---
title: "賢愚經 · 49 象護品"
description: "賢愚經是北魏時期由慧覺等高僧共同翻譯編纂的一部佛教經典，屬於本緣部典籍。該經成書於5世紀，收錄了大量佛教故事，通過賢者與愚者的對比，闡述因果業報、修行解脫等佛教核心教義。全經分為十三卷，內容包含佛陀本生故事、弟子因緣及民間佛教傳說，語言通俗易懂，具有濃厚的民間文學色彩。作為漢傳佛教重要經典，賢愚經不僅是研究北魏佛教傳播的重要文獻，也對後世佛教文學、藝術產生了深遠影響，在佛教通俗教化中佔有獨特地位。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cm9gs18lk02qrhd0wxlllrp5l"
---

### （五六）象護品第四十九丹本為五十六

> Chapter 49: Elephant Guardian<note>In the Dan edition, this is Chapter 56</note>

如是我聞：

> Thus have I heard:

一時佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。爾時摩竭國中有一長者，生一男兒，相貌具足，甚可愛敬。其生之日，藏中自然出一金象。父母歡喜，便請相師為其立字。時諸相師見兒福德，問其父母：「此兒生日，有何瑞應？」即答之言：「有一金象，與兒俱生。」因瑞立字，名曰象護。兒漸長大，象亦隨大；既能行步，象亦行步，出入進止，常不相離；若意不用，便住在內。象大小便，唯出好金。

> Thus I have heard: Once, the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove, in the Garden of the Benefactor of the Orphaned and the Lonely, near the city of Shravasti. At that time, in the kingdom of Magadha, there lived a wealthy elder. A son was born to him, with perfect features, handsome and lovable. On the very day of the child's birth, a golden elephant spontaneously appeared from the family's treasury. The parents were overjoyed and invited fortune-tellers to give the child a name. The fortune-tellers, seeing the child's great merit and virtue, asked the parents, "What auspicious signs appeared at the birth of this child?" The parents replied, "A golden elephant was born together with him." Because of this auspicious sign, they named the child Elephant Guardian. As the child grew, the elephant also grew. When the child could walk, the elephant would walk too. In all comings and goings, whether entering or leaving, stopping or resting, the elephant never left his side. If the child did not wish to use it, the elephant would stay quietly indoors. The elephant's excrement and urine were nothing but pure gold.

其象護者常與五百諸長者子共行遊戲，各各自說家內奇事。或有說言：「我家舍宅床榻坐席悉是七寶。」或有自說：「我家屋舍及與園林亦是眾寶。」復有說言：「吾家庫藏妙寶恒滿。」如是之比，種種眾多。是時象護復自說言：「我初生日，家內自然生一金象。我年長大，堪任行來，象亦如是，於我無違。我恒騎之，東西遊觀，遲疾隨意，甚適人情。其大小便純是好金。」時王子阿闍貰亦在其中，聞象護所說，便作是念：「若我為王，當奪取之。」既得作王，便召象護，教使將象共詣王所。

> The Keeper of the Elephant often played together with five hundred sons of the elders, each boasting about the marvels within their homes. Some said, "My house, beds, and seating are all made of the seven treasures." Others said, "My residence and gardens are likewise adorned with many jewels." Still others said, "My treasuries are always filled with exquisite gems." Such boasts, of many kinds, were plentiful. At that time, the Keeper of the Elephant also shared, "On the day I was born, a golden elephant naturally appeared in my home. As I grew older and could walk about, the elephant did the same, never disobeying me. I often ride it, wandering east and west, its pace matching my wishes, bringing great joy to my heart. Even its droppings are pure gold." Prince Ajātasattu was also among those present. Hearing the Keeper of the Elephant's words, he thought to himself, "If I become king, I shall seize that elephant." When he indeed became king, he summoned the Keeper of the Elephant and ordered him to bring the elephant and come before the king.

時象護父語其子曰：「阿闍貰王兇暴無道，貪求慳悋，自父尚虐，何況餘人？今者喚卿，將貪卿象，儻能被奪。」其子答曰：「我此象者，無人能劫。」父子即時共乘見王。

> At that time, Xiang Hu Fu said to his son, "King Ajatashatru is cruel and unjust, greedy and miserly. He even mistreats his own father—how much more so others? Now he summons you, likely coveting your elephant. Perhaps it will be seized." His son replied, "This elephant of mine—no one can take it." The father and son then rode the elephant together to meet the king.

時守門人即入白王：「象護父子乘象在門。」王告之曰：「聽乘象入。」時守門者還出具告，象護父子乘象徑前，既達宮內，爾乃下象，為王跪拜，問訊安否。王大歡喜，命令就座，賜與飲食，粗略談語。須臾之頃，辭王欲去，王告象護：「留象在此，莫將出也。」

> The gatekeeper then went in and informed the king: "Elephant Guardian and his son have arrived with an elephant at the gate." The king said to him: "Allow them to enter riding on the elephant." The gatekeeper returned and relayed the message, and Elephant Guardian and his son rode the elephant straight in. Once they reached inside the palace, they dismounted from the elephant, knelt to the king, and offered their respects, asking after his well-being. The king was greatly delighted, ordered them to be seated, offered them food and drink, and had a brief conversation with them. After a short while, they took their leave of the king and wished to depart. The king said to Elephant Guardian: "Leave this elephant behind here; do not take it out with you."

