佛說七女經
The Buddha Speaks the Sutra of Seven Women
吳月支國居士支謙譯
Translated by Zhi Qian, Layman of the Wu and Yuezhi Kingdoms
聞如是：
Thus have I heard:
一時佛遊於拘留國，在分儒達樹園，與千羅漢俱，菩薩有五百人，及諸天，龍，鬼神。
Once, the Buddha was traveling through the kingdom of Kuru, staying in a grove of Jambu trees. With him were a thousand arhats, five hundred bodhisattvas, and various devas, dragons, and spirits.
爾時拘留國中有婆羅門，名摩訶蜜，慳貪，不信佛法；大豪富，珍奇，珠寶，牛馬，田宅甚眾多；智慧無雙，為是國中作師，常有五百弟子，復為國王，大臣所敬遇。是婆羅門有七女，大端正無比，黠慧言語；從頭至足皆著金銀，白珠，瓔珞，隨時被服；常與五百女人俱，憙自貢高，恃怙端正，憍慢眾人；倚於富貴謂呼有常；每與國中人民共說義理，常得其勝。
At that time, in the country of Kuluta, there lived a Brahman named Mahāmapi. He was stingy and greedy, and did not believe in the Dharma of the Buddha. He was extremely wealthy, possessing abundant treasures, jewels, cattle, horses, fields, and estates. His wisdom was unmatched, and he served as a teacher in that land, always having five hundred disciples. He was also held in high regard by the king and his ministers. This Brahman had seven daughters, who were exceedingly beautiful and clever in speech. From head to toe, they adorned themselves with gold, silver, pearls, and necklaces, dressing according to the seasons. They were always accompanied by five hundred women, and they took pride in their own elegance, relying on their beauty to look down upon others. Trusting in their wealth and status, they believed all things were permanent. Whenever they engaged in discussions with the people of the land, they always emerged victorious.
爾時有迦羅越，名曰分儒達，聞此女大好，便至婆羅門所，謂言：「卿家中自呼是女端正，雖爾，當遍將至國中示人。若有人呵此女者，卿當雇我五百兩金；若不呵者，我當雇卿五百兩金。」如是募九十日遍至國中，無有道此女醜者。爾時婆羅門即得五百兩金。
At that time, there was a wealthy man named Fenru Da, who heard that this woman was very beautiful. He went to the Brahmin and said, "You claim that this daughter of yours is beautiful. Even so, you should take her throughout the kingdom to show people. If anyone criticizes her beauty, you shall pay me five hundred pieces of gold; if no one criticizes her, I will pay you five hundred pieces of gold." Thus, for ninety days, they traveled throughout the kingdom, and no one spoke ill of this woman's appearance. At that time, the Brahmin received five hundred pieces of gold.
分儒達告婆羅門：「今佛近在祇樹園。佛知當來，過去，今現在事。又復至誠，終不妄言。當將往示佛。」
The Brahmin Fotu then informed the Brahmin, “The Buddha is now nearby at Jeta’s Grove. The Buddha knows what is yet to come, what has passed, and what is happening now. Moreover, he is ever truthful and never speaks falsely. Let us go and pay our respects to him.”
婆羅門言：「大善！」即與眷屬五百婆羅門，國中復有五百女人俱，相隨至佛所。
The Brahmin said: "Excellent!" Then, together with his five hundred Brahmin followers and five hundred women from the kingdom, they all went to where the Buddha was.
佛時為無數千人說法。各各前為佛作禮，却坐一面。婆羅門前白佛言：「瞿曇常遊諸國，寧見有好人端正如是女者不？」
At that time, the Buddha was teaching the Dharma to countless thousands of people. Each of them came forward, bowed to the Buddha, and then sat to one side. A Brahmin stepped forward and said to the Buddha: "Gotama, you often travel through many lands—have you ever seen anyone as fine and beautiful as this woman?"
佛便逆呵之：「此女不好，皆醜，無有一好處。」
The Buddha then admonished him directly, saying, "This woman is not good; she is entirely ugly, with not a single virtue."
婆羅門問佛：「是女一國中人無有道此女醜。今瞿曇何以獨道此女醜？」婆羅門問佛言：「世間人以何為好？」
A Brahmin asked the Buddha: "In the entire country, no one speaks of this woman as ugly. Why does Gotama alone call her ugly?" The Brahmin then asked the Buddha: "What do people in this world consider to be good?"
佛言：「世間人眼不貪色，耳不聽受惡聲，是則為好；鼻不嗅香，口不甞味，是則為好；身不貪細滑，意不念惡，是則為好；手不盜取人財物，口不說人惡，是則為好；不貢高，綺語，知生所從來，死有所趣，是則為好；信布施後當得其福，是則為好；信佛，信法，信比丘僧，是則為好。」
The Buddha said: "In this world, it is good when people's eyes do not crave beautiful sights, and their ears do not listen to harmful words. It is good when the nose does not seek after fragrant scents, and the mouth does not long for tasty flavors. It is good when the body does not cling to soft and pleasant sensations, and the mind does not dwell on evil thoughts. It is good when hands do not steal what belongs to others, and the mouth does not speak ill of people. It is good when one is not arrogant, does not utter frivolous or deceitful speech, and understands where life comes from and where death leads. It is good to have faith that generosity will bring its own reward. It is good to have faith in the Buddha, faith in the Dharma, and faith in the monastic community."
