The Medium Discourses
Chapter 4: Unprecedented Things
| （三六） 未曾有法品 地動經第五 (初一日誦) | 36. Earthquake |
|---|---|
| 中阿含經卷第九 | Begin Fascicle 9 |
| 東晉罽賓三藏瞿曇僧伽提婆譯 | |
| 我聞如是： 一時，佛遊金剛國、城名曰地。 | 1. Thus I have heard:1 One time, the Buddha traveled to a city called *Mahī in the country of Vajrā.2 |
| 爾時，彼地大動。 地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。 於是，尊者阿難見地大動。地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。 | 2. At the time, there was a great earthquake. During that great earthquake, strong winds blew from all four sides, comets appeared in all four directions, and houses and walls crumbled and were destroyed.3 Venerable Ānanda witnessed this great earthquake, during which strong winds blew from all four sides, comets appeared in all four directions, and houses and walls crumbled and were destroyed. |
| 尊者阿難見已恐怖，舉身毛竪。 往詣佛所，稽首禮足，却住一面。 白曰： 「世尊，今地大動！ 地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。」 | 3. When he saw this, Venerable Ānanda was frightened and his hair stood on end. He went to the Buddha, bowed his head at his feet, and withdrew to stand at one side. He said, “Bhagavān, there was a great earthquake just now! During that great earthquake, strong winds blew from all four sides, comets appeared in all four directions, and houses and walls crumbled and were destroyed.” |
| 於是，世尊語尊者阿難曰： 「如是，阿難，今地大動。 如是，阿難，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。」 | The Bhagavān then said to Venerable Ānanda, “Yes, Ānanda, there was a great earthquake just now. Yes, Ānanda, during that great earthquake, strong winds blew from all four sides, comets appeared in all four directions, and houses and walls crumbled and were destroyed.” |
| 尊者阿難白曰： 「世尊，有幾因緣令地大動，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡？」 | 4. Venerable Ānanda asked, “Bhagavān, how many causes and conditions are there that cause a great earthquake, during which strong winds blow from all four sides, comets appear in all four directions, and houses and walls crumble and are destroyed?” |
| 世尊答曰： 「阿難，有三因緣令地大動，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。云何為三？ | 5. The Bhagavān replied, “Ānanda, there are three causes and conditions for a great earthquake, during which strong winds blow from all four sides, comets appear in all four directions, and houses and walls crumble and are destroyed. What are the three?4 |
| 「阿難，此地止水上，水止風上，風依於空。 阿難，有時空中大風起。 風起，則水擾。 水擾，則地動。 是謂第一因緣令地大動，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。 | 6. “Ānanda, this Earth rests on water, the water rests on wind, and the wind is supported by empty space. Ānanda, sometimes a great wind blows in the empty space. When the wind rises, the water is disturbed. When the water is disturbed, there is an earthquake. This is the first cause and condition for a great earthquake, during which strong winds blow from all four sides, comets appear in all four directions, and houses and walls crumble and are destroyed. |
| 「復次，阿難，比丘有大如意足，有大威德，有大福祐，有大威神，心自在如意足。 彼於地作小想，於水作無量想。 彼因是故，此地隨所欲。 隨其意，擾復擾，震復震。 護比丘天亦復如是，有大如意足，有大威德，有大福祐，有大威神，心自在如意足。 彼於地作小想，於水作無量想。 彼因是故，此地隨所欲。 隨其意，擾復擾，震復震。 是謂第二因緣令地大動，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。 | 7. “Furthermore, Ānanda, a monk has great psychic abilities, great majesty, great blessings, great spiritual power, and the psychic abilities of mental freedom. He might form the idea that the Earth is small and the idea that the water is measureless. The Earth responds to his wishes because of that. Following his thinking, it’s disturbed repeatedly and shakes repeatedly. A monk-protecting god would likewise have great psychic abilities, great majesty, great blessings, great spiritual power, and the psychic abilities of mental freedom. He might form the idea that the Earth is small and the idea that the water is measureless. The Earth responds to his wishes because of that. Following his thinking, it’s disturbed repeatedly and shakes repeatedly. This is the second cause and condition for a great earthquake, during which strong winds blow from all four sides, comets appear in all four directions, and houses and walls crumble and are destroyed. |
| 「復次，阿難，若如來不久過三月已當般涅槃。 由是之故，令地大動，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。 是謂第三因緣令地大動，地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。」 | 8. “Furthermore, Ānanda, suppose a Tathāgata will parinirvāṇa soon, within the next three months. This is a reason for a great earthquake, during which strong winds blow from all four sides, comets appear in all four directions, and houses and walls crumble and are destroyed. This is the third cause and condition for a great earthquake, during which strong winds blow from all four sides, comets appear in all four directions, and houses and walls crumble and are destroyed.” |
