Sutta 49: The story of the Miscellaneous Praises

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103b19] Thus I have heard:

At one time, the Buddha (佛 [fu]) was dwelling in the Jetavana (祇樹 [qi shu]) Anathapindada's Park (給孤獨園 [gei gu du yuan]) in Sravasti (舍衛 [she wei]), together with a great assembly of bhikshus (大比丘俱 [da bi qiu ju]). At that time, there was a son of a bhikshuni (比丘尼子 [bi qiu ni zi]) who had left home to practice the Way (捨家為道 [she jia wei dao]). He liked to visit various households and mingle roughly with lay people (白衣雜錯麤獷 [bai yi za cuo cu guang]), his conduct not pure. His mother (母 [mu]) repeatedly admonished him: "Do not be like that! Your conduct should have limits. If there is a Dharma assembly (法會 [fa hui]) or a lecture on the sutras (講經說義 [jiang jing shuo yi]), then you may go! Do not engage in worldly affairs (俗間事 [su jian shi])." His father (父 [fu]) also admonished him. But he would not accept the Dharma teachings (法教 [fa jiao]) of his parents (父母 [fu mu]), causing trouble in human society and at home. He only associated with bad people (惡人 [e ren]) and unaccomplished sons (不成就子 [bu cheng jiu zi]), following them. He encountered violent people (兇人 [xiong ren]) who beat and struck him, even punching him. He was about to throw himself into the water (投水中 [tou shui zhong]), but after a long time, he was released and cried out, then left. The bhikshus (諸比丘 [zhu bi qiu]) heard about it and went to rescue him, bringing him back home. The assembly of bhikshus (諸比丘眾 [zhu bi qiu zhong]) then reported the whole story to the Buddha (佛 [fu]).

[0103b19] wén rú shì:

yī shí fú yóu shě wèi qí shù gěi gū dú yuán, yǔ dà bǐ qiū jù. ěr shí yǒu yī bǐ qiū ní zi, shě jiā wèi dào, xǐ yì jiā jiā, yǔ zhū bái yī zá cuò cū guǎng, xíng bù chún yī. mǔ shù hē zhī: “wù dé ěr yě! xíng yǒu jié xiàn, ruò yǒu fǎ huì, jiǎng jīng shuō yì, nǎi kě xíng ěr! wú dé xiào jìn wèi sú jiān shì.” fù yì hē zhī. yì bù kěn shòu fù mǔ zhī fǎ jiào, zài yú rén jiān, jiā jū zào luàn. dàn yǔ è rén bù chéng jiù zi gòng xiāng zhuī suí, yù zhū xiōng rén gòng wō chuí zhī, jiā dé shǒu quán, jīn yù tóu shuǐ zhōng, jiǔ nǎi zhì ěr, jiào hū dé tuō shě qù. zhū bǐ qiū wén ér wǎng jiù zhī, dé hái guī jiā. zhū bǐ qiū zhòng, ér wǎng bái fú, shuō qí běn mò.

[0103b19] wen ru shi:

yi shi fu you she wei qi shu gei gu du yuan, yu da bi qiu ju. er shi you yi bi qiu ni zi, she jia wei dao, xi yi jia jia, yu zhu bai yi za cuo cu guang, xing bu chun yi. mu shu he zhi: "wu de er ye! xing you jie xian, ruo you fa hui, jiang jing shuo yi, nai ke xing er! wu de xiao jin wei su jian shi." fu yi he zhi. yi bu ken shou fu mu zhi fa jiao, zai yu ren jian, jia ju zao luan. dan yu e ren bu cheng jiu zi gong xiang zhui sui, yu zhu xiong ren gong wo chui zhi, jia de shou quan, jin yu tou shui zhong, jiu nai zhi er, jiao hu de tuo she qu. zhu bi qiu wen er wang jiu zhi, de hai gui jia. zhu bi qiu zhong, er wang bai fu, shuo qi ben mo.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103b29] The Buddha (佛 [fu]) told the bhikshus (比丘 [bi qiu]): "This person not only in this life (今世 [jin shi]) did not follow the teachings of his household (家居教 [jia ju jiao]) and was confused in his conduct. A long, long time ago, in the past, there were many crow nests (諸烏巢 [zhu wu chao]) near human dwellings. People liked to explore and try to catch them. The crow's wife (烏妻 [wu qi]) told the crow (烏 [wu]): 'Do not build your nest near human houses. Do not trust humans, lest they catch you and inflict suffering.' The crow (烏 [wu]) heard this, and although he wanted to leave, his heart was attached and he could not avoid it—people repeatedly disturbed him, yet he did not leave. People caught him, plucked all his feathers (毛羽 [mao yu]), and tied thorny branches around his neck (荊棘繫頸 [jing ji xi jing]). At that time, it rained continuously (霖雨 [lin yu]), making the ground muddy and impassable (泥溺叵行 [ni ni po xing]). He also could not fly, so he slowly dragged himself back to his nest. His wife (妻 [qi]) at that time sang a verse and asked:

[0103b29] fú gào bǐ qiū: “cǐ rén bù dàn jīn shì bù suí jiā jū jiào, mí huò qí xíng. nǎi wǎng guò qù jiǔ yuǎn shì shí, yǒu zhū wū cháo, bīn jìn jiā jū, rén shù xǐ tàn, yù bǔ qǔ zhī. wū qī wèi wū: ‘wú dé jìn rén jiā zuò cháo, mò xìn yú rén, dé wú qǔ qīng jiā zhī kǔ dú.’ qí wū wén zhī, suī yù shě qù, xīn huái liàn liàn, bù néng bì qù——zhòng rén shù shù, gòng chù ráo zhī, gù bù shě qù. zhòng rén bǔ dé, jǐn miè qí máo yǔ, jīng jí xì jǐng. tiān shí lín yǔ, ní nì pǒ xíng, yòu bù néng fēi, xú xú zì yè, guī dào qí cháo. qī shí yǐ jì, gē sòng wèn yuē:

“ ‘shuí jiē miè máo yǔ,　　jīn tiān fù yīn yǔ,
　　bèi jīng jí wèi kǎi,　　ér lì hù hé wèi?’

[0103b29] fu gao bi qiu: "ci ren bu dan jin shi bu sui jia ju jiao, mi huo qi xing. nai wang guo qu jiu yuan shi shi, you zhu wu chao, bin jin jia ju, ren shu xi tan, yu bu qu zhi. wu qi wei wu: 'wu de jin ren jia zuo chao, mo xin yu ren, de wu qu qing jia zhi ku du.' qi wu wen zhi, sui yu she qu, xin huai lian lian, bu neng bi qu--zhong ren shu shu, gong chu rao zhi, gu bu she qu. zhong ren bu de, jin mie qi mao yu, jing ji xi jing. tian shi lin yu, ni ni po xing, you bu neng fei, xu xu zi ye, gui dao qi chao. qi shi yi ji, ge song wen yue:

" 'shui jie mie mao yu, jin tian fu yin yu,
bei jing ji wei kai, er li hu he wei?'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103c12] "'Who plucked all your feathers (搣毛羽 [mie mao yu])? Today it is again cloudy and raining (今天復陰雨 [jin tian fu yin yu]). Clad in thorny armor (被荊棘為鎧 [bei jing ji wei kai]), why do you stand at the door?'

"The crow (烏 [wu]) replied to his wife (婦 [fu]) in verse:

"'My body (我身 [wo shen]) has an auspicious connection (吉祥有所緣 [ji xiang you suo yuan]). Today, it is raining heavily (今天時大霖雨 [jin tian shi da lin yu]). Quickly open the door (促開戶 [cu kai hu]) and do not bother me (無惱我 [wu nao wo]). Bring food (食 [shi]) to save my life (活我命 [huo wo ming]).'

[0103c12] “wū yǐ jì dá fù yuē:

“ ‘wǒ shēn jí xiáng yǒu suǒ yuán,　　yú jīn tiān shí dà lín yǔ,
　　rǔ cù kāi hù wú nǎo wǒ,　　qiě chí shí lái huó wǒ mìng.’