佛告婆羅門：「顏色好，不為好；身體好，不為好；衣服好，不為好；二言，綺語，不為好；心端意正此乃為好。」
The Buddha said to the Brahmin: "A fair complexion is not true beauty; a well-built body is not true beauty; fine clothing is not true beauty; clever words and flattering speech are not true beauty. A heart that is upright and a mind that is correct—this alone is true beauty."
分儒達即自還得五百兩金。
When the wise man reached home, he recovered the five hundred taels of gold.
佛告婆羅門：「昔者有城，名波羅奈，從地底去，佛、諸當來佛皆於是上坐。爾時有國王，名機惟尼，作優婆塞，大明經，為佛作精舍。王有女，悉為優婆夷，明經智慧，端正無雙，身上皆著金銀，琥珀，珠寶，被服甚好。第一女字羞耽，第二女字須耽摩，第三女字比丘尼，第四女字比丘羅輜，第五女字沙門尼，第六女字沙門密，第七女字僧大薩耽，常以佛正法齋戒。布施訖竟，七女便相將至父王正殿，白言：『我曹姊弟欲相隨到塚間遊觀。』
The Buddha said to the Brahmin: "In the past, there was a city called Varanasi, which was built above a deep underground source. All Buddhas, past and future, sat in meditation there. At that time, there was a king named Jiweini, who was a lay disciple, greatly learned in the scriptures, and built a monastery for the Buddha. The king had daughters, all of whom were lay female disciples. They were learned in the scriptures, wise, and of unsurpassed beauty, adorned with gold, silver, amber, and precious jewels, dressed in the finest garments. The first daughter was named Xiudan, the second Xudanmo, the third Bhikkhuni, the fourth Bhikkhunarazi, the fifth Shramani, the sixth Shramanami, and the seventh Sengdasadan. They always observed the Buddha's true Dharma, keeping precepts and fasting. After completing their giving and offerings, the seven daughters went together to their father the king's main hall and said: 'We sisters wish to go together to the charnel ground for a visit.'"
「王言：『塜間大可畏，但有死人骨髮，形骸狼藉，支散在地；諸悲哀者，啼哭者滿其間；有虎，狼，野獸，鵄梟主噉死人肉血。汝曹姊弟何為塚間？我宮中有園觀，浴池，中有飛鳥，鴛鴦相隨而鳴；中有眾華，五色光目；芝草奇樹，眾果清涼，恣意所食，極可遊觀。汝曹姊弟何為塚間？』
「七女即報言：『大王！眾果，美食何益萬分？我見世間人老時命日趣死，人生無有不死者。我曹非小兒，嘗為餘食所惑！王哀念我姊弟者，當聽我曹姊弟到城外觀死人。』如是至三。
「王言：『大善！聽汝姊弟所為。』
「爾時七女即與五百婇女，嚴駕出宮門。七女即解頸下瓔珞散地，國中時有千餘人見之，隨後拾取珠寶。歡喜遂到城外塚間，大臭，處不淨，但聞啼哭聲。諸婇女及人民身體肅然，衣毛為竪。七女直前視諸死人，中有斷頭者，中有斷手足者，中有斷鼻耳者，中有已死者，或有未死者，中有梓棺者，有席中裹者，有繩縛者。家室啼哭，皆欲令解脫。七女左右顧視，死人眾多。復有持死人從四面來者，飛鳥，走獸共爭來食之。死人膖脹，膿血流出，數萬億蟲從腹中出，臭處難可當。七女亦不覆鼻，直前繞之一匝，即自相與言：『我曹姊弟身體不久皆當復爾。』
