Giita

《南傳法句經》第2偈

故事為鄙人摘譯自 K. Sri Dhammananda 長老主編的英文版 The Dhammapada，添枝減葉若干。

　　《法句經》第二偈的主角是 Maṭṭha Kuṇḍali。Maṭṭha 意謂「潔淨」，Kuṇḍali 則是「有耳環的」，兩字合起來直譯為「戴著亮錚錚的耳環」。這、這啥怪名？其中肯定有誤會吧？然而，兩本巴英字典給的解釋都是 having burnished earrings 欸！讀者諸君大可不相信鄙人，但切莫懷疑字典。咱們姑且稱他為「戴錚環」如何？音譯也行啦，可「瑪忒弓得利」會更好聽麼？何況還得打五個字！

　　話說戴錚環是個年輕的婆羅門，家境不錯，偏偏父親慳吝無比，施貧濟苦就甭提了，竟連送給獨子的金飾也是自個兒打造，好省下一筆金匠費用。一天，戴錚環得了黃疸病，他那吝嗇的老爹連個醫生也不請，拖著拖著，病入膏肓了。令人髮指的是，戴老爹眼看兒子沒指望了，竟然叫人把他抬到陽台；如此一來，前來探望的客人就瞄不到屋內的財物。（防人如防賊，吝嗇鬼的心思果然不是凡夫可以揣度。）

　　那天清晨，佛陀修完悲觀（meditation of compassion），出了禪定，知道可憐的戴錚環躺在陽台上等死。於是，當他帶著弟子進舍衛城托缽時，特意站在戴錚環的家門附近。當時那位年輕病人面對屋內躺著，佛陀身上放出光芒，藉此吸引他的注意。戴錚環轉頭看見佛陀，氣若遊絲的他立刻生起對佛陀的信心，因此感到些許快樂。儘管不多，但也足夠了。臨終前，戴錚環一心歸依佛陀；命終後，往生忉利天。

　　戴錚環從忉利天往下一望，看見老爹在自己墳前哀慟欲絕。於心不忍，便幻化成原本的模樣，出現在老父跟前。他把往生忉利天一事告知父親，並勸他親近佛陀，常行布施，聽聞佛陀的教誨。老人家這會兒總算醒悟，聽了兒子的話。

       聆聽佛陀說法之後，有人提問了：是否可能沒有造作任何善行，也未曾持戒，單單憑著歸依佛陀的一念虔信，就得以往生忉利天？佛陀便請當事者現身說法。戴錚環全身散發天界之光，出現在大眾面前。這時，眾人終於相信，單憑一心歸依佛陀，戴錚環確實往生忉利天。結束時，戴錚環的父親悟了法，並布施大部分的財富。

［巴利原文與英譯取自 Nārada 長老編譯的 The Dhammapada］

002 Good Begets Good

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā

Manoseṭṭhā manomayā

Manasā ce pasannena

Bhāsati vā karoti vā

Tato naṃ sukhamanveti

Chāyā’va anapāyinī

Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one, even as one's shadow that never leaves.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

諸法心先導，心主心所作，

若以意善行，善語善身行，

則樂必隨彼，如影隨身形。

NOTES　

註釋主要依據: A Dictionary of the Pali Language, by R. C. Childers;

Pali-English Dictionary, by T. W. Rhys Davids and W. Stede

Manopubbaṅgama: (adj) having mind for its predecessor, following upon or resulting from the mind or thoughts, caused by the mind

Dhamma: (m/n) nature, condition, quality, property, characteristic; function, practice, duty; object, thing, idea, phenomenon; doctrine; law; virtue, piety; justice; the law or Truth of Buddha; the Buddhist scriptures; religion

Manoseṭṭha: (adj) having mind for its chief, governed by the mind

Manomaya: (adj) springing from the mind, caused by the mind

Mana: (m/n) the mind, the intellect, thoughts, the heart

Ce: (adv) even, if

Pasanna: (pp. of pasīdati) pure, serene, tranquil; pleased, satisfied

Bhāsati: to speak, say, address

Vā: (conj) or

Karoti: to act, do, cause, cause to become, render, make, perform

Tato: (adv) thence, therefrom; thereafter, subsequently; further, moreover

Sukha: (n) happiness; welfare; ease, comfort

Anveti: to follow     aor. anvagā

Chāyā: (f) shade, a shadow; reflected image

Iva, viya, va: (part.) like, as

Anapāyī: (adj) not departing; lasting    anapāyinī: (f)