象護欣然，奉教留之，空步出宮。未久之間，象沒於地，踊出門外，象護還得，乘之歸家。經由少時，便自念曰：「國王無道，刑罰非理，因此象故，或能見害。今佛在世，澤潤群生，不如離家，遵修梵行。」即白父母，求索入道，二親聽許，便辭而去。

> Elephant Protector was delighted and, following the teaching, kept the elephant there. He left the palace on foot. Before long, the elephant sank into the ground and sprang up outside the gate. Elephant Protector recovered it, rode it, and returned home. After a short while, he thought to himself: "The king is unjust, and his punishments are unreasonable. Because of this elephant, I may be harmed. Now that the Buddha is in the world, spreading grace to all beings, it would be better to leave home and practice the holy life." He then told his parents and asked to join the monastic path. His parents gave their permission, so he took his leave and departed.

乘其金象，往至祇洹。既見世尊，稽首作禮，陳說本志。佛尋許言：「善來比丘！」鬚髮自落，法服在身，便成沙門，佛便為說四諦要法，神心超悟，便逮羅漢。每與諸比丘林間樹下思惟修道，其金象者恒在目前。

> He mounted his golden elephant and traveled to Jetavana Monastery. Upon meeting the World-Honored One, he bowed his head in reverence and shared his original intention. The Buddha readily granted his wish, saying, "Welcome, monk!" His hair and beard fell away on their own, and monastic robes appeared on him, making him a monk. The Buddha then taught him the essential Dharma of the Four Noble Truths. His mind opened with profound awakening, and he attained Arhatship. Whenever he practiced meditation and cultivation alongside the other monks in the groves and under the trees, the golden elephant would always remain before his eyes.

舍衛國人聞有金象，競集觀之，怱閙不靜，妨廢行道。時諸比丘以意白佛，佛告象護：「因此象故，致有煩憒，卿今可疾遣之令去。」象護白佛：「久欲遣之，然不肯去。」佛復告曰：「汝可語之：『我今生分已盡，更不用汝。』如是至三，象當滅矣。」爾時象護奉世尊教，向象三說：「吾不須汝。」是時金象即入地中。

> When the people of the kingdom of Śrāvastī heard about the golden elephant, they all gathered eagerly to see it, and the noisy commotion began to interfere with practice and meditation. The monks then reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha said to the elephant keeper, “Because of this elephant, trouble and disturbance have arisen. You should send it away immediately.” The keeper replied, “I have long wished to send it away, but it refuses to go.” The Buddha said, “You may tell it: ‘My life’s purpose is now fulfilled. I no longer have need of you.’ Say this three times, and the elephant will disappear.” At that time, following the World-Honored One’s instruction, the keeper said to the elephant three times, “I have no need of you.” Then the golden elephant immediately sank into the ground.

時諸比丘咸共奇怪，白世尊言：「象護比丘本修何德，於何福田種此善根，乃獲斯報巍巍如是？」

> All the monks were astonished and asked the World-Honored One, "What virtuous deeds did the monk Elephant Guardian cultivate in the past, and in what field of merit did he plant such wholesome roots, that he now receives such magnificent blessings?"

佛告阿難及諸比丘：「若有眾生於三寶福田之中種少少之善，得無極果。乃往過去迦葉佛時，時彼世人壽二萬歲，彼佛教化周訖，遷神泥洹，分布靈骨，多起塔廟。時有一塔，中有菩薩本從兜率天所乘象來下入母胎時像。彼時象身有少剝破，時有一人值行繞塔，見象身破，便自念言：『此是菩薩所乘之象，今者損壞，我當治之。』取埿用補，雌黃污塗，因立誓願：『使我將來恒處尊貴，財用無乏。』彼人壽終，生於天上，盡天之命，下生人間，常生尊豪富樂之家，顏貌端正，與世有異，恒有金象，隨時侍衛。」

> The Buddha said to Ananda and the assembled monks: "If any living being plants even the smallest seed of goodness in the field of blessings that is the Three Jewels, they will reap a fruit of immeasurable reward. In the distant past, during the time of the Buddha Kashyapa, people then lived for twenty thousand years. After that Buddha had completed his teaching and entered into final nirvana, his relics were distributed and many stupas and temples were built. Among them was one stupa that contained an image of the bodhisattva descending from Tushita Heaven on an elephant to enter his mother's womb. At that time, part of the elephant's body had become damaged and flaking. A person happened to walk by and circumambulate the stupa. Seeing the elephant's body broken, he thought to himself, 'This is the elephant that the bodhisattva rode. Now it is damaged—I should repair it.' So he took clay to patch it and applied yellow pigment to cover it, and made this vow: 'May I always be born in honorable and noble circumstances, with wealth and resources never lacking.' When that person's life ended, he was reborn in heaven. After exhausting his heavenly lifespan, he descended to the human realm, always born into noble, wealthy, and happy families. He was handsome and dignified, unlike ordinary people, and always had a golden elephant attending him wherever he went."

佛告阿難：「欲知爾時治象人者，今象護是。由於彼世治象之故，從是以來，天上人中封受自然；緣其敬心，奉三尊故，今遭值我，稟受妙化，心垢都盡，逮阿羅漢。」

> The Buddha told Ananda, "If you want to know who the elephant keeper was at that time, it is now Elephant Guardian. Because he tended the elephant in that life, from then on, he enjoyed natural rewards in heaven and among humans. Due to his reverent heart and devotion to the Three Treasures, he has now encountered me, received the wondrous teachings, utterly exhausted the defilements of his mind, and attained Arhatship."

慧命阿難及諸眾會聞佛所說，莫不開解，各得其所，有得須陀洹、斯陀含、阿那含、阿羅漢者，有發無上正真道意者，有證不退位者，莫不歡喜，敬戴奉行。

> The Venerable Ananda and the entire assembly, hearing the Buddha's teaching, were all enlightened and found their proper places. Some attained the fruits of Stream-Enterer, Once-Returner, Never-Returner, and Arhat; some awakened the aspiration for Supreme Perfect Enlightenment; some realized the stage of non-retrogression. All rejoiced, honoring and faithfully practicing the teaching.