MN 58 Abhaya-rāja-kumāra: With Prince Abhaya

58.1 - (Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta tells prince to debate Buddha)
58.2 - (prince Abhaya goes to see Buddha)
58.4 - (simile of nurse harming boy)
58.5 - (right speech in more detail than STED)
58.6 - (does Buddha use premeditated answers or think on the spot?)

	(derived from B. Sujato 2018/12)	（选自B. Sujato 2018/12）
Evaṃ me sutaṃ—	So I have heard.	我曾这样听说。
ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.	At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.	有一次，佛陀住在王舍城附近，竹林精舍，松鼠饲喂地。
Atha kho abhayo rājakumāro yena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā nigaṇṭhaṃ nāṭaputtaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinnaṃ kho abhayaṃ rājakumāraṃ nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto etadavoca:	Then Prince Abhaya went up to Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta, bowed, and sat down to one side. Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta said to him:	然后阿巴亚王子去见尼乾陀·那提子，鞠躬，坐在一旁。尼乾陀·那提子对他说：

58.1 – (Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta tells prince to debate Buddha)

“ehi tvaṃ, rājakumāra, samaṇassa gotamassa vādaṃ āropehi.	“Come, prince, refute the ascetic Gotama’s doctrine.	“来吧，王子，驳斥乔达摩沙门的教义。
Evaṃ te kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchissati:	Then you will get a good reputation:	那样你就会有好名声：
‘abhayena rājakumārena samaṇassa gotamassa evaṃ mahiddhikassa evaṃ mahānubhāvassa vādo āropito’”ti.	‘Prince Abhaya refuted the doctrine of the ascetic Gotama, so mighty and powerful!’”	‘阿巴亚王子驳斥了如此强大有力的乔达摩沙门的教义！’”
“Yathā kathaṃ panāhaṃ, bhante, samaṇassa gotamassa evaṃ mahiddhikassa evaṃ mahānubhāvassa vādaṃ āropessāmī”ti?	“But sir, how am I to do this?”	“但是先生，我该怎么做呢？”
“Ehi tvaṃ, rājakumāra, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ evaṃ vadehi:	“Here, prince, go to the ascetic Gotama and say to him:	“王子，你去见乔达摩沙门，对他说：
‘bhāseyya nu kho, bhante, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā’ti?	‘Sir, might the Realized One utter speech that is disliked by others?’	‘先生，如来会说出令他人不悦的话吗？’
Sace te samaṇo gotamo evaṃ puṭṭho evaṃ byākaroti:	When he’s asked this, if he answers:	当他被问到这个问题时，如果他回答：
‘bhāseyya, rājakumāra, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā’ti, tamenaṃ tvaṃ evaṃ vadeyyāsi:	‘He might, prince,’ say this to him:	‘他可能会，王子，’你就对他说：
‘atha kiñcarahi te, bhante, puthujjanena nānākaraṇaṃ?	‘Then, sir, what exactly is the difference between you and an ordinary person?	‘那么，先生，您和普通人之间究竟有什么区别呢？
Puthujjanopi hi taṃ vācaṃ bhāseyya yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā’ti.	For even an ordinary person might utter speech that is disliked by others.’	因为即使是普通人也可能会说出令他人不悦的话。’
Sace pana te samaṇo gotamo evaṃ puṭṭho evaṃ byākaroti:	But if he answers:	但是如果他回答：
‘na, rājakumāra, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ bhāseyya yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā’ti, tamenaṃ tvaṃ evaṃ vadeyyāsi:	‘He would not, prince,’ say this to him:	‘他不会，王子，’你就对他说：
‘atha kiñcarahi te, bhante, devadatto byākato:	‘Then, sir, why exactly did you declare of Devadatta:	‘那么，先生，您当初为什么宣称提婆达多：
“āpāyiko devadatto, nerayiko devadatto, kappaṭṭho devadatto, atekiccho devadatto”ti?	“Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable”?	“提婆达多将堕入恶道，下地狱，在那里停留一劫，不可救赎”呢？
Tāya ca pana te vācāya devadatto kupito ahosi anattamano’ti.	Devadatta was angry and upset with what you said.’	提婆达多对您说的话感到愤怒和不悦。’
Imaṃ kho te, rājakumāra, samaṇo gotamo ubhatokoṭikaṃ pañhaṃ puṭṭho samāno neva sakkhiti uggilituṃ na sakkhiti ogilituṃ.	When you put this dilemma to him, the Buddha won’t be able to either spit it out or swallow it down.	当你向他提出这个难题时，佛陀将无法吞吐。
Seyyathāpi nāma purisassa ayosiṅghāṭakaṃ kaṇṭhe vilaggaṃ, so neva sakkuṇeyya uggilituṃ na sakkuṇeyya ogilituṃ;	He’ll be like a man with an iron cross stuck in his throat, unable to either spit it out or swallow it down.”	他会像一个人喉咙里卡着一根铁十字架，无法吞也无法吐。”
evameva kho te, rājakumāra, samaṇo gotamo imaṃ ubhatokoṭikaṃ pañhaṃ puṭṭho samāno neva sakkhiti uggilituṃ na sakkhiti ogilitun”ti.
“Evaṃ, bhante”ti kho abhayo rājakumāro nigaṇṭhassa nāṭaputtassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā nigaṇṭhaṃ nāṭaputtaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi.	“Yes, sir,” replied Abhaya. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta, keeping him on his right. Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.	“是的，先生，”阿巴亚回答道。他从座位上站起来，鞠躬，恭敬地绕着尼乾陀·那提子转了一圈，让他保持在他的右边。然后他去见佛陀，鞠躬，坐在一旁。

