佛說淨飯王般涅槃經
Sutra on the Nirvana of King Śuddhodana
宋居士沮渠京聲譯
Translated by Layman Song Juqu Jingsheng
如是我聞：
Thus I have heard:
一時，佛住王舍城耆闍崛山中，與大比丘眾俱。爾時，世尊光明韑韑，喻若日出照明世間。
Once, the Buddha was staying on Vulture Peak near Rajagaha, together with a large community of monks. At that time, the World-Honored One radiated a brilliant light, like the sunrise illuminating the world.
時，舍夷國王名曰淨飯——治以正法，禮德仁義，常行慈心——時被重病——身中四大，同時俱作——殘害其體，支節欲解，喘息不定，如駃水流。輔相宣令國中明醫，皆悉集會，瞻王所疾，隨病授藥，種種療治，無能愈者，瑞應已至，將死不久。
At that time, the King of the Shakya nation, named Shuddhodana, governed with righteousness, upholding virtue and benevolence, and always acting with a compassionate heart. He then fell gravely ill. The four elements within his body simultaneously broke down, wreaking havoc upon his being; his joints and limbs seemed on the verge of separation, and his breathing became unsteady, like rushing water. The chief minister issued a decree, summoning all the skilled physicians in the kingdom to gather together. They examined the king's ailment, prescribed remedies in accordance with the illness, and attempted various treatments, yet none could cure him. The signs of his impending end had already appeared; it would not be long before he passed away.
時王煩躁，轉側不停，如少水魚。夫人、婇女見其如是，益更愁惱。
The king grew restless, tossing and turning without pause, like a fish in shallow water. Seeing him like this, his queen and palace women became even more anxious and sorrowful.
時白飯王、斛飯王、大稱王等，及諸群臣同發聲言：「今王設崩，永失覆護，國將虛弱。」王身戰動，脣口乾燥，語聲數絕，眩目淚下。時諸王等皆以敬意，長跪叉手，同共白言：「大王素性，不好作惡，經彈指頃，積德無厭，護養人民，莫不得安，名聞十方。大王今日，何故愁惱？」
Then King White Rice, King Husked Rice, King Great Fame, and the other princes and ministers all cried out together: "If the King should pass away now, we would forever lose our shelter and protection, and the kingdom would become weak and hollow." The King's body trembled, his lips and mouth were dry, his voice faltered repeatedly, and his eyes blurred with tears that fell. All the princes then knelt upright with deep respect, folded their hands and addressed him: "Your Majesty has always been of a gentle nature, with no love for wrongdoing. Even in the time it takes to snap your fingers, you have accumulated virtue without cease, nurturing your people so that none lacked peace, and your fame has spread to all ten directions. So why, O King, are you so distressed today?"
時淨飯王語聲輒出，告諸王曰：「我命雖逝，不以為苦，但恨不見我子悉達，又恨不見次子難陀，以除貪婬世間諸欲；復恨不見斛飯王子阿難陀者，持佛法藏，一言不失；又恨不見孫子羅云，年雖幼稚，神足純備，戒行無缺。吾設得見是諸子等，我病雖篤，未離生死，不以為苦。」諸在王邊，聞如是語，莫不啼泣，淚下如雨。
Then King Śuddhodana spoke, saying to the kings around him: "Though my life is ending, that does not pain me. What pains me is that I will not see my son Siddhartha, nor my second son Nanda, who put aside all worldly desires and attachments. I also regret not seeing Amṛtodana’s son Ānanda, who holds the dharma treasury of the Buddha without losing a single word. And I regret not seeing my grandson Rāhula, who, though young in years, is already complete in spiritual powers and flawless in his observance of the precepts. If I could see these sons, even though my illness is severe and I have not yet escaped birth and death, I would not consider it suffering." Those who were by the king’s side, hearing these words, all wept, their tears falling like rain.
時白飯王，答淨飯王言：「我聞世尊在王舍城耆闍崛山中，去此懸遠，五十由旬。王今轉羸，設遣使者，道路懸邈，懼恐遲晚，無所加益。唯願大王莫大愁悒、懸念諸子。」
Then King White Rice said to King Pure Rice, "I have heard that the World Honored One is on Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, which is far from here—fifty yojanas away. Your Majesty is now growing weaker. If you were to send messengers, the road is long and distant, and I fear they would arrive too late to be of any use. I sincerely hope, Great King, that you will not be overly worried or anxious about your sons."
