法句譬喻經惟念品第六
The Dhammapada: Chapter 6, The Mindful
昔佛在世時，弗加沙王與瓶沙王親友。弗加沙王未知佛道，作七寶華以遺瓶沙，瓶沙王得之轉奉上佛，白佛言：「弗加沙王與我為友，遺我此華，今已上佛，願令彼王心開意解，見佛聞法奉敬聖眾。當以何物以報所遺？」佛告瓶沙：「寫十二因緣經，送持與之。彼王得經心必信解。」即寫經卷，別書文曰：「卿以寶華見遺，今以法華相上，詳思其義果報深美，到便誦習以同道味。」弗加沙王得經讀之，尋省反覆亘然信解，喟然嘆曰：「道化真妙精義安神，國榮五欲憂惱之元，累劫習迷始今乃寤，顧視流俗無可貪樂。」即召群臣國付太子，便自剃頭行作沙門，法服持鉢詣羅閱祇城外，在陶家窰中寄宿，明日當入城分衛，食訖當至佛所奉受經戒。佛以神通知弗加沙明日食時其命將終，故從遠來不得見佛，又不聞經甚可憐愍，於是世尊化作沙門，往至陶家欲求寄宿。陶家語曰：「向有一沙門在彼窰中，可往共止宿也。」把草入窰坐於一面，問弗加沙：「從何所來？師為是誰？以何因緣行作沙門？為見佛未？」弗加沙言：「吾未見佛，聞十二因緣便作沙門，明日入城乃分衛已，當往見佛耳。」化沙門言：「人命危脆朝夕有變，無常宿對卒至無期，但當觀身四大所由，合成散滅各還其本。思惟覺意空淨無想，專念三尊、布施戒德，能知無常見佛無異，方念明日種無益想。」
Once, when the Buddha was in the world, King Fu Jiasha and King Ping Sha were close friends. King Fu Jiasha did not yet know the Buddha's teaching. He made a seven-jeweled flower and sent it to King Ping Sha. King Ping Sha received it and offered it to the Buddha, saying, "King Fu Jiasha is my friend. He sent me this flower, and now I have offered it to you. May he open his heart and understand, see the Buddha, hear the Dharma, and revere the noble Sangha. What should I give in return for his gift?"
The Buddha told Ping Sha, "Copy the Sutra of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination and send it to him. When that king receives the sutra, his heart will certainly believe and understand." So he copied the sutra scroll and added a separate note: "You sent me a jeweled flower; now I offer you the flower of the Dharma. Reflect carefully on its meaning—the result is profoundly beautiful. Upon receiving it, recite and study it, so we may share the same taste of the Way."
King Fu Jiasha received the sutra and read it. Pondering it over and over, he suddenly believed and understood. He sighed deeply and said, "The teaching’s transformation is truly wondrous; its essence brings peace to the spirit. The glory of a kingdom and the five desires are the source of worry and distress. For countless ages I have been confused, and only now have I awakened. Looking at worldly customs, there is nothing worthy of greed or attachment."
He immediately summoned his ministers, entrusted the kingdom to his crown prince, shaved his head, and went forth as a monk. Donning the Dharma robes and carrying a bowl, he went to the outskirts of Rajagriha and stayed overnight in a potter’s kiln. The next day he planned to enter the city for alms, and after eating, he would go to the Buddha to receive the sutras and precepts.
The Buddha, with his divine insight, knew that Fu Jiasha’s life would end the next day at mealtime. Having come from afar, he would not get to see the Buddha nor hear the sutras—truly pitiable. Then the World-Honored One transformed into a monk and went to the potter’s house seeking lodging. The potter said, "There is already a monk staying in that kiln over there. You can go stay with him."
Carrying grass, he entered the kiln and sat to one side. He asked Fu Jiasha, "Where have you come from? Who is your teacher? For what reason have you become a monk? Have you seen the Buddha?"
Fu Jiasha said, "I have not yet seen the Buddha. I heard the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination and then became a monk. Tomorrow I will enter the city for alms, and after eating, I intend to go see the Buddha."
The transformed monk said, "Human life is fragile and perilous; change can come morning or night. Impermanence and karmic retribution arrive without warning. You should simply contemplate the body—how the four elements come together, then disperse and return to their origin. Reflect on the awakening mind, empty, pure, and free of thought. Focus on the Three Jewels, on generosity and moral virtue. If you can understand impermanence, seeing the Buddha is no different. To think only of tomorrow is to dwell on what brings no benefit."
時化沙門即說偈言：
At that moment, the transformed monk spoke these verses:
「夫人得善利， 乃來自歸佛，
是故當晝夜， 常念佛法眾。
己知自覺意， 是為佛弟子，
常當晝夜念， 佛與法及眾。
念身念非常， 念戒布施德，
空不願無想， 晝夜當念是。」
"When a person gains great benefit, it comes from taking refuge in the Buddha. Therefore, day and night, constantly recollect the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Having known and realized this for oneself, one is a disciple of the Buddha. Always, day and night, recollect the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Recollect the body as impermanent, recollect the virtue of precepts and generosity. Emptiness, wishlessness, and signlessness— day and night, recollect these."
時化沙門在於窰中，為弗加沙說非常之要，弗加沙王思惟意定，即得阿那含道。佛知已解，為現佛身光明相好。弗加沙王驚喜踊躍，稽首作禮。佛重告之曰：「罪對無常，畢故莫恐。」弗加沙王言：「敬奉尊教。」忽然別去。明日食時，弗加沙王入城分衛，於城門中逢新產牸牛護犢，觝殺弗加沙王潰腹命終，即生阿那含天。佛遣諸弟子耶旬起塔，佛語諸弟子：「罪對之根不可不慎。」
At that time, the transformed monk was in the kiln, teaching the profound truth of impermanence to King Fuchasha. As King Fuchasha contemplated and settled his mind, he attained the stage of Anāgāmin. The Buddha, knowing he had attained realization, manifested his radiant form with all its sublime marks. King Fuchasha, filled with awe and joy, bowed in reverence. The Buddha then told him: "The retribution of karma is impermanent; when past deeds are exhausted, do not fear." King Fuchasha replied, "I respectfully follow your teaching," and then suddenly departed.
The next day at mealtime, King Fuchasha entered the city to seek alms. At the city gate, he encountered a newly calved cow fiercely protecting her calf. The cow charged and gored King Fuchasha, piercing his abdomen and causing his death. He was immediately reborn in the heaven of the Anāgāmins. The Buddha sent his disciples to cremate the body and raise a stupa. The Buddha then told his disciples: "The root of karmic retribution must not be taken lightly."