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58.2 – (prince Abhaya goes to see Buddha)

Ekamantaṃ nisinnassa kho abhayassa rājakumārassa sūriyaṃ ulloketvā etadahosi:	Then he looked up at the sun and thought:	然后他抬头看了看太阳，心想：
“akālo kho ajja bhagavato vādaṃ āropetuṃ.	“It’s too late to refute the Buddha’s doctrine today.	“今天驳斥佛陀的教义太晚了。
Sve dānāhaṃ sake nivesane bhagavato vādaṃ āropessāmī”ti bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:	I shall refute his doctrine in my own home tomorrow.” He said to the Buddha:	我明天要在自己家里驳斥他的教义。”他对佛陀说：
“adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā svātanāya attacatuttho bhattan”ti.	“Sir, may the Buddha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me, together with three other monks.”	“先生，愿佛陀明天能接受我的供养，连同其他三位比丘。”
Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.	The Buddha consented in silence.	佛陀默许了。
Atha kho abhayo rājakumāro bhagavato adhivāsanaṃ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā pakkāmi.	Then, knowing that the Buddha had accepted, Abhaya got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.	然后，知道佛陀已经接受了，阿巴亚从座位上站起来，鞠躬，恭敬地绕着佛陀转了一圈，让他保持在他的右边，然后离开了。
Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena abhayassa rājakumārassa nivesanaṃ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.	Then when the night had passed, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Abhaya’s home, and sat down on the seat spread out.	然后，夜过之后，佛陀早上披上袈裟，拿着钵和僧袍，去了阿巴亚的家，坐在铺好的座位上。
Atha kho abhayo rājakumāro bhagavantaṃ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.	Then Abhaya served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with a variety of delicious foods.	然后阿巴亚亲手用各种美味的食物侍奉并满足了佛陀。
Atha kho abhayo rājakumāro bhagavantaṃ bhuttāviṃ onītapattapāṇiṃ aññataraṃ nīcaṃ āsanaṃ gahetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi.	When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Abhaya took a low seat, sat to one side,	当佛陀吃完饭，洗完手和钵后，阿巴亚坐在一张低矮的座位上，坐在一旁，

Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho abhayo rājakumāro bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:	and said to him:	对他说：
“bhāseyya nu kho, bhante, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā”ti?	“Sir, might the Realized One utter speech that is disliked by others?”	“先生，如来会说出令他人不悦的话吗？”
“Na khvettha, rājakumāra, ekaṃsenā”ti.	“This is no simple matter, prince.”	“王子，这不是一件简单的事情。”
“Ettha, bhante, anassuṃ nigaṇṭhā”ti.	“Then the Jains have lost in this, sir.”	“那么耆那教徒在这方面输了，先生。”
“Kiṃ pana tvaṃ, rājakumāra, evaṃ vadesi:	“But prince, why do you say that	“但是王子，你为什么说
‘ettha, bhante, anassuṃ nigaṇṭhā’”ti?	the Jains have lost in this?”	耆那教徒在这方面输了呢？”
“Idhāhaṃ, bhante, yena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā nigaṇṭhaṃ nāṭaputtaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃ. Ekamantaṃ nisinnaṃ kho maṃ, bhante, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto etadavoca:	Then Abhaya told the Buddha all that had happened.	于是阿巴亚将所有发生的事情告诉了佛陀。
‘ehi tvaṃ, rājakumāra, samaṇassa gotamassa vādaṃ āropehi.
Evaṃ te kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchissati—
abhayena rājakumārena samaṇassa gotamassa evaṃ mahiddhikassa evaṃ mahānubhāvassa vādo āropito’ti.
Evaṃ vutte, ahaṃ, bhante, nigaṇṭhaṃ nāṭaputtaṃ etadavocaṃ:
‘yathā kathaṃ panāhaṃ, bhante, samaṇassa gotamassa evaṃ mahiddhikassa evaṃ mahānubhāvassa vādaṃ āropessāmī’ti?
‘Ehi tvaṃ, rājakumāra, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ evaṃ vadehi:
“bhāseyya nu kho, bhante, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā”ti?
Sace te samaṇo gotamo evaṃ puṭṭho evaṃ byākaroti:
“bhāseyya, rājakumāra, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā”ti, tamenaṃ tvaṃ evaṃ vadeyyāsi:
“atha kiñcarahi te, bhante, puthujjanena nānākaraṇaṃ?
Puthujjanopi hi taṃ vācaṃ bhāseyya yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā”ti.
Sace pana te samaṇo gotamo evaṃ puṭṭho evaṃ byākaroti:
“na, rājakumāra, tathāgato taṃ vācaṃ bhāseyya yā sā vācā paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā”ti, tamenaṃ tvaṃ evaṃ vadeyyāsi—
atha kiñcarahi te, bhante, devadatto byākato:
“āpāyiko devadatto, nerayiko devadatto, kappaṭṭho devadatto, atekiccho devadatto”ti?
Tāya ca pana te vācāya devadatto kupito ahosi anattamano’ti.
Imaṃ kho te, rājakumāra, samaṇo gotamo ubhatokoṭikaṃ pañhaṃ puṭṭho samāno neva sakkhiti uggilituṃ na sakkhiti ogilituṃ.
Seyyathāpi nāma purisassa ayosiṅghāṭakaṃ kaṇṭhe vilaggaṃ, so neva sakkuṇeyya uggilituṃ na sakkuṇeyya ogilituṃ;
evameva kho te, rājakumāra, samaṇo gotamo imaṃ ubhatokoṭikaṃ pañhaṃ puṭṭho samāno neva sakkhiti uggilituṃ na sakkhiti ogilitun”ti.

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58.4 – (simile of nurse harming boy)

