Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Numerical Discourses

Chapter 9: The Only Son

(五) 墮 5. Downfall
聞如是： 一時，佛在舍衞國、祇樹、給孤獨園。 1. Thus I have heard:1 One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī.
爾時，世尊告諸比丘： 「我恒觀見一人心中所念之事： 『此人，如屈伸臂頃，墮泥㴝中。』 所以然者？ 由惡心故，心之生病，墜墮地獄。 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “When I continuously examine the things that a person thinks about in their mind, I see: ‘This person will fall to Hell2 in the time it takes to flex their arm.’ Why is that? Because of their evil thoughts, their mind becomes ill, and they fall down into Hell.”
爾時，世尊便説偈言： 3. The Bhagavān then spoke in verse:
  • 「猶如有一人
    心懷瞋恚想
    今告諸比丘
    廣演其義趣
  • “Suppose that a person
    Harbors hateful notions in their heart.
    Now, I’ll tell you monks
    The meaning of this in detail.
  • 今正是其時
    設有命終者
    假令入地獄
    由心穢行故
  • Supposing their life were to end
    Right at this moment in time,
    Then they would be sent to Hell
    Because of their mind’s defiled conduct.
「是故，諸比丘，當降伏心，勿生穢行。 如是，諸比丘，當作是學。」 4. “Therefore, monks, one should control their mind and not do defiled conduct. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”
爾時，諸比丘聞佛所説歡喜，奉行。 5. When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.

Notes

  1. For the source text, cf. T125.2.562c18-29. This sūtra is parallel to AN 1.43 and Iti 20. [back]

  2. Hell. C. 泥㴝 or 泥犂 (MC. nei-lei = G. nara[ga]), P/S. naraka. The Chinese transliterates the Indic word that was equivalent to English “Hell” as a place of punishment in the afterlife. Naraka literally means a pit, so a literal translation to English could be “the Pit.” The next occurrence of “Hell,” however, translates the Indic name to Chinese as 地獄 (lit. “earth prison”). [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 3 March 2023

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