時，淨飯王聞是語已，垂淚而言，答白飯王：「我子等輩，雖復遼遠，意望不斷。所以者何？我子成佛，以大慈悲，恒以神通——天眼徹視，天耳洞聽——救接眾生應可度者，如有百千萬億眾生為水所溺，以慈愍心為作船筏而度脫之，終不勞疲。譬如有人為賊所圍，或值怨敵，惶怖失計，不望自濟，唯求救護，依有勢者，欲從恐難而得解脫；譬如有人時得重病，欲得良醫以療其疾；如我今日望見世尊，亦復如是。所以然者？世尊晝夜，常以三時，恒以天眼，觀於眾生應受化者，以慈愍心，如母念子。」
Having heard this, King Suddhodana, with tears streaming down his face, replied to King Dronodana: "Though my sons are far away, I have never let go of my hope to see them. Why is this? Because my son has become a Buddha. In his great compassion, he constantly uses his divine powers—his heavenly eye that sees all, and his heavenly ear that hears all—to rescue and guide all beings who are ready to be saved. If hundreds, thousands, or even millions of beings were drowning in water, he would, out of loving-kindness, build boats and rafts to save them, never growing weary. It is like someone surrounded by bandits or facing hateful enemies: terrified and at a loss, with no hope of saving themselves, they only beg for protection, seeking refuge with someone powerful, hoping to be freed from their fear and danger. Or like someone gravely ill who longs for a good doctor to cure their sickness. That is how I feel today, hoping to see the World-Honored One. Why? Because the World-Honored One, day and night, at all three times, constantly uses his heavenly eye to observe which beings are ready to receive his teachings. He does so with loving-kindness, just as a mother thinks of her child."
爾時，世尊在靈鷲山，天耳遙聞迦維羅衛大城之中父王悒遲及諸王言，即以天眼遙見父王病臥著床，羸困憔悴，命欲向終，知父渴仰欲見諸子。
爾時，世尊告難陀曰：「父王淨飯勝世間王，是我曹父。今得重病，宜當往見，餘命少在，時嚴速發。我曹應往，及命存在，得與相見，令王願滿。」
難陀受教，長跪作禮：「唯然，世尊！淨飯王者，是我曹父，所作奇特，能生聖子，利益世間，今宜往詣，報育養恩。」
阿難合掌前白佛言：「我隨世尊貪共相見。淨飯王者是我伯父，聽我出家為佛弟子，得佛為師，是故欲往。」
羅云復前而白佛言：「世尊雖是我父，棄國求道，我蒙祖王育養成就而得出家，是故欲往奉覲祖王。」
佛言：「善哉，善哉！宜知是時，令王願滿。」
於是，世尊即以神足，猶如鴈王踊身虛空，忽然而現在迦維羅衛，放大光明。國中人民遙見佛來，皆共舉聲，涕淚而言：「設大王崩，舍夷國名必絕滅矣。」城中人民向佛啼哭，白世尊言：「爾時，太子踰出宮城，詣藍毘樹下而坐思惟，父王見之，稽首敬禮。大王如是命斷不久，唯願如來宜可時往及共相見。」
國中人民宛轉自撲，哽咽啼哭，中有自絕瓔珞者，中有自裂壞衣服者，中有自㨑拔其髮者，中有取灰土而自坌者，痛徹骨髓，猶癲狂人。
佛見是已，諫國中人：「無常別離，古今有是。汝等諸人！當思念之，生死為苦，唯道是真。」佛以法雨灌眾生心，以種種法而開解之。
