English
English version: Then, Cai Ming, facing the direction of the Buddha, folded his hands, knelt down with his knees and elbows touching the ground, prostrated himself to the Buddha, and knelt to report: 'Buddha, the Buddha of Buddhas (an honorific title for the Buddha), with compassion, joy, and protection, cares for all beings, especially pitying our country's great suffering, with disease and death, like a fierce wildfire burning grass and trees, universally suffering hardship. Fortunately, the Buddha, the World Honored One, is like seeking light in the darkness, hoping for the morning sun in the cold, longing for cool drinks in thirst and heat, seeking a good doctor when sick, and seeking guidance when lost. We only hope, World Honored One! To descend with compassion and salvation, bestow the nectar of Dharma (the Buddha's teachings that can relieve suffering), so that we may find respite.' Then, Cai Ming was ordered as an envoy to go to Rāmagṛha (王舍城, the city of royal residences), traversing paths to reach the city of royal residences, arriving at the gate to request passage, presenting letters and tributes. When the king heard this, Cai Ming reported: 'Having been sent as an envoy to your country, although there was some discord before, there is no major animosity, so I first express my sincerity, to eliminate the previous disharmony, and together pacify the people. The Buddha has appeared in the world, with great compassion covering all, and our country has a serious disaster, so I have been ordered to request the Buddha. We only hope that Your Majesty will persuade the Buddha to turn his light, to care for our humble country, to save us from disaster, and hope to receive divine blessings.' The king pondered silently: 'I wanted to keep the Buddha, not letting him leave our country, but there is no reason to do so, nor can I force it. The Buddha, with great compassion, universally grants the requests of all beings in the ten directions, treating love and hate equally, taking salvation as his duty, therefore, I cannot keep him.' Then he told Cai Ming: 'You can go to the Buddha and convey your country's request.' Then, Cai Ming bid farewell and went to Veṇuvana-vihāra (竹林精舍, the Bamboo Grove Monastery), and upon arriving at the monastery, he saw the Buddha, the World Honored One, and paid his respects with utmost sincerity, prostrating himself with his five limbs touching the ground, circumambulating the Buddha three times to the right, kneeling with folded hands, and said to the Buddha: 'The kings, ministers, elders, and laypeople of Vaiśālī (维耶离国) respectfully bow to the Buddha's feet from afar. Only the Buddha of Buddhas, universally compassionate to all beings, none are not saved. Our country has encountered disaster, we only hope that the World Honored One will descend with grace and light, have compassion on our suffering, and allow us to find respite.' At that time, the Buddha remained silent, granting his request. Cai Ming saw that the Buddha accepted the invitation and agreed to go, and was overjoyed. At that time, the deities, gods, dragons, and spirits within the territory of the city of royal residences, knowing that the Buddha had accepted the invitation and was about to go to another country, were all restless and uneasy, with pale and unhappy faces, and then --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