Tena kho pana samayena daharo kumāro mando uttānaseyyako abhayassa rājakumārassa aṅke nisinno hoti.	Now at that time a little baby boy was sitting in Prince Abhaya’s lap.	当时，阿巴亚王子腿上坐着一个小男婴。
Atha kho bhagavā abhayaṃ rājakumāraṃ etadavoca:	Then the Buddha said to Abhaya:	然后佛陀对阿巴亚说：
“Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, rājakumāra,	“What do you think, prince?	“王子，你觉得怎么样？
sacāyaṃ kumāro tuyhaṃ vā pamādamanvāya dhātiyā vā pamādamanvāya kaṭṭhaṃ vā kaṭhalaṃ vā mukhe āhareyya, kinti naṃ kareyyāsī”ti?	If—because of your negligence or his nurse’s negligence—your boy was to put a stick or stone in his mouth, what would you do to him?”	如果——因为你的疏忽或他护士的疏忽——你的孩子把一根棍子或一块石头放进嘴里，你会怎么做？”
“Āhareyyassāhaṃ, bhante.	“I’d try to take it out, sir.	“我会试着把它拿出来，先生。
Sace, bhante, na sakkuṇeyyaṃ ādikeneva āhattuṃ, vāmena hatthena sīsaṃ pariggahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena vaṅkaṅguliṃ karitvā salohitampi āhareyyaṃ.	If that didn’t work, I’d hold his head with my left hand, and take it out using a hooked finger of my right hand, even if it drew blood.	如果不行，我会用左手扶住他的头，用右手弯曲的手指把它拿出来，即使会流血。
Taṃ kissa hetu?	Why is that?	为什么呢？
Atthi me, bhante, kumāre anukampā”ti.	Because I have compassion for the boy, sir.”	因为我同情这个孩子，先生。”

58.5 – (right speech in more detail than STED)

“Evameva kho, rājakumāra, yaṃ tathāgato vācaṃ jānāti abhūtaṃ atacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ sā ca paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā, na taṃ tathāgato vācaṃ bhāsati.	“In the same way, prince, the Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and harmful, and which is disliked by others.	“同样，王子，如来不会说出他知道是不真实、虚假、有害且令人不悦的话。
Yampi tathāgato vācaṃ jānāti bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ sā ca paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā, tampi tathāgato vācaṃ na bhāsati.	The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be true and substantive, but which is harmful and disliked by others.	如来不会说出他知道是真实且有实质内容，但有害且令人不悦的话。
Yañca kho tathāgato vācaṃ jānāti bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ atthasaṃhitaṃ sā ca paresaṃ appiyā amanāpā, tatra kālaññū tathāgato hoti tassā vācāya veyyākaraṇāya.	The Realized One knows the right time to speak so as to explain what he knows to be true, substantive, and beneficial, but which is disliked by others.	如来知道何时适当地说出他知道是真实、有实质内容、有益但令人不悦的话。
Yaṃ tathāgato vācaṃ jānāti abhūtaṃ atacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ sā ca paresaṃ piyā manāpā, na taṃ tathāgato vācaṃ bhāsati.	The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and harmful, but which is liked by others.	如来不会说出他知道是不真实、虚假、有害但令人喜欢的话。
Yampi tathāgato vācaṃ jānāti bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ anatthasaṃhitaṃ sā ca paresaṃ piyā manāpā tampi tathāgato vācaṃ na bhāsati.	The Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be true and substantive, but which is harmful, even if it is liked by others.	如来不会说出他知道是真实且有实质内容，但有害，即使令人喜欢的话。
Yañca tathāgato vācaṃ jānāti bhūtaṃ tacchaṃ atthasaṃhitaṃ sā ca paresaṃ piyā manāpā, tatra kālaññū tathāgato hoti tassā vācāya veyyākaraṇāya.	The Realized One knows the right time to speak so as to explain what he knows to be true, substantive, and beneficial, and which is liked by others.	如来知道何时适当地说出他知道是真实、有实质内容、有益且令人喜欢的话。
Taṃ kissa hetu?	Why is that?	为什么呢？
Atthi, rājakumāra, tathāgatassa sattesu anukampā”ti.	Because the Realized One has compassion for sentient beings.”	因为如来对众生有慈悲心。”

58.6 – (does Buddha use premeditated answers or think on the spot?)