[0103c12] "wu yi ji da fu yue:

" 'wo shen ji xiang you suo yuan, yu jin tian shi da lin yu,
ru cu kai hu wu nao wo, qie chi shi lai huo wo ming.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103c15] "His wife (婦 [fu]) replied in verse:

"'As I thought, as I did, you slandered and coveted much. Now you encounter danger as if you had obtained flowers; later you will truly gain the fruit. What I sang is also acceptable; fully making cheese and ghee. Having experienced these hardships and afflictions, you should go to a secluded place and dwell in solitude.'

[0103c15] “qí fù yǐ jì dá yuē:

“ ‘wǒ rú suǒ niàn rú suǒ zào,　　qīng suǒ chán zhā duō suǒ tān,
　　jīn zāo xiōng wēi rú dé huá,　　hòu fāng dāng gèng huò qí shí.
　　wǒ zhī suǒ sòng yì kě shòu,　　jù zú chéng lào zhì tí hú,
　　zhí cǐ qín kǔ zhòng nǎo yǐ,　　dāng yì píng wěi chù xián jū.’

[0103c15] "qi fu yi ji da yue:

" 'wo ru suo nian ru suo zao, qing suo chan zha duo suo tan,
jin zao xiong wei ru de hua, hou fang dang geng huo qi shi.
wo zhi suo song yi ke shou, ju zu cheng lao zhi ti hu,
zhi ci qin ku zhong nao yi, dang yi ping wei chu xian ju.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103c20] "Not far from there, there was a divine immortal (神仙 [shen xian]) Brahmana (梵志 [fan zhi]) ascetic (道人 [dao ren]) who heard their voices from afar and sang in verse:

"'Not seeing the fruit of evil deeds (惡罪果 [e zui guo]), one encounters suffering (遭苦患 [zao ku huan]). Therefore, do not commit evil (莫作罪 [mo zuo zui]), lest you suffer great distress (受大惱 [shou da nao]).'

[0103c20] “qù bǐ bù yuǎn, yǒu yī shén xiān fàn zhì dào rén, yáo wén qí shēng ér gē sòng yuē:

“ ‘bù dǔ è zuì guǒ,　　yuán shì zāo kǔ huàn,
　　yǐ gù mò zuò zuì,　　jiāng wú shòu dà nǎo.’ ”

[0103c20] "qu bi bu yuan, you yi shen xian fan zhi dao ren, yao wen qi sheng er ge song yue:

" 'bu du e zui guo, yuan shi zao ku huan,
yi gu mo zuo zui, jiang wu shou da nao.' "

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103c24] "The Buddha (佛 [fu]) told the bhikshus (比丘 [bi qiu]): "Do you wish to know who the crow's wife (烏妻 [wu qi]) was at that time? It is this bhikshuni (比丘尼 [bi qiu ni]). The crow's husband (其烏夫 [qi wu fu]) is the son who left home to become a sramana (沙門 [sha men]) and was beaten and plucked. The immortal (仙人 [xian ren]) at that time was I myself. We met in the past, and we meet again in this life."

[0103c24] fú gào zhū bǐ qiū: “yù zhī ěr shí wū qī bù hū? jīn cǐ bǐ qiū ní shì yě； qí wū fū, chū jiā zi wèi shā mén bèi dǎ miè zhě shì yě； ěr shí xiān rén, zé wú shì yě. xī rì xiāng yù, jīn shì xiāng zhí.”

[0103c24] fu gao zhu bi qiu: "yu zhi er shi wu qi bu hu? jin ci bi qiu ni shi ye; qi wu fu, chu jia zi wei sha men bei da mie zhe shi ye; er shi xian ren, ze wu shi ye. xi ri xiang yu, jin shi xiang zhi."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0103c27] When the Buddha (佛 [fu]) spoke thus, all were joyful (莫不歡喜 [mo bu huan xi]).

[0103c27] fú shuō rú shì, mò bù huān xǐ.

fú shuō lǘ tuó jīng dì wǔ shí (dān běn cǐ jīng wèi dì sì shí jiǔ)

[0103c27] fu shuo ru shi, mo bu huan xi.

fu shuo lu tuo jing di wu shi (dan ben ci jing wei di si shi jiu)