「第一女言：『寧可各作一偈，救死人魂魄耶？』六女皆言：『大善！』
「第一女言：『此人生時好香塗身，著新好衣；行步眾中，細目綺視；於人中作姿，則欲令人觀之。今死在地，日炙，風飄。主作姿則者，今為所在？』
「第二女言：『雀在瓶中，覆蓋其口，不能出飛。今瓶已破，雀飛而去。』
「第三女言：『乘車而行，中道捨車去，車不能自前。主使車行者，今為所在？』
「第四女言：『譬如人乘船而行，眾人共載而渡水，得岸便繫船。棄身體去，如棄船去。』
「第五女言：『有城完堅，中多人民，皆生長城中。今城更空，不見人民，為在何所？』
「第六女言：『人死臥地，衣被常好，從頭至足無有缺減。今不能行，亦不能動搖。其人當今為在何所？』
「第七女言：『一身獨居，人出去其舍，舍中空無有守者，今舍日壞敗。』
「爾時第二忉利天王釋提桓因坐即為動搖，聞七女說經，如伸臂頃，即從天上來下，讚七女言：『所說大善！欲願得何等？所願者，我能為汝得之。』
「七女俱言：『卿是釋天乎？梵天耶？不見卿來時，自然在我前，使我知之。』
「即報言：『諸女！我是釋提桓因。聞說善言、好語，故來聽之。』
「七女言：『卿屬者欲與我曹願。卿是第二忉利天上最尊，當為我等得之。我姊弟請說所願。』
「第一女言：『我願欲得無根、無枝、無葉之樹，於其中生。是我所願也。』
「第二女言：『我欲得地上無形之處、無陰陽之端，願欲於其中生。』
「第三女言：『人於深山中大呼，音響四聞耳，不知所在。我願於其中生。』
「釋提桓因報言：『且止！我不能得是願。諸女欲得作釋梵、四天王、日月中尊，是則可得。今女所願，實我所不知。』
「七女答言：『卿是天上獨尊，有威神，何以不能得此願？卿譬如老牛，不能挽車，亦復不能耕犁，無益於主。』
「釋提桓因報言：『我聞說經，故來聽之。非我所知，即便辭謝。』七女默然無報。
「爾時空中有天言：『今迦葉佛近在惟于陵聚中，何不往問迦葉佛？』七女聞之大歡喜，即與五百婇女、隨來觀者，塚間喪亡、悲哀、啼哭者復有五百人，俱發意往。
「時迦葉佛為無數千人說法，悉各前為迦葉佛作禮，却坐一面。釋提桓因白佛言：『我向者聞國王七女說經，故來聽之。七女便從我索是願言：「我欲得無根、無枝、無葉之樹；無形之處、無陰陽之端；深山大呼，音響四聞，不知所在。」我時不能報答，願佛為七女解說其意。』
「迦葉佛言：『善哉！發問多所過度。是事羅漢，辟支佛尚不能知此事，何況於汝？』是時迦葉佛便笑，五色光從口出，照滿佛剎，還繞身，從頂上入。
「侍者前長跪，問迦葉佛言：『佛不妄笑，願聞其意。』迦葉佛告薩波羅：『汝見是女不？』『唯然已見。』
「『此國王七女共發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心已來，供養五百佛已，當復萬佛，却後十劫悉當作佛，皆同一字，號名復多羅賁，剎土名首陀波。其佛壽三萬歲，是時人民被服，飲食，譬如第二忉利天上所有。佛般泥洹後，經道留止八千歲乃盡。是佛時說法，當度七十五億萬人令得菩薩及羅漢道。』
「迦葉佛授七女別時，即踊躍歡喜，便住虛空中，離地二十丈，從上來下悉化成男子，即得阿惟越致。五百婇女及千五百天與人，見七女化成男，踊躍歡喜，皆發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。一千人遠離塵垢，皆得法眼。」
佛告婆羅門：「此國王七女富樂，端正，豪貴，尚不恃身作綺好。所以者何？用念非常，是身不可久得故。一切世間人但坐愚癡故，墮十二因緣，便有生死。人生若皆由恩愛，從生致老，從老致病，從病致死，從死致啼哭，得苦痛。人生若皆從恩愛，當自觀身，亦當觀他人身。坐起當念身中惡露，涕唾，寒熱，臭處，不淨：如是何等類，身一壞時，還化作蟲，自食其肉，骨節支解，消為灰土。還自念：『我身死亦當如是。』不當恃身作綺好，當念非常。若人施行善，不自貢高，綺語者，死後皆生天上；若施行惡者，當入泥犁中。女人所以墮泥犁中多者何？但坐嫉妬，姿態多故。」
佛說是時，婆羅門女即踊躍歡喜，解身上珠寶用散佛上。佛威神令所散住虛空中化作寶蓋，中有聲言：「善哉！如佛所言無有異。」佛爾時便感動，放威神，於座上以足指按地，三千大千剎土皆為大動；光明照十方，百歲枯樹皆生華菓，諸空溝㵎皆自然有水，箜篌樂器不鼓自鳴，婦女珠環皆自作聲；盲者得視，聾者得聽，瘂者得語，傴者得伸，拘躃者得愈，手足病者得愈，狂者得正，被毒者毒不為行，拘閉者悉得解脫，百鳥狸獸皆相和悲鳴。爾時拘留國中人民無男，無女皆大歡喜，和心相向若得禪。
佛作是變化時，拘留國王捐珠，踊躍歡喜，及百大臣，婆羅門女，與其眷屬及五百婆羅門，皆發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心；復有五百比丘得羅漢道；國中五百人悉須陀洹道。
佛說是經已，菩薩，比丘僧，優婆塞，優婆夷，國王，大臣，長者，人民，諸天，鬼神，龍，皆大歡喜，前持頭面著地，為佛作禮而去。
佛說七女經