DN 11 · 坚固经
坚固居士子事
481如是我闻：一时，世尊住在那烂陀的波婆利咖庵园中。那时，坚固居士子来到世尊面前，顶礼世尊后，退坐一面。坐定后，坚固居士子对世尊这样说：“尊者，那烂陀城繁荣富庶，人口众多，人群密集，人们对世尊深怀净信。尊者，若能请世尊指派一位比丘，为白衣在家信众示现超越常人的上人法、神通神变，那就太好了。这样一来，那烂陀的人们对世尊的信心必会更加增长。”闻此，世尊对坚固居士子说：“坚固，我从不这样教导比丘们：‘来吧，比丘们，你们去为白衣在家众示现超越常人的上人法、神通神变吧。’”
Evaṃ me sutaṃ – ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā nāḷandāyaṃ viharati pāvārikambavane. Atha kho kevaṭṭo gahapatiputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho kevaṭṭo gahapatiputto bhagavantaṃ etadavoca – ‘‘ayaṃ, bhante, nāḷandā iddhā ceva phītā ca bahujanā ākiṇṇamanussā bhagavati abhippasannā. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā ekaṃ bhikkhuṃ samādisatu, yo uttarimanussadhammā, iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karissati; evāyaṃ nāḷandā bhiyyoso mattāya bhagavati abhippasīdissatī’’ti. Evaṃ vutte, bhagavā kevaṭṭaṃ gahapatiputtaṃ etadavoca – ‘‘na kho ahaṃ, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhūnaṃ evaṃ dhammaṃ desemi – etha tumhe, bhikkhave, gihīnaṃ odātavasanānaṃ uttarimanussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karothā’’ti.
482第二次，坚固居士之子又对世尊说：“尊者，我并非有意冒犯世尊，但我还是要说：尊者，那烂陀如此繁荣、富庶，人口众多，人群稠密，人们对世尊深具信心。尊者，若能派一位比丘，示现超越常人境界的神通神变，那就太好了。这样一来，那烂陀的人们对世尊的信心必定更加增长。”
世尊第二次仍这样对坚固居士之子说：“坚固，我并非这样教导比丘们：‘来吧，比丘们，你们去为白衣在家信众示现超越常人境界的神通神变吧。’”
Dutiyampi kho kevaṭṭo gahapatiputto bhagavantaṃ etadavoca – ‘‘nāhaṃ, bhante, bhagavantaṃ dhaṃsemi; api ca, evaṃ vadāmi – ‘ayaṃ, bhante, nāḷandā iddhā ceva phītā ca bahujanā ākiṇṇamanussā bhagavati abhippasannā. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā ekaṃ bhikkhuṃ samādisatu, yo uttarimanussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karissati; evāyaṃ nāḷandā bhiyyoso mattāya bhagavati abhippasīdissatī’’’ti. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā kevaṭṭaṃ gahapatiputtaṃ etadavoca – ‘‘na kho ahaṃ, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhūnaṃ evaṃ dhammaṃ desemi – etha tumhe, bhikkhave, gihīnaṃ odātavasanānaṃ uttarimanussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karothā’’’ti.
5第三次，坚固居士之子又对世尊说：“尊者，我并非有意冒犯世尊，但我还是要说：尊者，那烂陀如此繁荣、富庶，人口稠密，人们对世尊深具信心。尊者，恳请世尊派一位比丘，示现超越常人境界的神通神变。如此，那烂陀的人们对世尊的信心定会更加增长。”
Tatiyampi kho kevaṭṭo gahapatiputto bhagavantaṃ etadavoca – ‘‘nāhaṃ, bhante, bhagavantaṃ dhaṃsemi; api ca, evaṃ vadāmi – ‘ayaṃ, bhante, nāḷandā iddhā ceva phītā ca bahujanā ākiṇṇamanussā bhagavati abhippasannā. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā ekaṃ bhikkhuṃ samādisatu, yo uttarimanussadhammā iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ karissati. Evāyaṃ nāḷandā bhiyyoso mattāya bhagavati abhippasīdissatī’ti.
神变示现
483世尊说：“坚固，有三种神变，是我以证智亲证之后所宣说的。哪三种呢？即：神通神变、记说神变和教诫神变。”
‘‘Tīṇi kho imāni, kevaṭṭa, pāṭihāriyāni mayā sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni. Katamāni tīṇi? Iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ, ādesanāpāṭihāriyaṃ , anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ.
