---
title: "摩訶婆羅多的故事 · 51.弗栗多"
description: "摩诃婆罗多的故事由拉贾戈帕拉查理改写，唐季雍翻译，金克木校订。这部作品源于古印度史诗摩诃婆罗多，成书于公元前数世纪，背景为列国纷争的印度社会，核心叙述俱卢族与般度族为争夺王位爆发的战争，穿插大量哲学与神话。主要内容围绕正法、责任与解脱展开，以黑天教导阿周那的薄伽梵歌为核心，强调行动瑜伽与精神觉悟。在佛教中，它虽属印度教经典，但共享轮回、业报等概念，常被比较引用，作为理解古印度思想的重要参照，影响深远。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmgviwqis001mju04w06he7ua"
---

### 51.弗栗多

> 51\. Vṛtra

從前，有一個時候，三界之主因陀羅傲慢異常，把天神一向重視的禮貌、禮節棄之腦後。當天神之師、學問淵博無所不知無所不曉為天神和阿修羅雙方尊敬的祭主來到他的宮廷時，他安然坐在寶座上，不起身迎接，也不請他坐下，例有的一切禮節一概不做。狂妄自大的因陀羅還自以為身為君王，經典中規定享有特權，可以坐着接見賓客。因陀羅的無禮傷了祭主的感情，他認為這是由榮華富貴而來的驕傲，便一聲不響離開了朝廷。朝廷上失去了這位德高望重的大師，隨着也失去了肅穆莊嚴的氣氛，成為黯然無色的集會。

> Once, there was a time when Indra, the lord of the three worlds, grew exceedingly arrogant and cast aside the courtesy and respect that the gods had always upheld. When Brihaspati, the guru of the gods—wise, all-knowing, and respected by both gods and demons—arrived at his court, Indra remained seated on his throne, neither rising to greet him nor offering him a seat, neglecting every customary form of hospitality. In his pride, Indra believed that as king, the sacred texts granted him the privilege of receiving guests while seated. His discourtesy wounded Brihaspati deeply, who saw it as arrogance born of wealth and power, and silently left the court. With the departure of this venerable master, the court lost its solemn dignity and became a gathering devoid of grace and reverence.

因陀羅立刻明白自己過失之重大，意識到這位大師的不高興會給自己招來困難。他想跪在他脚下，請他寬恕。可是他不能那末做了，因為祭主一怒而隱身不見了。因陀羅為這事抑鬱不樂。祭主一去，因陀羅力量也隨之下降，而阿修羅的力量却日益強大。這種情况鼓勵了阿修羅向天神進攻。大梵天憐憫受到圍困的天神，勸告他們另請一位新的老師。

> Indra immediately realized the gravity of his mistake, understanding that the master's displeasure would bring him trouble. He wished to kneel at his feet and beg for forgiveness. But he could no longer do so, for Brihaspati, enraged, vanished from sight. Indra became dejected over this matter. With Brihaspati gone, Indra's power waned, while the strength of the Asuras grew ever stronger. This situation emboldened the Asuras to attack the gods. Brahma, taking pity on the besieged deities, advised them to seek out a new teacher.

大梵天對他們說：「由於因陀羅的過失，你們失去了祭主。現在去找大匠的兒子萬色吧。求那位高仙來做你們的老師，一切就會好轉了。」

> The great god Brahma said to them, "Because of Indra's fault, you have lost your teacher. Now go to Visvakarma's son, Vasishtha. Plead with that great sage to be your teacher, and all will be set right."

天神們受到了這些話的鼓勵便去找那青年修道人萬色，向他求告道：「你雖然年輕，却精通吠陀，懇求你俯允作我們的老師。」

> The gods, encouraged by these words, went to the young ascetic Wanse and pleaded with him: "Though you are young, you are well-versed in the Vedas. We beg you to kindly agree to be our teacher."

萬色同意了。這對天神們很有利；在他的指示和教導下，他們脫離了阿修羅的侵害。

> All the gods agreed. This was greatly to their advantage; under his guidance and instruction, they were freed from the aggression of the Asuras.

萬色的母親是阿修羅族的人，因而因陀羅對他不很信任。因陀羅怕萬色由於血統關係會對天神不十分忠誠。他的疑心越來越深，總擔心這個敵人的後代會危害自己，於是想引誘他犯錯誤，從精神方面減弱他的力量。他叫宮中迷人的美女去勾引萬色，可是萬色不上鈎。任憑因陀羅的那些妖艷的女郎怎樣挑逗，這位青年修道人依然堅守獨身誓言，毫不動心。因陀羅看到引誘的辦法行不通，心生凶念，有一天他竟用金剛雷杵把萬色打死了。

> Vansa’s mother was from the Asura clan, so Indra did not trust him fully. Fearing that Vansa’s bloodline might make him disloyal to the gods, Indra’s suspicion deepened. He constantly worried that this descendant of his enemy would bring him harm, and so he sought to lure Vansa into wrongdoing, weakening his spiritual power. Indra sent enchanting women from his court to seduce Vansa, but Vansa would not be tempted. No matter how those bewitching maidens teased and provoked him, the young ascetic remained steadfast in his vow of celibacy, unmoved in heart. Seeing that seduction had failed, Indra harbored a wicked intent. One day, he struck Vansa dead with his thunderbolt.

照這故事所講，因為因陀羅犯了嚴重罪行，世界替他受到災難：部份土地變成鹼地，不宜耕種；婦女患病而且有了她們特有的不潔；據說水面上起泡沫也是由於這個緣故。

> According to this story, because Indra committed a grave offense, the world suffered in his place: parts of the land turned alkaline and unfit for farming; women were struck with illness and their own particular impurity; and it is said that the foaming on the water's surface was also because of this.

