T 210.31

Dharmapada (T 210) 法句经

T 210.31 象喻品法句经第三十一十有八章

The Elephant Simile Chapter teaches people to correct their bodies, do good, and receive the rewards of blessings.

象喻品者,教人正身,为善得善,福报快焉。

I am like an elephant in battle, not afraid of being hit by arrows. I always use sincerity and trust to save those without precepts.

我如象鬪,  不恐中箭,常以诚信,度无戒人。

It is like a well-trained elephant that can be ridden by
the king. A well-trained person is worthy of receiving sincerity and trust.

譬象调正,  可中王乘,调为尊人,  乃受诚信。

Although it is always well-trained, like a newly trained elephant, it is still not as good as self-discipline.

虽为常调,如彼新驰,亦最善象,  不如自调。

It cannot reach where people cannot go. Only those who are self-disciplined can reach the realm of discipline.

彼不能适,  人所不至,唯自调者,能到调方。

Like the elephant named Wealth-Keeper, fierce and harmful, difficult to restrain
bound and not given food, still a violent and unruly elephant.

如象名财守,  猛害难禁制,系绊不与食,  而犹暴逸象。

Those who are mired in evil deeds are always bound by greed
The elephant does not know satiety, and thus enters the womb many times.

没在恶行者,  恒以贪自系,其象不知厌,  故数入胞胎。

The original intention is for pure practice, and for the peace of constant
practice. All bonds are abandoned and subdued, like a hook controlling a tamed elephant.

本意为纯行,  及常行所安,悉舍降伏结,  如钩制象调。

Enjoying the path and not being negligent, one is able to always protect one's own mind
This is called extracting the suffering of the body, like an elephant emerging from a pit.

乐道不放逸,  能常自护心,是为拔身苦,  如象出于塪。

If one obtains a virtuous and capable companion, and together practices diligently, one
is able to subdue all that is heard, and reach without losing the intention;

若得贤能伴,  俱行行善悍,能伏诸所闻,  至到不失意;

If one does not obtain a virtuous and capable companion, and together practices evil
one widely destroys the villages and towns. How can one alone not do evil?

不得贤能伴,  俱行行恶悍,广断王邑里,  宁独不为恶。

It is better to alone practice good, not to associate with fools
Alone one does not do evil, like an elephant startled, protecting itself.

宁独行为善,  不与愚为侣,独而不为恶,  如象惊自护。

Born with ease and benefit, accompanied by softness and harmony for ease, at the
end of life, for the ease of merit, not committing various evils for ease.

生而有利安,  伴软和为安,命尽为福安,  众恶不犯安。

A household with a mother is joyful, with a father it is also joyful. In the world
there is the joy of being a śramaṇa, in the world, there is the joy of the Way.

人家有母乐,  有父斯亦乐,世有沙门乐,  天下有道乐。

Upholding the precepts, one is at ease until old age. Believing in the true and correcting what is correct
is good. Wisdom is the most at ease for the body. Not committing evil is the most at ease.

持戒终老安,  信正所正善,智慧最安身,  不犯恶最安。

Like a well-trained horse, following one's wishes, faith, precepts, diligence, and concentration are essential.

如马调软,  随意所如,信戒精进,定法要具。

With clear understanding and practice established, patience, harmony
and concentration can eliminate all suffering, following one's wishes.

明行成立,  忍和意定,是断诸苦,  随意所如。

From this, one proceeds to concentration, like a well-trained horse. Eliminating anger and defilements, one experiences heavenly bliss.

从是往定,如马调御,断恚无漏,  是受天乐。

Not indulging oneself, one becomes more awakened. A weak horse is compared to a good one, abandoning evil and becoming virtuous.

不自放恣,  从是多寤,羸马比良,弃恶为贤。

Translated from Chinese using Gemma-2-Mitra (Buddhist-NLP).

This is the classical Chinese root text of Dharmapada (T 210), a parallel to the Pali sutta(s) listed above. Source: CBETA (Taishō edition).

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