484“坚固，什么是神通神变？坚固，于此法中，有比丘能现起种种神通变化：他一身化为多身，多身合为一身；或显或隐，穿墙、越壁、越山而过，无有障碍，犹如行于虚空；于大地涌出、潜入，如在水中；行于水面而不坏散，如履大地；于虚空结跏趺坐而行，犹如飞鸟；他以手触摸、轻抚如此具大威力、大神通的日月；乃至以自身于梵天界自在转行。”
‘‘Katamañca, kevaṭṭa, iddhipāṭihāriyaṃ? Idha, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu anekavihitaṃ iddhividhaṃ paccanubhoti. Ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hoti; āvibhāvaṃ tirobhāvaṃ tirokuṭṭaṃ tiropākāraṃ tiropabbataṃ asajjamāno gacchati seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṃ karoti seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gacchati seyyathāpi pathaviyaṃ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamati seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṃ mahiddhike evaṃ mahānubhāve pāṇinā parāmasati parimajjati; yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṃ vatteti.
10“这时，一位具足信心与净信的人，看见那位比丘正现起种种神通变化：他或一身化多身，或多身合为一身；或显或隐；穿墙、越城、穿山，无碍而行，犹如行于虚空；在陆地如于水中，涌出、潜入；行于水上而不沉没，犹如行走于大地；于虚空结跏趺坐而行，恰似有翼之飞鸟；更以手触摸、抚摩那有大威力、大威神的日月；乃至以身自在转行于梵天界。”
‘‘Tamenaṃ aññataro saddho pasanno passati taṃ bhikkhuṃ anekavihitaṃ iddhividhaṃ paccanubhontaṃ – ekopi hutvā bahudhā hontaṃ, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hontaṃ; āvibhāvaṃ tirobhāvaṃ; tirokuṭṭaṃ tiropākāraṃ tiropabbataṃ asajjamānaṃ gacchantaṃ seyyathāpi ākāse; pathaviyāpi ummujjanimujjaṃ karontaṃ seyyathāpi udake; udakepi abhijjamāne gacchantaṃ seyyathāpi pathaviyaṃ; ākāsepi pallaṅkena kamantaṃ seyyathāpi pakkhī sakuṇo; imepi candimasūriye evaṃ mahiddhike evaṃ mahānubhāve pāṇinā parāmasantaṃ parimajjantaṃ yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṃ vattentaṃ.
11“那位有信心、有净信的人，便去向一位没有信心、没有净信的人说：‘朋友，真是稀有，真是不可思议啊！那位沙门竟有如此大神通、大威力。我亲眼见到那位比丘施展种种神变：他一身化作多身，多身合为一身……乃至以自身自在游行于梵天界。’”
‘‘Tamenaṃ so saddho pasanno aññatarassa assaddhassa appasannassa āroceti – ‘acchariyaṃ vata, bho, abbhutaṃ vata, bho, samaṇassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā. Amāhaṃ bhikkhuṃ addasaṃ anekavihitaṃ iddhividhaṃ paccanubhontaṃ – ekopi hutvā bahudhā hontaṃ, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hontaṃ…pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṃ vattenta’nti.
12“那位没有信心、没有净信的人，便对那位有信心、有净信的人这样说：‘朋友，世间有一种名叫犍陀罗的明咒。那位比丘正是依凭此咒，才得以体验种种神变：一身化作多身，多身合为一身……乃至以自身自在游行于梵天界。’”
‘‘Tamenaṃ so assaddho appasanno taṃ saddhaṃ pasannaṃ evaṃ vadeyya – ‘atthi kho, bho, gandhārī nāma vijjā. Tāya so bhikkhu anekavihitaṃ iddhividhaṃ paccanubhoti – ekopi hutvā bahudhā hoti, bahudhāpi hutvā eko hoti…pe… yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṃ vattetī’ti.
13“坚固，你意下如何？那位没有信心、不净信的人，是否会这样对那位有信心、有净信的人说呢？”“会的，尊者。”“坚固，我正是因为看见了此神通神变中的过患，才对示现神通神变感到忧恼、羞愧和厌恶。”
‘‘Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, kevaṭṭa, api nu so assaddho appasanno taṃ saddhaṃ pasannaṃ evaṃ vadeyyā’’ti? ‘‘Vadeyya, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Imaṃ kho ahaṃ, kevaṭṭa, iddhipāṭihāriye ādīnavaṃ sampassamāno iddhipāṭihāriyena aṭṭīyāmi harāyāmi jigucchāmi’’.
