hand, he swept out the privy and the wash-room, after which, setting out water for washing the face, he swept out the Venerable’s cell.

When he advanced to present the toothstick to the Venerable, the novice told him the whole story from the beginning. When the Venerable heard his story, he was deeply moved. The novice tried to comfort the Venerable but he would not be comforted. Overcome with remorse he took the novice to the Buddha. The Buddha asked him, “Monk, is everything really well?” The Venerable replied, “All is well with me. But here is a young novice whose good qualities surpass anything I have ever seen.” The Venerable told him the story. “Venerable, when I asked him to pardon me, he said, ‘You are not to blame in this matter, and neither am I.’” Said the Buddha to the Venerable, “Monk, those who have rid themselves of the depravities, cherish neither anger nor hatred towards anyone.”

☆☆☆

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

Dhammapada verse #95

彼已無憤恨，猶如於大地，彼虔誠堅固，如因陀揭羅，如無污泥池，是人無輪迴。

Like earth is one who’s well-behaved,
secure and not resentful,
as city-post, as filth-free lake,
no wanderings-on for One Who’s Thus.

☆☆☆

【第95偈的故事】

結夏安居結束時，舍利弗正準備與其它比丘一同外出。有位對舍利弗懷有怨懣的年輕比丘卻向佛陀抱怨說，舍利弗辱罵，鞭打他。佛陀就請人召請舍利弗來解釋，舍利弗不辯別自己的清白，卻說：「世尊！堅定持戒並且觀身的比丘，若有對不起其它比丘的行為，怎麼可能不道歉，就逕自出外去呢？我像大地一樣，花卉綻放時，沒有任何喜悅的感覺，垃圾與糞堆積在上面，也不憤怒。我也像門墊、乞丐、斷腳的公牛一般，對污穢的血肉之軀感到厭惡，不再執著於它。」

舍利弗謙虛地說完之後，犯錯的年輕比丘深感愧疚，承認自己指控舍利弗的錯誤。佛陀建議舍利弗接受年輕比丘的道歉，免得年輕比丘將來受業報。年輕比丘就恭敬地懇求舍利弗寬恕。舍利弗也誠摯的原諒他，並且重述如果自己有任何不對的地方，也請他能原諒 (註2)。

所有在場的比丘都讚嘆舍利弗，佛陀說：
「比丘們！像舍利弗這樣的阿羅漢不懷任何憤怒和瞋心。如同大地和門柱一樣的耐心、寬容和堅定，他的內心永遠祥和、清淨。」

備註： 1. 因陀揭羅，是在大門中間安放一堅固的石頭，作為關門時放門橛用的。另一種說法認為它是帝釋的柱子，在進城的地方安立一大而堅固的柱子，以象徵因陀羅（印度守護神）之所在。
2. 舍利弗和大目犍連尊者是佛陀的兩大弟子，佛陀指派他們擔任僧伽的指導人，佛陀建議所有的比丘尊敬他們如同父與母。

While residing at the Jētavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to the Chief Disciple Sàriputta and a young monk.

Once upon a time, at the conclusion of the rains, Venerable Sàriputta, desiring to go forth on an alms-pilgrimage, took leave of the Buddha, paid obeisance to him, and departed with his own retinue. Many other monks took leave of the Venerable. In dismissing the monks the Venerable mentioned the personal and family name of all of the monks who were known by personal and family names. A certain monk who was not known by a personal and family name said, “Oh, that the Venerable would greet me by a personal and family name in dismissing me.” But in the great throng of monks the elder did not notice him. Thereupon the monk said to himself, “He does not greet me as he does the other monks,” and straightaway conceived a grudge against the Venerable.

Besides that, the hem of the Venerable’s garment brushed against the monk, and this also served to intensify the hatred the monk felt towards the Venerable. So, as soon as he knew that the Venerable had passed beyond the entrance to the monastery, he approached the Buddha and said to him, “Venerable, Venerable Sàriputta, doubtless thinking to himself, ‘I am your chief disciple,’ struck me a blow that almost injured my ear. Having so done, without so much as begging my pardon, he set out on his alms-pilgrimage.” The Buddha caused the Venerable to be summoned.