| 於是，尊者阿難聞是語已，悲泣涕零。 叉手向佛，白曰： 「世尊，甚奇、甚特如來、無所著、等正覺成就功德，得未曾有法！ 所以者何？ 謂如來不久過三月已當般涅槃是時令地大動。 地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。」 | 9. When Venerable Ānanda heard this, he cried and wept.5 He saluted the Buddha with his hands together and said, “How amazing and extraordinary, Bhagavān, are the virtues and unprecedented qualities accomplished by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, and Completely Awakened One! Why is that? That great earthquake happened because the Tathāgata will soon parinirvāṇa within the next three months. During that earthquake, strong winds blew from all four sides, comets appeared in all four directions, and houses and walls crumbled and were destroyed.” |
| 世尊語尊者阿難曰： 「如是，阿難！如是，阿難！ 甚奇、甚特，如來、無所著、等正覺成就功德，得未曾有法。 所以者何？ 謂如來不久過三月已當般涅槃是時令地大動。 地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡。 | The Bhagavān said to Venerable Ānanda, “Yes, Ānanda! Yes, Ānanda! The virtues and unprecedented qualities accomplished by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, and Completely Awakened One are amazing and extraordinary. Why is that? That great earthquake happened because the Tathāgata will soon parinirvāṇa within the next three months. During that earthquake, strong winds blew from all four sides, comets appeared in all four directions, and houses and walls crumbled and were destroyed. |
| 「復次，阿難，我往詣無量百千剎利眾。 共坐談論，令可彼意。 共坐定已，如彼色像，我色像亦然。 如彼音聲，我音聲亦然。 如彼威儀禮節，我威儀禮節亦然。 若彼問義，我答彼義。 | 10. “Furthermore, Ānanda, I have visited measureless hundreds of thousands of warrior assemblies. I sat and conversed with them, which pleased their minds. Once I was seated with them and settled, my appearance was like their appearance. My voice sounded like their voices. My manner and customs were like their manner and customs. If they asked about a subject, my answer was about that subject. |
| 「復次，我為彼說法，勸發渴仰，成就歡喜。 無量方便為彼說法，勸發渴仰，成就歡喜已，即彼處沒。 我既沒已，彼不知誰，為人，為非人。 阿難，如是，甚奇、甚特如來、無所著、等正覺成就功德，得未曾有法。 如是，梵志眾、居士眾、沙門眾。 | 11. “Furthermore, I taught them the Dharma, encouraging, rousing, and making them rejoice. After teaching them Dharma using measureless methods and encouraging, rousing, and making them rejoice, I then disappeared from the place. After I disappeared, they didn’t know whether I was human or non-human. Ānanda, that’s how amazing and extraordinary the virtues and unprecedented qualities accomplished by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, and Completely Awakened One are. So it was with the brahmin, householder, and ascetic assemblies. |
| 「阿難，我往詣無量百千四王天眾。 共坐談論，令可彼意。 共坐定已，如彼色像，我色像亦然。 如彼音聲，我音聲亦然。 如彼威儀禮節，我威儀禮節亦然。 若彼問義，我答彼義。 | 12. “Ānanda, I’ve visited measureless hundreds of thousands of assemblies in the Heaven of the Four Kings. I sat and conversed with them, which pleased their minds. Once I was seated with them and settled, my appearance was like their appearance. My voice sounded like their voices. My manner and customs were like their manner and customs. If they asked about a subject, my answer was about that subject. |
| 「復次，我為彼說法，勸發渴仰，成就歡喜。 無量方便為彼說法，勸發渴仰，成就歡喜已，即彼處沒。 我既沒已，彼不知誰，為天，為異天。 阿難，如是，甚奇、甚特如來、無所著、等正覺成就功德，得未曾有法。 如是，三十三天、㷿摩天、兜率哆天、化樂天、他化樂天、梵身天、梵富樓天、少光天、無量光天、晃昱天、少淨天、無量淨天、遍淨天、無罣礙天、受福天、果實天、無煩天、無熱天、善見天、善現天。 | 13. “Furthermore, I taught them the Dharma, encouraging, rousing, and making them rejoice. After teaching them Dharma using measureless methods and encouraging, rousing, and making them rejoice, I then disappeared from the place. After I disappeared, they didn’t know whether I was a god or something other than a god. Ānanda, that’s how amazing and extraordinary the virtues and unprecedented qualities accomplished by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, and Completely Awakened One are. So it was with the Trāyastriṃśa Gods, Yama Gods, Tuṣita Gods, Nirmāṇarati Gods, Paranirmāṇarati Gods, Brahmakāyika Gods, Brahmapurohita Gods, Parīttābha Gods, Apramāṇābha Gods, Ābhāsvara Gods, Parīttaśubha Gods, Apramāṇaśubha Gods, Śubhakṛtsna Gods, Cloudless Gods, Receiving Merit Gods, Bṛhatphala Gods, Avṛha Gods, Atapa Gods, Sudarśani Gods, and Sudarśana Gods. |
| 「阿難，我往詣無量百千色究竟天眾。 共坐談論，令可彼意。 共坐定已，如彼色像，我色像亦然。 如彼音聲，我音聲亦然。 如彼威儀禮節，我威儀禮節亦然。 若彼問義，我答彼義。 | 14. “Ānanda, I’ve visited measureless hundreds of thousands of assemblies in the Akaniṣṭha Heaven. I sat and conversed with them, which pleased their minds. Once I was seated with them and settled, my appearance was like their appearance. My voice sounded like their voices. My manner and customs were like their manner and customs. If they asked about a subject, my answer was about that subject. |