记说神变
485“坚固，什么是记说神变？坚固，在此，有比丘能记说其他众生、其他人的心，记说他们的心所，记说他们的寻，记说他们的伺：‘你的意如此，你的意如彼，你的心如此。’”
‘‘Katamañca, kevaṭṭa, ādesanāpāṭihāriyaṃ? Idha, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu parasattānaṃ parapuggalānaṃ cittampi ādisati, cetasikampi ādisati, vitakkitampi ādisati, vicāritampi ādisati – ‘evampi te mano, itthampi te mano, itipi te citta’nti.
17“一位有信心、具净信者见到这位比丘能记说其他众生、其他人的心，记说其心所，记说其寻思，记说其伺察：‘你的意是这样，你的意是那样，你的心是这样。’那位有信心、具净信者便去告诉另一位无信心、无净信者：‘奇哉，尊者！希有哉，尊者！那位沙门真是具足大神力、大威力啊！我亲眼见到那位比丘记说其他众生、其他人的心，记说其心所，记说其寻思，记说其伺察：“你的意是这样，你的意是那样，你的心是这样。”’”
‘‘Tamenaṃ aññataro saddho pasanno passati taṃ bhikkhuṃ parasattānaṃ parapuggalānaṃ cittampi ādisantaṃ, cetasikampi ādisantaṃ, vitakkitampi ādisantaṃ, vicāritampi ādisantaṃ – ‘evampi te mano, itthampi te mano, itipi te citta’nti. Tamenaṃ so saddho pasanno aññatarassa assaddhassa appasannassa āroceti – ‘acchariyaṃ vata, bho, abbhutaṃ vata, bho, samaṇassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā. Amāhaṃ bhikkhuṃ addasaṃ parasattānaṃ parapuggalānaṃ cittampi ādisantaṃ, cetasikampi ādisantaṃ, vitakkitampi ādisantaṃ, vicāritampi ādisantaṃ – ‘‘evampi te mano, itthampi te mano, itipi te citta’’’nti.
18“无信心、无净信者可能会对有信心、具净信者这样说：‘尊者，有一种名为摩尼咖的明咒。借着此明咒，那位比丘能记说其他众生、其他人的心与心所，以及所寻与所伺：“你的意是如此，你的意是那样，你的心是这般。”’”
‘‘Tamenaṃ so assaddho appasanno taṃ saddhaṃ pasannaṃ evaṃ vadeyya – ‘atthi kho, bho, maṇikā nāma vijjā; tāya so bhikkhu parasattānaṃ parapuggalānaṃ cittampi ādisati, cetasikampi ādisati, vitakkitampi ādisati, vicāritampi ādisati – ‘evampi te mano, itthampi te mano, itipi te citta’’’nti.
19“坚固，你认为如何？那无信心、无净信者会不会对有信心、具净信者如此说？”“他们会这么说，尊者。”“坚固，正是见到记说神变有这种过患，我对记说神变才感到忧恼、羞愧与厌恶。”
‘‘Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, kevaṭṭa, api nu so assaddho appasanno taṃ saddhaṃ pasannaṃ evaṃ vadeyyā’’ti ? ‘‘Vadeyya, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Imaṃ kho ahaṃ, kevaṭṭa, ādesanāpāṭihāriye ādīnavaṃ sampassamāno ādesanāpāṭihāriyena aṭṭīyāmi harāyāmi jigucchāmi’’.
教诫神变
486“坚固，什么是教诫神变？坚固，在此有比丘这样教导：‘应当这样寻思，勿那样寻思；应当这样作意，勿那样作意；应舍断此，应成就此而安住。’坚固，这便称为教诫神变。”
‘‘Katamañca, kevaṭṭa, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ? Idha, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu evamanusāsati – ‘evaṃ vitakketha, mā evaṃ vitakkayittha, evaṃ manasikarotha, mā evaṃ manasākattha, idaṃ pajahatha, idaṃ upasampajja viharathā’ti. Idaṃ vuccati, kevaṭṭa, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ.
