序偈
Preface Verse
一
One.
救護者大仙 生轉百億次
唯為世間人 行無限利益
The Great Sage, Protector of All, Has been reborn countless times—billions upon billions— All for the sake of ordinary people, To bring them boundless benefit.
二
Two
禮拜大仙足 於法合掌禮
敬禮諸一切 崇敬之器僧
I bow at the feet of the great sages, With palms together, honoring the Dharma.
I offer respects to all holy beings, And revere the worthy assembly of monks.
三
Three
敬禮此三寶 功德由此生
依彼之威光 除去諸障礙
四
大仙有光輝 彼乃此由來
本生無戲論 說古本生語
The Great Sage radiates light, And from this, his origin is revealed.
In his past lives, without meaningless discourse, He speaks of his former births.
五
Five
教主之導師 念世之救濟
久遠實踐行 成就菩提資
The Teacher and Guide for all beings, The Savior of the world. Through countless ages of dedicated practice, He fulfilled the path to Enlightenment.
六
Six
法藏集成者 寄集總為一
此等為結集 本生古話名
The dharma treasury collection gathers all teachings into one. These compiled texts are known as the Jataka—the ancient stories of previous lives.
七
Seven
願此佛種姓 系統永住世
〔大寺〕之長老 利見來乞予
May this lineage of Buddhas forever remain in the world. The elder of the Great Monastery, seeking benefit, came to ask of me.
八
Eight.
常住無他雜 其心成靜寂
弟子有上智 覺友亦同乞
Living always without distraction, The mind becomes tranquil and still. Disciples of superior wisdom Seek this path with awakened friends.
九
比丘之所屬 系統化地部
清淨智方便 覺天亦同乞
Monks' belonging: systematically divided sections. With pure wisdom and skillful means, Enlightened beings also seek alms.
一〇
Ten.
大士之行蹟 威光不思議
本生之古話 〔說明〕其釋義
一一
大寺住者語 予則說其道
善良之佳士 聽予說其事
三之因緣：此本生之釋義，分為遠因緣、不遠因緣、近因緣之三因緣古話，加以說明，使聞者十分知此因緣後，對本生古話始善了解。然者，今先述此三因緣古話，然後再說明本生古話。
於是首先應知此因緣古話之段落。由大士伏於提槃迦羅〔燃燈〕佛之足下，〔以將來必定成佛〕之決心及為度一切之身而死，至出生於兜率天都，此間之話題為遠因緣古話。由兜率天降生世間至在菩提道場得一切智，此間之話題名為不遠因緣古話。至近因緣古話，則為佛住於各處之話題。
現述遠因緣古話如下：