“Yeme, bhante, khattiyapaṇḍitāpi brāhmaṇapaṇḍitāpi gahapatipaṇḍitāpi samaṇapaṇḍitāpi pañhaṃ abhisaṅkharitvā tathāgataṃ upasaṅkamitvā pucchanti,	“Sir, there are clever aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics who come to see you with a question already planned.	“先生，有些聪明的贵族、婆罗门、居士或沙门，带着预先计划好的问题来见您。
pubbeva nu kho, etaṃ, bhante, bhagavato cetaso parivitakkitaṃ hoti ‘ye maṃ upasaṅkamitvā evaṃ pucchissanti tesāhaṃ evaṃ puṭṭho evaṃ byākarissāmī’ti, udāhu ṭhānasovetaṃ tathāgataṃ paṭibhātī”ti?	Do you think beforehand that if they ask you like this, you’ll answer like that, or does the answer just appear to you on the spot?”	您是事先思考，如果他们这样问您，您就那样回答，还是答案当下就出现在您面前？”

“Tena hi, rājakumāra, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi, yathā te khameyya tathā naṃ byākareyyāsi.	“Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.	“那么，王子，我反过来问你这个问题，你可以随意回答。
Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, rājakumāra,	What do you think, prince?	王子，你觉得怎么样？
kusalo tvaṃ rathassa aṅgapaccaṅgānan”ti?	Are you skilled in the various parts of a chariot?”	你精通马车的各个部件吗？”

“Evaṃ, bhante, kusalo ahaṃ rathassa aṅgapaccaṅgānan”ti.

“I am, sir.”

“是的，先生。”

“Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, rājakumāra,	“What do you think, prince?	“王子，你觉得怎么样？
ye taṃ upasaṅkamitvā evaṃ puccheyyuṃ:	When they come to you and ask:	当他们来问你：
‘kiṃ nāmidaṃ rathassa aṅgapaccaṅgan’ti?	‘What’s the name of this chariot part?’	‘这个马车部件叫什么名字？’
Pubbeva nu kho te etaṃ cetaso parivitakkitaṃ assa ‘ye maṃ upasaṅkamitvā evaṃ pucchissanti tesāhaṃ evaṃ puṭṭho evaṃ byākarissāmī’ti, udāhu ṭhānasovetaṃ paṭibhāseyyā”ti?	Do you think beforehand that if they ask you like this, you’ll answer like that, or does the answer appear to you on the spot?”	您是事先思考，如果他们这样问您，您就那样回答，还是答案当下就出现在您面前？”

“Ahañhi, bhante, rathiko saññāto kusalo rathassa aṅgapaccaṅgānaṃ.	“Sir, I’m well-known as a charioteer skilled in a chariot’s parts.	“先生，我作为一名精通马车部件的马车夫而闻名。
Sabbāni me rathassa aṅgapaccaṅgāni suviditāni.	All the parts are well-known to me.	所有部件我都很熟悉。
Ṭhānasovetaṃ maṃ paṭibhāseyyā”ti.	The answer just appears to me on the spot.”	答案当下就出现在我面前。”

“Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye te khattiyapaṇḍitāpi brāhmaṇapaṇḍitāpi gahapatipaṇḍitāpi samaṇapaṇḍitāpi pañhaṃ abhisaṅkharitvā tathāgataṃ upasaṅkamitvā pucchanti, ṭhānasovetaṃ tathāgataṃ paṭibhāti.	“In the same way, when clever aristocrats, brahmins, householders, or ascetics come to see me with a question already planned, the answer just appears to me on the spot.	“同样，当聪明的贵族、婆罗门、居士或沙门带着预先计划好的问题来见我时，答案当下就出现在我面前。
Taṃ kissa hetu?	Why is that?	为什么呢？
Sā hi, rājakumāra, tathāgatassa dhammadhātu suppaṭividdhā yassā dhammadhātuyā suppaṭividdhattā ṭhānasovetaṃ tathāgataṃ paṭibhātī”ti.	Because the Realized One has clearly comprehended the principle of the teachings, so that the answer just appears to him on the spot.”	因为如来已经清晰地理解了教义的原理，所以答案当下就出现在他面前。”

Evaṃ vutte, abhayo rājakumāro bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:	When he had spoken, Prince Abhaya said to the Buddha:	他说完后，阿巴亚王子对佛陀说：
“abhikkantaṃ, bhante, abhikkantaṃ, bhante … pe …	“Excellent, sir! Excellent! …	“太好了，先生！太好了！……
ajjatagge pāṇupetaṃ saraṇaṃ gatan”ti.	From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”	从今以后，愿乔达摩大师记住我是一个终身皈依的在家弟子。”