22复次，坚固，于此世间，如来出现，为阿拉汉、正自觉者……（中略）（如本母第190-212段所广说）。坚固，如是，比丘具足戒行……（中略）……证得并安住于初禅那。坚固，此亦名为教诫神变。……（中略）……第二禅那……（中略）……第三禅那……（中略）……证得并安住于第四禅那。坚固，此亦名为教诫神变。……（中略）……他将心导引并转向于智见……（中略）……坚固，此亦名为教诫神变。……（中略）……他了知：‘不再有此后世的状态’……（中略）……坚固，此亦名为教诫神变。
‘‘Puna caparaṃ, kevaṭṭa, idha tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṃ sammāsambuddho …pe… (yathā 190-212 anucchedesu evaṃ vitthāretabbaṃ). Evaṃ kho, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu sīlasampanno hoti…pe… paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. Idampi vuccati, kevaṭṭa, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ…pe… dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ…pe… tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ…pe… catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. Idampi vuccati, kevaṭṭa, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ…pe… ñāṇadassanāya cittaṃ abhinīharati abhininnāmeti…pe… idampi vuccati, kevaṭṭa, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ…pe… nāparaṃ itthattāyāti pajānāti…pe… idampi vuccati, kevaṭṭa, anusāsanīpāṭihāriyaṃ.
23“坚固，这三种神变，是我以证智亲自证得之后所宣说的。”
‘‘Imāni kho, kevaṭṭa, tīṇi pāṭihāriyāni mayā sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā paveditāni’’.
追寻存在灭尽的比丘事
487“坚固，往昔时，就在这比丘僧团中，有一位比丘心中生起了这样的思惟：‘这四大种，即地界、水界、火界、风界，于何处无余灭尽呢？’”
‘‘Bhūtapubbaṃ, kevaṭṭa, imasmiññeva bhikkhusaṅghe aññatarassa bhikkhuno evaṃ cetaso parivitakko udapādi – ‘kattha nu kho ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti?
488“那时，坚固，那位比丘进入了这样的定境：心入定后，一条通往天界之道便显现出来。于是，坚固，那位比丘便前往四天王天。到了之后，对四天王天的诸天这样说：‘诸位尊者，这四大种，即地界、水界、火界、风界，于何处无余灭尽呢？’”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu tathārūpaṃ samādhiṃ samāpajji, yathāsamāhite citte devayāniyo maggo pāturahosi. Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena cātumahārājikā devā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā cātumahārājike deve etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti?
27“听闻之后，坚固，四大王天的天众便告诉那位比丘：“比丘，我们也不知这四大种究竟于何处灭尽无余。不过，比丘，有四大天王，比我们更殊胜、更崇高，他们或许知道这四大种于何处灭尽无余。”
‘‘Evaṃ vutte, kevaṭṭa, cātumahārājikā devā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocuṃ – ‘mayampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāma, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti . Atthi kho , bhikkhu, cattāro mahārājāno amhehi abhikkantatarā ca paṇītatarā ca. Te kho etaṃ jāneyyuṃ, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.
489“于是，坚固，那位比丘便前往四大天王处。到达后，他对四大天王这样说：“诸位贤友，此四大种——地界、水界、火界、风界，究竟于何处无余灭尽呢？”听了这话，坚固，四大天王便对那位比丘说：“比丘，我们也不知此四大种——地界、水界、火界、风界于何处无余灭尽。然而，比丘，有名为三十三天的天众，比我们更为殊胜、更为崇高。他们应知此四大种——地界、水界、火界、风界于何处无余灭尽。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena cattāro mahārājāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā cattāro mahārāje etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti? Evaṃ vutte, kevaṭṭa, cattāro mahārājāno taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocuṃ – ‘mayampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāma, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu, āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti. Atthi kho, bhikkhu, tāvatiṃsā nāma devā amhehi abhikkantatarā ca paṇītatarā ca. Te kho etaṃ jāneyyuṃ, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.
490“于是，坚固，那位比丘便前往三十三天众所在之处。到了之后，他对三十三天众说道：“诸位贤友，这些地、水、火、风四大种，究竟在何处彻底灭尽呢？”听了此话，坚固，三十三天众便对那位比丘说：“比丘，我等也不知这些地、水、火、风四大种于何处彻底灭尽。然而，比丘，有一位名为帝释天的天主，较我等更为殊胜、崇高，他应知这些地、水、火、风四大种在何处彻底灭尽。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena tāvatiṃsā devā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tāvatiṃse deve etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti? Evaṃ vutte, kevaṭṭa, tāvatiṃsā devā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocuṃ – ‘mayampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāma, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti. Atthi kho, bhikkhu, sakko nāma devānamindo amhehi abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. So kho etaṃ jāneyya, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.