於是世尊即以十力、四無所畏、十八不共諸佛之法，放大光明；更復重以三十二相、八十種好，放大光明；以從無量阿僧祇劫所作功德，放大光明。其光照曜，內外通達，周遍國界。光照王身，患苦得安，王遂怪言：「是何光耶？為日月光、諸天光乎？光觸我身，如天栴檀，令我身中患苦得息。我遂疑怪，儻是我子悉達來也，先現光明，是其瑞耳！」
時，大稱王從外入宮，白大王言：「世尊已來，將諸弟子阿難、難陀、羅云之等，乘空來至，王宜歡喜，捨愁毒心。」
王聞佛來，敬意踊躍，不覺起坐。須臾之頃，佛便入宮。王見佛到，遙舉兩手，接足而言：「唯願如來手觸我身，令我得安。為病所困，如壓麻油，痛不可忍，我命將逝，寧可還反？我今最後得見世尊，痛恨即除。」
佛知父王病重羸瘦，色變難識，覩見形體憔悴叵看。佛告難陀：「觀王本時形體巍巍，顏色端正，名聲遠聞，今得重病，乃不可識；端正形容、勇健之名，今何所在？」
爾時，淨飯王一心合掌，歎世尊言：
「汝願已成就， 亦滿眾生願，
我今得重病， 願佛度我厄。
嚴飾瞿曇種， 汝為甚奇特，
末世說正法， 無護而作護。
法王以法味， 灌澤諸眾生，
如是後世人， 我子極慈孝。
人中之上寶， 名達大千界，
上至淨居天， 獨步無等雙。」
佛言：「唯願父王莫復愁悒！所以然者？道德純備，無有缺減。」佛從袈裟裏出金色臂，掌如蓮華，即以手著父王額上：「王是清淨、戒行之人，心垢已離，今應歡悅，不宜煩惱；當諦思念諸經法義，於不牢固得堅固志，已種善根。是故，大王！宜當歡喜，命雖欲終，自可寬意。」
時，大稱王以恭敬心白淨飯王言：「佛是王子，神力具足，無與等者；次子難陀，亦是王子，已度生死諸欲之海，四道無礙；斛飯王子阿難陀者，已服法味，佛所說法猶若淵海，一句不忘，悉總持之；王孫羅云，道德純備，逮諸禪定，成四道果：是四子等，已壞魔網。」
時，淨飯王聞是語已，歡喜踊躍，不能自勝，即以自手捉於佛手，著其心上。王於臥處仰向合掌，白世尊言：「我瞻如來目𥇒不眴，視之無厭，我願已滿，心意踊躍，從是取別。如來、至真多所饒益，其有得見、聞所說者，此輩之等皆是有相、大功德人。今日世尊是我之子，接遇過多，不見捐棄。」
王於臥處合掌，心禮世尊足下。時佛手掌故在王心，無常對至，命盡氣絕，忽就後世。於是諸釋㘁咷啼哭，舉身自撲，兩手拍地，解髻亂髮，同發聲言：「永失覆蓋。」中有自絕瓔珞者，中有自裂壞衣服者，中有取灰土而自坌者，中有自總拔其髮者，中有說王順政治國不枉人民者，中有復言：「諸小國等失其覆護！王中尊王今已崩背，國失威神。」
時，諸釋子以眾香汁洗浴王身，纏以劫波育㲲及諸繒帛，而以棺斂；作師子座七寶莊挍，真珠羅網垂繞其傍，便舉棺置於師子座上，散華燒香。
佛共難陀在喪頭前肅恭而立，阿難、羅云住在喪足。難陀長跪，白佛言：「父王養我，願聽難陀擔父王棺。」阿難合掌，前白佛言：「唯願聽我擔伯父棺。」羅云復前，而白佛言：「唯願聽我擔祖王棺。」
爾時，世尊念當來世，人民兇暴，不報父母育養之恩。為是不孝之者，為是當來眾生之等，設禮法故，如來躬身自欲擔於父王之棺，即時三千大千世界六種震動，一切眾山駊騀涌沒，如水上船。
爾時欲界一切諸天與無央數百千眷屬，俱來赴喪：北方天王毘沙門，將諸夜叉、鬼神之等億百千眾，俱來赴喪；東方天王提頭賴吒，從諸伎樂鬼神之等億百千眾，俱來赴喪；南方天王毘樓勒叉，從鳩槃荼鬼神之等億百千眾，俱來赴喪；西方天王毘留婆叉，從諸龍神億百千眾，俱來赴喪，皆共發哀，舉聲啼哭。
時，四天王竊共思議：「瞻望世尊，為當來世諸不孝順父母者故，以大慈悲，現自躬身擔父王棺。」時，四天王俱共長跪，同時發聲俱白佛言：「唯然，世尊！願聽我等擔父王棺。所以然者？我等亦是佛之弟子，亦復從佛聞法意解，得法眼淨，成須陀洹。以是之故，我曹宜擔父王之棺。」
爾時世尊，聽四天王擔父王棺。時，四天王各自變身，如人形像，以手擎棺，擔在肩上，舉國人民，一切大眾，莫不啼哭。
爾時，世尊威光益顯，如萬日並。如來躬身手執香爐，在喪前行，出詣葬所靈鷲山上。有千阿羅漢，以神足力乘虛來至，稽首佛足，復白佛言：「唯願世尊勅使何事！」時，佛便告諸阿羅漢：「汝等疾往大海渚上，取牛頭栴檀種種香木。」即受教勅，如彈指頃，各到大海，共取香薪，屈伸臂頃，便已來到。
佛與大眾共積香薪，舉棺置上，放火焚之。一切大眾見火盛然，皆向佛前宛轉自撲，益更悲哭。有得道者，皆自慶幸；未獲道者，心戰惶怖，衣毛為竪。
爾時世尊，告眾會曰：「世皆無常，苦空非身，無有堅固，如幻如化，如熱時炎，如水中月，命不久居。汝等諸人！勿見此火便以為熱，諸欲之火極復過此。是故，汝等當自勸勉，永離生死，乃得大安。」時火焚燒大王身已。
爾時，諸王各各皆持五百瓶乳，以用滅火。火滅之後，競共收骨，盛置金凾，即於其上便共起塔，懸繒幡蓋及種種鈴，供養塔廟。
時諸大眾同時發聲，俱白佛言：「大淨飯王今已命終，神生何所？唯願世尊分別解說！」
於時，世尊告眾會曰：「父王淨飯是清淨人，生淨居天。」眾會聞是語已，便捨愁毒。
佛說經竟，諸天、龍、神及四天王、所將眷屬，世間人民一切大眾為佛作禮，各自還去。
佛說淨飯王般涅槃經