现感应，语其国王阿阇世曰：“大王如何安然无忧？于今不久，当违离佛，犹如婴儿失其二亲，喻行旷路断失水浆，譬如猛寒亡失衣裳。今佛当行，国失恃怙，其喻如是。” 王闻神祇降应说是，情即怆然，甚怀愁苦，默然思惟：“众生顽愚，志性钝浊，今离世尊，安从复得智慧之砺磨莹钝心？谁当济其尘劳重愆、宿世重责？谁当诲除一切众生重罪令轻？吾等久在生死牢狱，重关所闭，谁当复以正法之钥，开生死狱重关牢闭？吾等普为劳垢，盛阳暑热所炙，安从复得佛清凉教月精明珠，消除炎热？” 王即敕严驾，出诣佛所，稽首佛足，右绕三匝，却坐常位。时佛为王说正法化，初中竟善，净身口意，清净微妙。王心欢喜，叉手白佛：“顷维耶离，使请世尊，承已许往，心甚怀惨，无方留尊。唯垂矜愍，特受鄙请，住宫三月。” 佛告王言：“众生可伤，若住三月，何时当周众苦厄者？吾无数劫，苦身求道，为众生故，愿欲成佛，以甘露药，施于众生。今愿已成，犹如有人合和神药，欲救众患；值遇病者，违其本誓而不授与，则非良医。若在江侧，见漂流人，不往救度，非贤士宜。若于旷野，见失路者，不示正道，是则非仁。吾以大慈，普愍众生，故游诸国，县邑村落，救济众苦，赋甘露药，无恃 现代汉语译本：这时，有个神祇显灵，告诉阿阇世（Ajatasattu）国王说：‘大王您怎么能如此安然无忧呢？不久之后，您将要离开佛陀（Buddha）了，就像婴儿失去了父母，如同行走在旷野中失去了水，又像在严寒中失去了衣裳。现在佛陀将要离去，国家失去了依靠，情况就是这样啊。’ 国王听到神祇降临所说的话，心中顿时感到悲伤，非常忧愁，默默地思考着：‘众生顽固愚昧，心性迟钝，现在离开了世尊（Lokajyestha），又从哪里能够得到智慧的磨刀石来磨砺迟钝的心呢？谁来救济他们尘世的罪过、宿世的重责呢？谁来教诲消除一切众生的重罪使之减轻呢？我们长久地处在生死牢狱之中，被重重关卡所封闭，谁又会用正法的钥匙，打开这生死牢狱的重重关卡呢？我们普遍被尘劳垢染，被盛夏的酷热所炙烤，又从哪里能够得到佛陀清凉教法的月亮般的光辉和明珠，来消除这炎热呢？’ 国王立刻命令准备车驾，前往佛陀所在的地方，顶礼佛足，右绕佛陀三圈，然后退坐到原来的位置。这时，佛陀为国王宣说正法，从开始到中间到结尾都很好，净化身口意，清净而微妙。国王心中欢喜，合掌对佛陀说：‘前些时候，维耶离（Vaisali）的使者前来邀请世尊，听说您已经答应前往，我心中非常悲伤，没有办法挽留您。唯愿您能慈悲怜悯，特别接受我的请求，在我的宫中住三个月。’ 佛陀告诉国王说：‘众生实在可怜，如果我只住三个月，什么时候才能周济所有受苦受难的人呢？我无数劫以来，苦修求道，为了众生的缘故，发愿要成佛，用甘露妙药，施予众生。现在我的愿望已经实现，就像有人调和了神奇的药物，想要救治各种疾病；如果遇到病人，却违背了当初的誓愿而不给予，那就不是良医了。如果在江边，看见有人被水漂流，不去救助，就不是贤士应该做的。如果在旷野中，看见迷路的人，不指示正确的道路，那就不是仁义。我以大慈悲心，普遍怜悯众生，所以游历各个国家、城镇、乡村，救济众生的苦难，布施甘露妙药，没有依靠'
English
English version: Then a deity manifested and said to King Ajatasattu: 'How can you, Great King, be so carefree? Before long, you will be separated from the Buddha (Buddha), like an infant losing its parents, like traveling a desolate road and losing water, like losing clothes in bitter cold. Now that the Buddha is about to depart, the country will lose its support, and the situation is like this.' Upon hearing the deity's words, the king immediately felt sorrow and great distress. He pondered silently: 'Sentient beings are stubborn and foolish, their minds dull. Now that they are separated from the World Honored One (Lokajyestha), where will they find the whetstone of wisdom to sharpen their dull minds? Who will relieve them of their worldly transgressions, their heavy karmic debts from past lives? Who will teach and eliminate the heavy sins of all sentient beings, making them lighter? We have long been confined in the prison of birth and death, locked behind heavy gates. Who will use the key of the true Dharma to open the heavily guarded prison of birth and death? We are universally defiled by the dust of labor, scorched by the heat of the summer sun. Where will we find the Buddha's cool teachings, like the moon's bright pearl, to dispel the heat?' The king immediately ordered his carriage to be prepared and went to