491于是，坚固，那位比丘便前往帝释天处。到了之后，他对帝释天这样说：“贤友，地、水、火、风这四大种，究竟在何处无余灭尽呢？”闻此，坚固，帝释天便对那位比丘这样说：“比丘，我亦不知地、水、火、风四大种在何处无余灭尽。然而，比丘，有名为夜摩天的天众……有位名为苏夜摩的天子……有名为兜率天的天众……有位名为珊都西达的天子……有名为化乐天的天众……有位名为苏宁密达的天子……有名为他化自在天的天众……有位名为自在的天子，比我等更殊胜、更崇高。他应当知晓地、水、火、风四大种在何处无余灭尽。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena sakko devānamindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sakkaṃ devānamindaṃ etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti? Evaṃ vutte, kevaṭṭa, sakko devānamindo taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca – ‘ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāmi, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti. Atthi kho, bhikkhu, yāmā nāma devā…pe… suyāmo nāma devaputto… tusitā nāma devā… santussito nāma devaputto… nimmānaratī nāma devā … sunimmito nāma devaputto… paranimmitavasavattī nāma devā… vasavattī nāma devaputto amhehi abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. So kho etaṃ jāneyya, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.
492那时，坚固，那位比丘前往自在天子处。到了以后，他对自在天子如此说道：“朋友，这地界、水界、火界、风界四大种，究竟在何处无余灭尽呢？”听了这话，坚固，自在天子对比丘这样说道：“比丘，我也不知道这些地界、水界、火界、风界四大种在何处无余灭尽。不过，比丘，有一类名为梵众天的天众，比我等更殊胜、更崇高。他们应当知道这些地界、水界、火界、风界四大种在何处无余灭尽。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena vasavattī devaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā vasavattiṃ devaputtaṃ etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti? Evaṃ vutte , kevaṭṭa, vasavattī devaputto taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca – ‘ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāmi yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti. Atthi kho, bhikkhu, brahmakāyikā nāma devā amhehi abhikkantatarā ca paṇītatarā ca. Te kho etaṃ jāneyyuṃ, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti.
493于是，坚固，那位比丘入于如是定，心得定后，通往梵天的道路便显现出来。于是，坚固，那位比丘来到梵众天处，到了之后，便对那些梵众天说：“贤友们，地界、水界、火界、风界这四大种，究竟在何处无余灭尽呢？”听了这话，坚固，梵众天便对那位比丘说：“比丘，我们亦不知这四大种在何处无余灭尽。然而，比丘，有梵天、大梵天，是胜者、不败者、遍见者、自在者、主宰者、造作者、化作者、最胜者、生者、支配者、一切已生与当生者之父，比我们更为殊胜、更为妙胜。他应当知道这四大种在何处无余灭尽。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu tathārūpaṃ samādhiṃ samāpajji, yathāsamāhite citte brahmayāniyo maggo pāturahosi. Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena brahmakāyikā devā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā brahmakāyike deve etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti? Evaṃ vutte, kevaṭṭa, brahmakāyikā devā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocuṃ – ‘mayampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāma, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti. Atthi kho, bhikkhu, brahmā mahābrahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī issaro kattā nimmātā seṭṭho sajitā vasī pitā bhūtabhabyānaṃ amhehi abhikkantataro ca paṇītataro ca. So kho etaṃ jāneyya, yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’’ti.
33“那么，朋友，那位大梵天现在在哪里呢？”梵众天的天人们回答说：“比丘，我们也不知晓大梵天在何处、以何种方式存在。不过，比丘，依所见的征兆——光明生起、辉耀显现——大梵天即将出现。光明生起、辉耀显现，这正是大梵天将要出现的前兆。”坚固，果然不久之后，那位大梵天便现身了。
‘‘‘Kahaṃ panāvuso, etarahi so mahābrahmā’ti? ‘Mayampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāma, yattha vā brahmā yena vā brahmā yahiṃ vā brahmā; api ca, bhikkhu, yathā nimittā dissanti, āloko sañjāyati, obhāso pātubhavati, brahmā pātubhavissati, brahmuno hetaṃ pubbanimittaṃ pātubhāvāya, yadidaṃ āloko sañjāyati, obhāso pātubhavatī’ti. Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, mahābrahmā nacirasseva pāturahosi .
