Āḷavikā
Translation of BZA 214. First version published in Buddhist Studies
Review vol. 23-1 (2006).
Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī at the Jeta Grove in
the Anāthapiṇḍika Park.
At that time there was a nun called Āḷavikā. One early morning she took her robes
and her begging bowl and entered the town to beg for food. Having finished her
meal, she cleaned her bowl, and decided to enter the Andhavana forest [to
meditate].
At that time King Māra the Bad thought: “Gotamo the renunciant is now staying at
Sāvatthī in the Andhavana forest. His disciple the nun Āḷavikā entered the town
[Sāvatthī] to beg for food. Having finished her meal and cleaned her bowl, she
has gathered her seat and wants to enter this forest. I shall disturb her!”
Thereupon the Bad One turned into a young man, standing at the wayside he asked
Āḷavikā: “Where are you going?” The nun answered: “I am going to a secluded
place.” On hearing this the young man spoke a verse:
In all the worlds // there is no liberation
You are going to a secluded, quiet place // for what
You are still young and pretty // if you won’t enjoy the five sensual
pleasures [now]
One day you will be old and weak // don’t have regrets later
There the nun thought: “Who is this, who wants to disturb me? What a cheat ! Is
he a human or a non-human being?” Having thought this, she entered concentration
and, using her insight, she recognized that it was the Bad One who tried to
disturb her. She spoke a verse:
There is liberation in the world // I know this through experience
You, Bad One, ignorant and shallow // do not know its traces
Pleasure is like a sharp halberd, slashing // the aggregates are bandits,
running after you knife in hand
You talk of enjoying the five sensual pleasures // but the suffering [caused
by] pleasure is to be feared
Pleasure causes sadness and troubles, // pleasure causes longing.
Pleasure causes hundredfold suffering, // pleasure is the root of all
suffering.
[I have] cut off all craving // the darkness of ignorance destroyed
Having reached and witnessed complete cessation // [I] dwell in a state of
purity
At that time the Bad One thought: “The nun Āḷavikā knows my mind well!” Vexed,
dispirited, and ashamed he returned to his palace.
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時有阿臈毘比丘尼,住舍衛國王園精舍比丘尼眾中。時阿臈毘比丘尼晨朝著衣持鉢,入舍衛城乞食。食已,還精舍,舉衣鉢,洗足,持尼師壇,著右肩上,入安陀林坐禪。時魔波旬作是念:
「今沙門瞿曇住舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。有弟子阿臈毘比丘尼,住舍衛國王園精舍比丘尼眾中,晨朝著衣持鉢,入舍衛城乞食。食已,還精舍,舉衣鉢,洗足已,持尼師壇,著右肩上,入安陀林坐禪。我今當往,為作留難!」
即化作年少,容貌端正,往詣彼比丘尼所,語比丘尼言:
「阿姨!欲何處去?」
比丘尼答言:
「賢者!到遠離處去。」
時魔波旬即說偈言:
「世間無有出 用求遠離為
還服食五欲 勿令後變悔」
時阿臈毘比丘尼作是念:
「是誰欲恐怖我?為是人耶,為非人耶,姦狡人耶?」
心即念言:
「此必惡魔,欲亂我耳!」
覺知已,而說偈言:
「世間有出要 我自知所得
鄙下之惡魔 汝不知其道
譬如利刀害 五欲亦如是
譬如斬肉形 苦受陰亦然
如汝向所說 服樂五欲者
是則不可樂 大恐怖之處
離一切喜樂 捨諸大闇冥
以滅盡作證 安住離諸漏
覺知汝惡魔 尋即自滅去」
時魔波旬作是念:
「彼阿臈毘比丘尼已知我心!」
愁憂不樂,即沒不現。
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