Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Numerical Discourses

Chapter 16: The Fire Extinguished

（一〇） 羅雲 10. Rāhula
聞如是： 一時，佛在舍衛國、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，尊者羅雲奉、修禁戒。 無所觸犯。 小罪尚避，況復大者。 然，不得有漏心解脫。 2. It was then that Venerable Rāhula had accepted and cultivated the precepts. He had not had occasion to violate them. He had avoided minor mideeds, not to mention the greater ones. Still, he was not liberated from the contaminated mind.
爾時，眾多比丘便至世尊所，頭面禮足，在一面坐。 爾時，眾多比丘白世尊曰： 「羅雲比丘奉、修禁戒。 無所觸犯，然故有漏心不解脫。」 3. It was then that a group of monks visited the Bhagavān, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side. That group of monks said to the Bhagavān, “The monk Rāhula has accepted and cultivated the precepts. He hasn’t had any occasion to violate them, but he is still not liberated from the contaminated mind.”
爾時，世尊便說此偈： 4. The Bhagavān then spoke in verse:
  • 「具足禁戒法，
    諸根亦成就。
    漸漸當逮得
    一切結使盡。
  • “Fulfulling the way of precepts,
    One’s faculties are also accomplished.
    They will gradually obtain
    The end of all bonds.
「是故，諸比丘，常當念、修治正法，無有漏失。 如是，諸比丘，當作是學。」 5. “Therefore, monks, you should always be mindful and cultivate the correct Dharma without ommitting anything. Thus, monks, you should train yourselves.”
爾時，諸比丘聞佛所說歡喜，奉行。 6. When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.
Summary Verse
  • 難陀、涅槃、烏、
    驢、不善、有二、
    燭、及忍思惟、
    梵志、及羅雲。
  • [1] Nanda, [2] nirvāṇa, and [3] the crow,
    [4] The donkey, [5] what’s unskillful, and [6] two things;
    [7] The candle, [8] acceptance and consideration;
    [9] The brahmin and [10] Rāhula.

Notes

  1. For the source text, cf. T125.2.580b15-25. I’m not aware of any direct parallels for this sūtra. It’s interesting, though, that it would make sense for this sūtra to be the prelude to EĀ 17.1, in which the Buddha decides to give Rāhula more advanced teachings. Yet, a chapter division has been placed between the two so that the next sūtra could serve as the heading for Chapter 17. It seems possible that they were originally parts of the same story. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 25 November 2024

Previous

Next