494于是，坚固，那位比丘便前往大梵天处。到了之后，他对那位大梵天这样说：“朋友，这四大种，即地界、水界、火界、风界，在何处毫无剩余地灭尽呢？”听了这话，坚固，那位大梵天却这样回答那位比丘：“比丘，我就是梵天、大梵天、征服者、不被征服者、遍见者、自在者、主宰者、创造者、化现者、最胜者、生者、能者、已生与当生者的父亲。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu yena so mahābrahmā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṃ mahābrahmānaṃ etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’’ti? Evaṃ vutte, kevaṭṭa, so mahābrahmā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca – ‘ahamasmi, bhikkhu, brahmā mahābrahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī issaro kattā nimmātā seṭṭho sajitā vasī pitā bhūtabhabyāna’nti.
35坚固，那位比丘第二次对那位大梵天说：“朋友，我并非如此问你：‘你是不是梵天、大梵天、征服者、不被征服者……（中略）……已生与当生者的父亲？’朋友，我是这样问你的：‘朋友，这四大种，即地界、水界、火界、风界，在何处毫无剩余地灭尽呢？’”
‘‘Dutiyampi kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu taṃ mahābrahmānaṃ etadavoca – ‘na khohaṃ taṃ, āvuso, evaṃ pucchāmi – ‘‘tvamasi brahmā mahābrahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī issaro kattā nimmātā seṭṭho sajitā vasī pitā bhūtabhabyāna’’nti. Evañca kho ahaṃ taṃ, āvuso, pucchāmi – ‘‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’’’ti?
36坚固，那位大梵天第二次仍这样回答那位比丘：“比丘，我就是梵天，是大梵天，是征服者、不被征服者、遍见者、自在者、创造者、化生者、最胜者、主宰者，是已生与当生众生之父。”那位比丘第三次对那位大梵天说：“朋友，我不是这样问你的：‘你是不是梵天，是大梵天，是征服者、不被征服者……是已生与当生众生之父？’朋友，我是这样问的：‘朋友，这四大种——地界、水界、火界、风界——是在何处无余灭尽的呢？’”
‘‘Dutiyampi kho so, kevaṭṭa, mahābrahmā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca – ‘ahamasmi, bhikkhu, brahmā mahābrahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī issaro kattā nimmātā seṭṭho sajitā vasī pitā bhūtabhabyāna’nti. Tatiyampi kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu taṃ mahābrahmānaṃ etadavoca – ‘na khohaṃ taṃ, āvuso, evaṃ pucchāmi – ‘‘tvamasi brahmā mahābrahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī issaro kattā nimmātā seṭṭho sajitā vasī pitā bhūtabhabyāna’’nti. Evañca kho ahaṃ taṃ, āvuso, pucchāmi – ‘‘kattha nu kho, āvuso, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’’’ti?
495于是，坚固，那位大梵天握住那位比丘的手臂，将他带到一旁，对他说：“比丘，这些梵身天众是这样想我的：‘大梵天无所不知，无所不见，无所不解，无所不证。’所以我才不当着他们的面回答你。比丘，我也不知道这四大种——地界、水界、火界、风界——是在何处无余灭尽的。因此，比丘，你真是做错了，你真是有了过失，竟然绕开彼世尊，跑到外面去寻求这个问题的答案。去吧，比丘，回到彼世尊面前，去问这件事。世尊如何为你解答，你就那样把它记在心里。”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, mahābrahmā taṃ bhikkhuṃ bāhāyaṃ gahetvā ekamantaṃ apanetvā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca – ‘ime kho maṃ, bhikkhu, brahmakāyikā devā evaṃ jānanti, ‘‘natthi kiñci brahmuno aññātaṃ, natthi kiñci brahmuno adiṭṭhaṃ, natthi kiñci brahmuno aviditaṃ, natthi kiñci brahmuno asacchikata’’nti. Tasmāhaṃ tesaṃ sammukhā na byākāsiṃ. Ahampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāmi yatthime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātūti. Tasmātiha, bhikkhu, tuyhevetaṃ dukkaṭaṃ, tuyhevetaṃ aparaddhaṃ, yaṃ tvaṃ taṃ bhagavantaṃ atidhāvitvā bahiddhā pariyeṭṭhiṃ āpajjasi imassa pañhassa veyyākaraṇāya. Gaccha tvaṃ, bhikkhu, tameva bhagavantaṃ upasaṅkamitvā imaṃ pañhaṃ puccha, yathā ca te bhagavā byākaroti, tathā naṃ dhāreyyāsī’ti.
