[无量香光 · 显密文库 · 手机站]
fowap.goodweb.net.cn
{返回首页}


The Dhammapada - Chapter VIII. The Thousands.
 
{返回 The Dhammapada and The Sutta Nipata 文集}
{返回网页版}
点击:2234

p. 31

CHAPTER VIII.
THE THOUSANDS.

   100. Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.

   101. Even though a Gâthâ (poem) be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of a Gâthâ is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.

   102. Though a man recite a hundred Gâthâs made up of senseless words, one word of the law is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.

   103. If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.

   104., 105. One's own self conquered is better than all other people; not even a god, a Gandharva, not Mâra with Brahman could change into defeat the

[100. This Sahasravarga, or Chapter of the Thousands, is quoted by that name in the Mahâvastu (Minayeff, Mélanges Asiatiques, VI, p. 583): Teshâm Bhagavâñ gatilânâm Dharmapadeshu sahasravargam bhâshati: 'Sahasram api vâkânâm anarthapadasamhitânâm, ekârthavati sreyâ yâm srutvâ upasâmyati. Sahasram api gâthânâm anarthapadasamhitânâm, ekârthavati sreyâ yâm srutvâ upasâmyati.' (MS. R. A. S. Lond.) Here the Pâli text seems decidedly more original and perfect.

104. Gitam, according to the commentator, stands for gito (lingavipallâso, i.e. viparyâsa); see also Senart in Journal Asiatique, 1880, p. 500.

The Devas (gods), Gandharvas (fairies), and other fanciful beings of the Brahmanic religion, such as the Nâgas, Sarpas, Garudas, &c., were allowed to continue in the traditional language of the people who had embraced Buddhism. See the pertinent remarks of Burnouf, Introduction, pp. 134 seq., 184. On Mâra, the tempter, see v. 7. Sâstram Aiyar, On the Gaina Religion, p. xx, says: 'Moreover as it is declared in the Gaina Vedas that all the gods worshipped by the various Hindu sects, viz. Siva, Brahma, Vishnu, Ganapati, Subramaniyan, and others, were devoted adherents of the above-mentioned Tîrthankaras, the Gainas therefore do not consider them as unworthy of their worship; but as they are servants of Arugan, they consider them to be deities of their system, and accordingly perform certain pûgâs in honour of them, and worship them also.' The case is more doubtful with orthodox Buddhists. 'Orthodox Buddhists,' as Mr. D'Alwis writes (Attanagalu-vansa, p. 55), 'do not consider the worship of the Devas as being sanctioned by him who disclaimed for himself and all the Devas any power over man's soul. Yet the Buddhists are everywhere idol-worshippers. Buddhism, however, acknowledges the existence of some of the Hindu deities, and from the various friendly offices which those Devas are said to have rendered to Gotama, Buddhists evince a respect for their idols.' See also Buddhaghosha's Parables, p. 162.]

p. 32

victory of a man who has vanquished himself, and always lives under restraint.

   106. If a man for a hundred years sacrifice month after month with a thousand, and if he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded (in true knowledge), better is that homage than sacrifice for a hundred years.

   107. If a man for a hundred years worship Agni (fire) in the forest, and if he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded (in true knowledge), better is that homage than sacrifice for a hundred years.

   108. Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence shown to the righteous is better.

p. 33

   109. He who always greets and constantly reveres the aged, four things will increase to him, viz. life, beauty, happiness, power.

   110. But he who lives a hundred years, vicious and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is virtuous and reflecting.

   111. And he who lives a hundred years, ignorant and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is wise and reflecting.

   112. And he who lives a hundred years, idle and weak, a life of one day is better if a man has attained firm strength.

   113. And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing beginning and end, a life of one day is better if a man sees beginning and end.

   114. And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the immortal place, a life of one day is better if a man sees the immortal place.

   115. And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the highest law, a life of one day is better if a man sees the highest law.

[109. Dr. Fausböll, in a most important note, called attention to the fact that the same verse, with slight variations, occurs in Manu. We there read, II, 121:
      Abhivâdanasîlasya nityam vriddhopasevinah,
      Katvâri sampravardhante âyur vidyâ yaso balam.
Here the four things are, life, knowledge, glory, power.

In the Âpastamba-sûtras, I, 2, 5, 15, the reward promised for the same virtue is svargam âyus ka, 'heaven and long life.' It seems, therefore, as if the original idea of this verse came from the Brahmans, and was afterwards adopted by the Buddhists. How largely it spread is shown by Dr. Fausböll from the Asiatic Researches, XX, p. 259, where the same verse of the Dhammapada is mentioned as being in use among the Buddhists of Siam.

112. On kusîto, see note to verse 7.]

 


{返回 The Dhammapada and The Sutta Nipata 文集}
{返回网页版}
{返回首页}

上一篇:The Dhammapada - Chapter IX. Evil.
下一篇:The Dhammapada - Chapter VII. The Venerable (Arhat).
 The Sutta-Nipata - Title Page / Con..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter XIV. The B..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter XVI. Pleas..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter XIII. The ..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter V. The Foo..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter XXI. Misce..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter II. On Ear..
 The Sutta-Nipata - II. Kûlava..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter III. Thoug..
 The Dhammapada - Chapter XV. Happin..
全文 标题
 
【佛教文章随机阅读】
 和谐社会构建中的佛教信仰与企业家精神[栏目:第二届世界佛教论坛论文集]
 四十八愿 第十九讲:阿阇世王被救后信心欢喜赞颂佛[栏目:纯祥法师]
 定解宝灯论 10 后善结义[栏目:定解宝灯论]
 心怀一颗平常之心[栏目:心生菩提树·佛理小故事]
 七 阿罗汉品[栏目:法句经]
 惭愧[栏目:人生佛教语录]
 甚深难见的缘起学说[栏目:蔡惠明居士]
 大乘止观法门之研究 第三章 《大乘止观法门》的基本思想 第四节 本书的性染说与天台智顗的性恶论[栏目:圣严法师]
 大乘百法明门论直解 第十讲[栏目:大乘百法明门论直解讲记]
 天台修证次第之一、藏教的修证次第[栏目:达照法师]


{返回首页}

△TOP

- 手机版 -
[无量香光·显密文库·佛教文集]
教育、非赢利、公益性的佛教文化传播
白玛若拙佛教文化传播工作室制作
www.goodweb.net.cn Copyrights reserved
(2003-2015)
站长信箱:yjp990@163.com