大匠知道兒子給因陀羅殘酷地殺害後，又悲痛又憤怒，一心想為兒子報仇，便舉行了一次大祭祀。從祭火中跳出了因陀羅的死敵弗栗多。大匠派他去攻打天神之王，對他說：「因陀羅的敵人啊，願你強壯，願你能殺掉因陀羅。」

> When the great artisan learned that his son had been cruelly killed by Indra, he was filled with both grief and rage. Consumed by the desire to avenge his son, he performed a grand sacrifice. From the sacred flames leaped forth Vritra, the sworn enemy of Indra. The artisan sent him to battle the king of the gods, saying: "O enemy of Indra, may you be strong, and may you slay Indra!"

兩人大戰起來，弗栗多佔了上風。大戰進行得對因陀羅不利時，許多仙人和天神到遍入天（毗濕奴）那兒去求救。大神毗濕奴答應保護他們，對他們說：「別害怕，我將附在因陀羅的金剛雷杵上助戰。因陀羅最後會得勝的。」天神和仙人們於是高高興興回去了。

> The two fought fiercely, and Vritra gained the upper hand. As the battle turned against Indra, many sages and deities went to Vishnu, the all-pervading Lord, seeking help. The great god Vishnu promised to protect them and said, "Do not fear. I will enter Indra's thunderbolt and aid him in battle. In the end, Indra shall prevail." The gods and sages then returned joyfully.

神仙們去找弗栗多，對他說：「請你跟因陀羅和好吧。你們兩人勢均力敵，是同樣勇敢同樣強壯的。」

> The gods went to Vritra and said to him, "Please make peace with Indra. You two are evenly matched—equally brave and equally strong."

弗栗多恭敬地回答道：「純潔無瑕的神仙啊，請原諒我。我跟因陀羅怎末能做朋友呢？在勢均力敵互爭上風的兩人之間是不能有友誼的。你們知道，雙雄是不能並存的。」

> Vritra respectfully replied, "O pure and flawless deity, please forgive me. How could I ever be friends with Indra? Between two who are evenly matched and vie for supremacy, friendship cannot exist. As you well know, two great powers cannot coexist."

仙人們回答說：「別那末多疑，兩個好人能成為朋友，而且他們的友誼是經久不渝的。」

> The immortals replied, "Do not be so suspicious. Two good people can become friends, and their friendship will endure without end."

弗栗多讓步了，說道：「那末好吧，我不打了。可是我不相信因陀羅。他會乘我不防備時攻打我的。所以我要你們給我一個恩典：要保證因陀羅不能在白天，也不能在黑夜，不能用乾燥的武器，也不能用潮濕的武器，不能使用石製的、木製的、金屬製的武器或者弓箭，來取我的性命。」

> Vritra yielded and said, "Very well, I will not fight. But I do not trust Indra. He may attack me when I am off guard. So I ask you for a boon: ensure that Indra cannot take my life either by day or by night, neither with a dry weapon nor with a wet one, nor with weapons made of stone, wood, metal, or with bow and arrow."

神仙們說道：「好吧。」

> The immortals replied, "Very well."

戰鬥停止了。可是弗栗多所擔心的事果真很快就證實了。原來因陀羅表面上裝作跟弗栗多和好，實際上時時刻刻在等候機會殺害他。一天傍晚，因陀羅在海濱遇到了弗栗多，就乘着黃昏去打他。兩人打了很久。弗栗多讚揚了毗濕奴一番，對因陀羅說：「最下流無耻的人啊！你幹嗎不用那萬無一失的雷杵呢？那雷杵有毗濕奴大神附在上面，是神聖化了的。你拿它打我，我就可以從而得福了。」

> The battle had ceased. But Vritra's fears were soon confirmed. Though Indra outwardly pretended to make peace with Vritra, he was secretly watching for every opportunity to kill him. One evening, Indra encountered Vritra by the seashore and attacked him at dusk. The two fought for a long time. Vritra praised Vishnu, then said to Indra, "O most shameless and vile one! Why do you not strike me with your infallible thunderbolt? That thunderbolt, blessed by the great Lord Vishnu, is sacred. If you strike me with it, I shall attain great merit."

因陀羅砍去了他的右臂，可是他並不泄氣，用左手舉起自己的鐵杵向兇手投擲過去。因陀羅又砍去了他的左臂。弗栗多於了張開大口把因陀羅吞進肚裏去。天神們看到因陀羅給弗栗多吞掉了，大為驚慌。

其實因陀羅並沒有死，他撕破弗栗多的肚子出來了。他走到身旁的海水邊沿，把雷杵猛力投向海水，使海浪汹湧起來，浪花衝擊到弗栗多身上。毗濕奴大神已附身在海浪的飛沫中，飛沫成了致命的武器，雄壯的弗栗多倒地死了。

長期的鬥爭這樣結束了。受難的世界深深透了一口氣。可是戰爭的結束對於因陀羅是個恥辱，因為他的勝利是用罪惡和欺騙手段得來的。他羞愧得只好躲藏起來了。

因陀羅的失蹤使天神和仙人很發愁，他們因此去見那善良而又勇武的友鄰王，把天神王冠奉獻給他。

友鄰王謙遜地拒絕道：「請原諒我。我不能做你們的王。我是什麼人，怎敢坐上因陀羅大神的寶座？又怎末能保護你們？這是不可能的事。」可是神仙們堅持要他接受，對他說：「別推辭了，做我們的王吧。我們的苦行功德和威力都歸屬於你，增加你原有的力量。你眼睛看到誰，誰的力量就要為你吸收，你將戰無不勝所向無敵。」友鄰王說不過去，終於同意了。