496于是，坚固，那位比丘——正如一位强壮的男子弯曲伸展的手臂，或是伸展弯曲的手臂那样——瞬间从梵天界消失，在我面前出现。他向我行礼后，坐在一旁。坐定之后，那位比丘这样问我：“尊者，这四大种——地界、水界、火界、风界——是在何处无余灭尽的呢？”
‘‘Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu – seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṃ vā bāhaṃ pasāreyya, pasāritaṃ vā bāhaṃ samiñjeyya evameva brahmaloke antarahito mama purato pāturahosi. Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu maṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi, ekamantaṃ nisinno kho, kevaṭṭa, so bhikkhu maṃ etadavoca – ‘kattha nu kho, bhante, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti?
寻岸鸟喻
497“听我这么问，坚固啊，我便对那位比丘说：“比丘，久远以前，航海的商人们带着一只寻岸鸟，乘船驶入大海。当船航行到看不见陆地的地方，他们便放出那只寻岸鸟。那鸟儿便向东飞去、向南飞去、向西飞去、向北飞去，向上方飞去，向各方的夹角飞去。如果环顾四周发现了陆地，它便一去不回。如果环顾四周不见陆地，它便飞回这条船上来。正是如此，比丘，你一路向上追寻，从人间直至梵天界，都未能为此问寻得答案，最终还是回到我的面前。比丘，这个问题，不该这样问：‘尊者，这四大——地界、水界、火界、风界——究竟在何处无余灭尽？’”
‘‘Evaṃ vutte, ahaṃ, kevaṭṭa, taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocaṃ – ‘bhūtapubbaṃ, bhikkhu, sāmuddikā vāṇijā tīradassiṃ sakuṇaṃ gahetvā nāvāya samuddaṃ ajjhogāhanti. Te atīradakkhiniyā nāvāya tīradassiṃ sakuṇaṃ muñcanti. So gacchateva puratthimaṃ disaṃ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṃ disaṃ, gacchati pacchimaṃ disaṃ, gacchati uttaraṃ disaṃ, gacchati uddhaṃ disaṃ, gacchati anudisaṃ. Sace so samantā tīraṃ passati, tathāgatakova hoti. Sace pana so samantā tīraṃ na passati, tameva nāvaṃ paccāgacchati. Evameva kho tvaṃ, bhikkhu, yato yāva brahmalokā pariyesamāno imassa pañhassa veyyākaraṇaṃ nājjhagā, atha mamaññeva santike paccāgato. Na kho eso, bhikkhu, pañho evaṃ pucchitabbo – ‘kattha nu kho, bhante, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṃ – pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū’ti?
498“比丘，这个问题，应当这样问——”
‘‘Evañca kho eso, bhikkhu, pañho pucchitabbo –
43何处水与地，火与风，不得立足？
‘Kattha āpo ca pathavī, tejo vāyo na gādhati;
44长与短、细与粗、净与不净，于何处？
Kattha dīghañca rassañca, aṇuṃ thūlaṃ subhāsubhaṃ;
45“何处名与色，无余灭尽？”
Kattha nāmañca rūpañca, asesaṃ uparujjhatī’ti.
499“对此，有如是解答：”
‘‘Tatra veyyākaraṇaṃ bhavati –
47「识无形相，无有边际，遍一切处光明；
‘Viññāṇaṃ anidassanaṃ, anantaṃ sabbatopabhaṃ;
48于此，水与地、火与风，皆不得立足。」
Ettha āpo ca pathavī, tejo vāyo na gādhati.
49于此，长与短、细与粗、净与不净；
Ettha dīghañca rassañca, aṇuṃ thūlaṃ subhāsubhaṃ;
50「『于此，名与色无余灭尽；』
Ettha nāmañca rūpañca, asesaṃ uparujjhati;
51「『由识的息灭，它们即于此灭尽。』」
Viññāṇassa nirodhena, etthetaṃ uparujjhatī’ti.
500世尊如此说。坚固居士子心生欢喜，对世尊所说随喜赞叹。
Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano kevaṭṭo gahapatiputto bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhinandīti.
53《坚固经》第十一终
Kevaṭṭasuttaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ ekādasamaṃ.