Dhammapada 法句經(第二十三：象品)

第二十三：象品(NAGAVAGGO)(The Elephant)
偈頌次	了參法師譯	敬法法師譯	英譯
320 321 322	如象在戰陣，（堪忍）弓箭射，我忍謗（亦爾）。世多破戒者。調御（象）可赴集會，調御（象）可為王乘。若能堪忍於謗言，人中最勝調御者。調御之騾為優良，信度駿馬為優良，矯羅大象亦優良，自調御者更優良。	如同在戰場上的象忍受箭射，我亦應忍受（他人的）毀謗。誠然，多數人是無戒行的。只有已受馴服的（馬和象）才可被帶往人群；國王只騎已受馴服的（馬和象）。在眾人之中的最上者是已制伏自己及能忍受毀謗的人。已受馴服的騾、駿馬與大象是優良的；然而能以（道智）制伏自己者更為優良。	As an elephant in the battle endures the arrows shot from bows, so will I endure abuse. Many people are of bad morality. A tamed elephant is led into the assembly. The king mounts a tamed elephant. The tamed one, who endures abuses, is the best amongst people. Excellent are tamed mules; and the thoroughbred horses from Sindh; and all kinds of elephants. One who tamed himself is the best of all.
323	實非彼等車乘，得達難到境地，若人善自調御，由於調御得達。	以任何車乘皆不能去到未到過之地；只有完全制御自己的人才能到達其地。（註：未到過之地是指涅槃。）	Not by all these vehicles could one go to the land previously not traveled to, as would one who is tamed would go by himself being tamed and well controlled.
324	如象名財護，泌液暴難制，繫縛不少食，惟念於象林。	那名為護財的象發怒時是難以制伏的，被捕後牠絕食，只想著要回去象林（照顧母親）。	The elephant named Dhanapala, difficult to control in his rut and bound does not eat his food. He remembers his life in the elephant-grove.
325	樂睡又貪食，轉側唯長眠，如豬食無厭，愚者數入胎。	愚人怠惰、貪吃又如飽食的豬般懶睡。這愚人必須不斷地輪迴。	If one is sluggish and eats too much, is sleepy and rolls about in his sleep, such a lazy one is like a fat well fed hog - will be born again and again.
326	我此過去心──任意隨所欲，隨愛好遊行。我今悉調伏，如象師持鉤，（制御）泌液象。	在過去，此心隨著自己的喜好四處飄蕩。現在，我將善御己心，如象師持鉤制伏發狂的象。	This mind of mine used to wander around aimlessly, as it liked, wherever it wanted, as was its pleasure. Today, I will restrain it thoroughly, just as the elephant driver subdues an elephant in rut.
327	當樂不放逸，善護於自心。自救出難處，如象（出）泥坑。	當樂於精進、防護己心。如受困的象脫出泥沼般，你亦應使自己脫離煩惱的泥沼。	Be devoted to conscientiousness. Guard your own mind. Lift yourself up from this bad place, just like an elephant sunk in mud.
328 329 330	若得同行伴───善行富智慮，能服諸艱困，欣然共彼行。若無同行伴───善行富智慮，應如王棄國，如象獨行林。寧一人獨行，不與愚為友。獨行離欲惡，如象獨遊林。	若人能找到有德及有智慧的聖者為伴，他應歡喜及有正念地與其人共同生活，而克服一切危難。若人不能找到有德及有智慧的聖者為伴，他就應該獨自生活，如捨棄所征服的國土之王，又如瑪當伽象在森林裡獨行。寧可獨自生活，亦絕不與愚人為友。所以人們應當獨自過活、不造惡，如瑪當伽象般在森林裡自由自在地獨行。	If you find an intelligent companion, a fellow-traveler of pure actions and wise, you should overcome all problems and travel with him, delighted and mindful. If you do not find an intelligent companion, a fellow-traveler of pure actions and wise, like a king leaves behind the subdued kingdom, you should travel alone, just like an elephant in the elephant-grove. It is better to live alone; there is no companionship with a fool. One should live alone, and commit no evil. One should be content with little, like an elephant in the elephant-grove.
331 332 333	應時得友樂，適時滿足樂，命終善業樂，離一切苦樂。世中敬母樂，敬父親亦樂。世敬沙門樂，敬聖人亦樂。至老持戒樂，正信成就樂，獲得智慧樂，不作諸惡業。	在需要時有朋友是樂，對所擁有的感到滿足是樂，臨命終時有善業是樂，脫離一切苦是樂。在這世上，事奉母親是樂，事奉父親也是樂。在這世上，事奉沙門是樂，事奉婆羅門也是樂。能夠持戒到老是樂，有不動搖的信心是樂，獲得智慧是樂，不造惡是樂。（註：在此婆羅門是指佛陀、辟支佛與阿羅漢。）	Good are friends when need arises. Good is satisfaction with whatever one has. Good is merit when the life comes an end. Good is to abandon all suffering completely. Being filial towards one's mother and father is good in this world. Good is to be a monk in this world. It is also good to be a true Brahmin. It is good to be virtuous until you are old. Good is a firmly established trust. Good is to attain wisdom. To abstain from doing evil is good.

備註：英譯可參考 "佛學數位圖書館暨博物館"中巴利語教學經文選讀 (英)

巴利文經典最突出的特點，同時也是缺乏同情心的讀者最感厭倦的特點，就是單字、語句和整段文節的重複。這一部分是文法或至少是文體所產生的結果。 …，…，…，

…，…，…，這種文句冗長的特性，另外還有一個原因，那就是在長時期中三藏經典只以口授相傳。 …，…，…，

…，…，…，巴利文經典令人生厭的機械性的重覆敘述，也可能一部分是由於僧伽羅人(Sinhalese)不願遺失外國傳教師傳授給他們的聖語 …，…，…，

…，…，…，重覆敘述不僅是說教記錄的特點，而且也是說教本身的特點。我們持有的版本，無疑地是把一段自由說教壓縮成為編有號碼的段落和重覆敘述的產品。佛陀所說的話一定比這些生硬的表格更為活潑柔軟得多。

（節錄自：巴利系佛教史綱　第六章　聖典　二　摘錄）