《南傳法句經》第51-52偈－Giita

《南傳法句經》第 51-52 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 51-52 偈講同一則故事，強調知行合一的重要。有意思的是，領銜登場的主角不但見了國王不起身，還拒絕國王的請託。這位膽敢犯上的傢伙究竟是何方賢聖？話說舍衛城有位名喚察德般尼（Chattapāni）的居士，是佛陀的信徒，已經證得二果。某次他在祇園精舍聽佛陀說法時，波斯匿王（Pasenadi）正巧來訪向佛陀致敬。察德般尼沒有起座，因為他認為若起身，可能會被認為是向國王而不是向佛陀表達敬意。國王視此為侮辱，非常惱火。佛陀自然曉得國王的不快，趕緊向他稱讚察德般尼不但德行高尚、還嫻熟佛法。聽了佛陀的說明，國王不由釋懷，並對察德般尼留下深刻的印象。

　　之後國王又遇到察德般尼，特別請他教導兩位王妃佛法。察德般尼婉言拒絕，建議國王請佛陀委派一位比丘擔任這份差使。於是佛陀指派阿難尊者定時到王宮，向末利王妃（Mallikā）和瓦瑟芭珂荻雅王妃（Vāsabha-Khattiyā）講授佛法。過了一陣子，佛陀問阿難兩位王妃的學習進展如何。阿難答說，末利王妃認真修習，但瓦瑟芭珂荻雅王妃卻不夠專心。佛陀聽了，說：「只有以誠敬和專注認真學習、並精勤實踐所學的人，才能從佛法中獲益。」

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

051 Practice Is Better Than Mere Teaching

Yathā’ pi ruciraṃ pupphaṃ

Vaṇṇavantaṃ agandhakaṃ

Evaṃ subhāsitā vācā

Aphalā hoti akubbato

As a flower that is lovely and beautiful but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.

052 Practice Is Better Than Mere Teaching

Yathā’ pi ruciraṃ pupphaṃ

Vaṇṇavantaṃ sagandhakaṃ

Evaṃ subhāsitā vācā

Saphalā hoti sakubbato

As a flower that is lovely, beautiful, and scent-laden, even so fruitful is the well-spoken word of one who practices it.

［中譯取自法增比丘的《南傳法句經新譯》］

人若不奉行，已說之善法，

無能得善果，如美花無香。[51]

人若真奉行，已說之善法，

必能得善果，如美花芬香。[52]

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

Yathā: (adv) as, like; how, when

Api, pi: (part.) also; even; though; merely

Rucira: (adj) beautiful, brilliant, agreeable

Puppha: (n) a flower

Vaṇṇa: (m) color; appearance, complexion; luster, splendor; beauty; kind, sort; caste; timbre of voice, accent; praise a letter, vowel, syllable; quality, property

Vaṇṇavanta: (adj) beautiful

Gandha: (m) odor, smell, scent; fragrance, perfume

Agandhaka: (adj) devoid of perfume, scentless

Evaṃ: (adv) so, thus, in this way

Bhāsita: (pp. bhāsati) spoken, said

Subhāsita: (adj) well-spoken, well-said

Vācā: (f) word, speech

Phala: (n) fruit, grain, crop, produce; result, consequence; reward, profit

Aphala: (adj) without fruit, unproductive, barren, unprofitable

Hoti: to be, exist, become

Kubbati: [= karoti] to act, perform, make, do ppr. kubbanta, kubbaṃ: doing, performing [gen./dat. kubbanta] kubbato neg. akubbato

Sagandhaka: (adj) fragrant