where the Buddha was. He bowed at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, and then sat down in his usual seat. At that time, the Buddha spoke the true Dharma to the king, which was good in the beginning, middle, and end, purifying body, speech, and mind, pure and subtle. The king was delighted and, with his palms together, said to the Buddha: 'Recently, the envoys from Vaisali (Vaisali) came to invite the World Honored One. Hearing that you have already agreed to go, I am very saddened and have no way to keep you here. I only hope that you will have compassion and accept my humble request to stay in my palace for three months.' The Buddha said to the king: 'Sentient beings are truly pitiable. If I only stay for three months, when will I be able to relieve all those who suffer? For countless eons, I have cultivated the path with hardship, for the sake of sentient beings, vowing to become a Buddha, to bestow the nectar-like medicine upon sentient beings. Now that my vow has been fulfilled, it is like someone who has prepared a miraculous medicine, wanting to cure all kinds of diseases; if he encounters a sick person but goes against his original vow and does not give it to them, then he is not a good doctor. If one is by the river and sees someone being swept away by the water, and does not go to rescue them, it is not what a virtuous person should do. If one is in the wilderness and sees someone who has lost their way, and does not show them the right path, then it is not benevolent. I, with great compassion, universally pity sentient beings, so I travel to various countries, towns, and villages, to relieve the suffering of sentient beings, bestowing the nectar-like medicine, without reliance.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 者恃，无归者归。”
Chinese
王重白佛：“唯垂慈恩，许受二月。”佛故不许。王重殷勤，长跪叉手，垂泣白言：“命难可保，犹露然灯，遇无常风，奄忽便灭。今与佛别，何时当复更睹尊颜，幸受二月？”佛重不许。王便投身于佛足下：“唯愿世尊特加大慈，与弟子众，许住一月。”世尊不忍，即便许受。 王便还起，心悦怀敬，绕佛三匝，礼辞还宫。敕厨馔具百味之饭，极令精好，鲜甘香洁，宫里张施，缯彩幡盖，杂宝床机，綩綖坐具。扫除缮治，香汁洒地，众事办毕。明日时至，王于正路，遥向世尊，烧香长跪：“佛天中天！圣达知时，愿与圣众回降神光，到宫蔬食。” 于时，世尊敕诸弟子，法服执器，行诣王请。佛与圣众俱到王宫，王即尽虔，花香伎乐，宫门迎佛，入各就坐。王自行水，周遍圣众，手自斟酌，百味饭食，鲜洁香甘，一切平等。日日供养饭食、卧具、疾药所须。令敕外宫，治填道路，种植街树；七行街路乃至江水，顿息帐幔及床座具，严饰幡盖，犹如天街；更新造作五百七宝盖。 维耶离国，闻佛当至，亦复平治七行阶路，种植行树，帐幔床座。国王、大臣、长者、居士各从大众，出国迎佛。一月期满，佛与圣众出宫临路，王从大众，以花散佛，周遍覆地。大众来集，犹 现代汉语译本：'是无依无靠者的依靠，是无处可归者的归宿。' 国王再次恳求佛陀：'恳请您垂怜慈悲，允许我供养您两个月。' 佛陀仍然没有答应。国王更加殷切，长跪合掌，流着眼泪说道：'生命难以保全，就像露珠下的灯，遇到无常的风，转眼间就会熄灭。如今要与佛陀告别，何时才能再次见到您的尊容，希望您能接受我供养两个月？' 佛陀仍然没有答应。国王便投身于佛陀的脚下：'唯愿世尊特别施以大慈悲，允许弟子和大众，供养您一个月。' 世尊不忍心拒绝，便答应了。 国王便起身，心中充满喜悦和敬意，绕佛三圈，行礼告辞返回王宫。他命令厨房准备各种美味佳肴，务必做到精致美好，新鲜甘甜，香气洁净。在宫里张挂布置，用丝绸彩带和幡盖装饰，摆放各种珍宝床榻和坐具。打扫修缮，用香水洒地，一切准备完毕。第二天时间到了，国王在正路上，遥向世尊，烧香长跪：'佛陀，天中之天！圣者通达时机，愿您与圣众降临神光，到我的宫中享用素食。' 这时，世尊命令各位弟子，穿戴法衣，手持食器，前往接受国王的邀请。佛陀与圣众一同来到王宫，国王竭尽虔诚，用鲜花香和伎乐，在宫门迎接佛陀，请入就座。国王亲自供水，周遍圣众，亲手斟酌，准备各种美味饭食，新鲜洁净，香甜可口，一切平等对待。每天供养饭食、卧具、医药等所需之物。他还命令外宫，修整道路，种植街道树木；七条街道乃至江边，都停止使用帐幔和床座，用幡盖装饰，如同天街一般；重新制作五百个七宝华盖。 维耶离国（Vaisali，古印度城市）的人们，听说佛陀将要到来，也平整修治了七条街道，种植行道树，设置帐幔床座。国王、大臣、长者、居士各自率领大众，出城迎接佛陀。一个月期限已满，佛陀与圣众走出王宫来到路边，国王率领大众，用鲜花散在佛陀身上，鲜花覆盖地面。大众聚集而来，犹如…