| 「復次，我為彼說法，勸發渴仰，成就歡喜。 無量方便為彼說法，勸發渴仰，成就歡喜已，即彼處沒。 我既沒已，彼不知誰，為天，為異天。 阿難，如是，甚奇、甚特如來、無所著、等正覺成就功德，得未曾有法。」 | 15. “Furthermore, I taught them the Dharma, encouraging, rousing, and making them rejoice. After teaching them Dharma using measureless methods and encouraging, rousing, and making them rejoice, I then disappeared from the place. After I disappeared, they didn’t know whether I was a god or something other than a god. Ānanda, that’s how amazing and extraordinary the virtues and unprecedented qualities accomplished by the Tathāgata, the Arhat, and Completely Awakened One are.” |
| 佛說如是。尊者阿難及諸比丘聞佛所說歡喜，奉行。 | 16. This is what the Buddha said. Venerable Ānanda and the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved. |
| 地動經第五竟 (一千二百三十三字) |
Notes
For the source text, cf. T26.1.477b23-8b12. Direct parallels include AN 8.70 and EĀ 42.5.
This sūtra both here and in AN appears to be an excerpt lifted from the Parinirvāṇa Sūtra and made into an independent text. Or, perhaps, it was incorporated into the same and later elements of the story there found its way back into these smaller sūtras. Whichever is the case, the backstory of the Buddha attempting to give a hint to Ānanda to request that he remain in the world and Māra’s successful request for the Buddha to parinirvāṇa is included in AN 8.70. That introduction is not included here in MĀ 36, but it’s placed in the same context when Ānanda becomes upset upon realizing that the cause for the earthquake was the Buddha choosing to parinirvāṇa.
EĀ 42.5, on the other hand, lacks any context that would place it in the narrative of the Parinirvāṇa Sūtra. Ānanda is not the intercutor, and the discourse occurs in the default location of Śrāvastī. The Buddha simply gives the monks a lecture defining the causes of earthquakes.
Beyond that, the other major difference is that this version only details three reasons for a great earthquake, whereas AN 8.70 and EĀ 42.5 present the well-known list of eight reasons. [back]
to a city called *Mahī in the country of Vajrā. C. 金剛國，城名曰地. Both of these placenames have been trans. to C. The first is straightforward: 金剛 (“diamond”) is a well-known trans. of S. vajra (G. vayira, P. vajira). As a placename, there was a city named Vajirā in Pali sources like the Mahāvamsa and Buddhavamsa. Here, it was apparently the name for a region, though it’s exact identity is unclear to me. The name of the city referenced here was trans. as 地 (“earth”). My guess is that it perhaps trans. something like mahī. Normally, it was the name of a major river in India that lit. means “earth.” Perhaps there was a city or town that bore the same name. [back]
there was a great earthquake … walls crumbled and were destroyed. C. 彼地大動。地大動時，四面大風起，四方彗星出，屋舍牆壁皆崩壞盡, P. mahābhūmicālo ahosi bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu. This lengthy description will be repeated quite often. In AN 8.70, it’s described more simply: “there was a great earthquake, awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky” (Sujato). The reference here to comets might actually describe lights in the sky that sometimes coincide with seismic events. [back]
This version gives only three reasons for a great earthquake: The geological reason of the earth being disturbed by the water beneath it, a powerful monk or god using their spiritual powers, or when a Buddha decides to parinirvāṇa.
AN 8.70 agrees with the first two items, then adds: when a bodhisattva is conceived on Earth, when a bodhisattva is born, when a Buddha realizes completely awakening, and when a Buddha first sets the Dhamma wheel in motion. The seventh reason agrees with the third here in MĀ 36: When a Buddha surrenders his life force. The eighth and last reason in AN 8.70 is when a Buddha actually parinirvāṇas. It’s not difficult to imagine that MĀ 36 might represent an older list that has been expanded given that the agreement between the two lists is in the initial and final items, and many of the additions appear drawn from a source like the story of Bodhisatta Vipassī from DN 14. [back]
What follows is not included in AN 8.70, which ends with the list of causes of earthquakes. It would seem that this sūtra is a direct excerpt from this tradition’s Parinirvāṇa Sutra. [back]
Translator: Charles Patton
Last Revised: 29 March 2025
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