Venerable Sàriputta came with the rest, saluted the Buddha, and sat down respectfully on one side. When the Buddha questioned him about the incident, the elder, instead of saying, “I did not strike that monk,” recited his own virtues.

As the Venerable recited his own virtues, remorse pervaded the whole body of the monk who had unjustly slandered him. And straightaway he fell at the feet of the Buddha, admitted that he was guilty of slander, and confessed his fault. The Buddha addressing the Venerable, said, “Sàriputta, pardon this deluded man, lest his head split into seven pieces.” Thereupon the Venerable crouched before the monk, and extending his clasped hands in an attitude of reverence, said to him, “Venerable, I freely pardon this venerable monk. Let this venerable monk also pardon me if I have in any way offended against him.” Thereupon the monks said, “Behold, brethren, the surpassing goodness of the Venerable! He cherishes neither anger nor hatred against this lying, slanderous monk. Instead, he crouches before him, extends his hands in an attitude of reverence, and asks his pardon.” When the Buddha heard the talk of the monks, he said, “Monks, what are you talking about?” When they told him, he said, “Monks, it is impossible for Sàriputta and his like to cherish anger or hatred. Sàriputta’s mind is like the great earth, like a threshold, like a pool of still water.”

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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

Dhammapada verse #94

彼諸根寂靜，如御者調馬，離我慢無漏，為天人所慕。

Whose faculties are pacified
as steeds by charioteers well-tamed,
with pride abandoned, unpolluted,
to even devas this One’s dear.

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【第94偈的故事】

有一次，結夏安居結束日，正是月圓的日子。帝釋率領眾多天神前往毘舍佉興建的東園鹿子母講堂向佛陀頂禮問訊。僧伽中地摩訶迦旃延尊者因為在遙遠的阿槃提結夏安居，所以尚未返回精舍。其他人就為他保留了空位子。當帝釋以鮮花和素香向佛陀頂禮問訊時，看到保留給摩訶迦旃延尊者的位子，他說多麼希望尊者也在精舍裡接受他的禮敬。這時候，摩訶迦旃延尊者突然出現，帝釋歡喜異常，立刻獻上鮮花致敬。

比丘們對帝釋崇仰摩訶迦旃延尊者的舉動大受感動，有些比丘則認為帝釋偏心。佛陀就向他們說：「天人敬重所有克制欲樂的人。」

While residing at the Pubbàràma Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Venerable Mahàkaccàyana.

For once upon a time, on the occasion of the terminal festival, the Buddha sat on the ground floor of the mansion of the Mother of Migàra, surrounded by a company of eminent lay disciples. At this time Venerable Kaccàyana resided in the Avanti country. Now this Venerable, although obliged to come from a great distance, regularly attended the preaching of the Dhamma. Therefore, when the Venerables sat down, they always left a seat for Venerable Kaccàyana.

Sakka the king of gods drew near with his celestial retinue from the two Worlds of Gods, and honoured the Buddha with celestial perfumes and garlands. Not seeing Venerable Kaccàyana, he thought to himself, ‘Why is my noble Venerable nowhere seen? It would be well if he were to draw near.” At that very moment the Venerable drew near, and showed himself sitting in his proper seat. When Sakka saw the Venerable, he grasped him firmly by the ankles and said, “It is indeed well that my noble Venerable has come; that my noble Venerable should come, was the very thing I wished for.” So saying, he rubbed the Venerable’s feet with both hands, honoured him with perfumes and garlands, and having paid obeisance to him, stood respectfully on one side.

The monks were offended and said, “Sakka shows respect of persons in rendering honour. Such honour as this, he has not rendered to the rest of the Chief Disciples. The moment he saw Venerable Kaccàyana, he grasped him by the ankles and said, ‘It is indeed well that my noble Venerable has come; that my noble Venerable should come, was the very thing I wished for.’ So saying, he rubbed the Venerable’s feet with both hands, honoured him with perfumes and garlands, and having paid obeisance to him, stood respectfully on one side.” The Buddha, hearing their talk, said, “Monks, those monks who, like my son Kaccàyana, keep the doors of their senses guarded, are beloved both by gods and men.”

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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