English
English version 'How can I escape from this preta (hungry ghost) body?' The Buddha said, 'Because of one bowl of water, in the future when Maitreya Buddha (the future Buddha) appears in the world, people will live to be eighty-four thousand years old. At that time, all the pretas will be reborn as humans, and all will attain the state of Arhat (one who has attained Nirvana); those who hear of the merit of this offering will all attain true enlightenment.' All the pretas circled the Buddha three times, paid their respects, and departed. The kings, ministers, elders, laypeople, and countless citizens of the country of Vaisali (an ancient city in India), prostrated themselves, throwing their bodies at the Buddha's feet, taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), using fragrant flowers, music, silken canopies, and banners to welcome the World Honored One (Buddha), covering the ground with flowers, offering along the road, day after day, until the capital city. The Buddha, with the holy assembly, devas (gods), nagas (dragons), and spirits, arrived at the city gate. With his golden arm adorned with auspicious marks, he touched the threshold of the city gate, and with the pure eightfold voice of Brahma, he spoke this verse: 'All beings of every kind, Who dwell within this earthly realm, Walking and dwelling on the earth, And in the empty sky, Loving all living beings, Let each find peaceful rest, Day and night, diligently and attentively, Practicing all good dharmas.' After speaking this verse, the earth shook six times. The Buddha then entered the city. The spirits in the sky ascended and dispersed; the earth-bound spirits rushed out of the city gate, but the gate could not accommodate them all, so they rushed and broke through the city walls. At that time, all the impurities in the city, the filth and stench of toilets, sank into the ground, the high places became level, and the ditches were filled. The blind could see, the deaf could hear, the mute could speak, the lame could walk, the insane became sane, and the sick were healed. Elephants, horses, and cattle cried out in harmony, and the konghou (a Chinese harp) and other musical instruments played themselves without being struck, with harmonious melodies. The pearl rings of women collided, producing wonderful sounds, and vessels and jars naturally made sounds, soft and harmonious, the sound of wonderful Dharma. Hidden treasures in the earth naturally emerged. All beings were like those who, suffering from heat and thirst, obtained cool water, drinking, bathing, and resting peacefully; the diseases of the entire city were healed and relieved, just like that. The Buddha and the assembly then returned out of the city, extending great compassion, desiring to --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
众生施大拥护，绕城周匝，门门咒愿，敷演妙法，除凶致祥，普国疾患，灾疫悉除，国界尽安。 于是，才明前礼佛足，长跪叉手，白世尊言：“前许垂愍，唯愿明日与诸大众，愍众生故，回光顾临至舍蔬食。”佛默听许。欢喜踊跃，右绕三匝，礼佛而退。归家供办百味饭食，清净香洁，色鲜味甘，严饰家里悬缯幡盖，床坐綩綖，香汁洒地，散花烧香。供设备办，遥于门中，长跪烧香，遥白佛言：“幸时降神。” 尔时，世尊敕诸弟子，着衣持钵，行诣长者才明受请。即到其门，才明肃恭，花香伎乐，请佛入舍，佛与圣众，以次就位。于时，才明执持金瓶，躬行澡水，手自斟酌，上下平等。饭食毕讫，重行澡水，长跪叉手，前白佛言：“唯愿世尊，垂四等心，更受三日如今之请。”佛默便许。于是，才明供佛圣众，种种香洁，如其初日。四日已竟，以金色叠价直十万，次到上座，九万价叠，以次转下，末下坐者万钱价叠，以为哒嚫。 其妻即起，长跪叉手，白世尊曰：“惟天中天，慈加人物，愿留神光，受贱妾请，更住四日。”佛默然许。其妻供养，初日后日，至于四日，饭食香洁，等无差异。四日已竟，又以金色十万价叠，奉上世尊，次九万叠，最下万钱。 时才明子，起至佛前，长跪叉 现代汉语译本：众生给予极大的拥护，环绕城池，在各个城门诵咒祈福，宣讲微妙的佛法，消除凶险带来吉祥，使全国的疾病和灾疫全部消除，国家境内完全安宁。 这时，才明（Caiming，人名）上前礼拜佛的脚，长跪合掌，对世尊说：‘之前世尊您答应垂怜，只希望明天您能与各位大众，为了怜悯众生的缘故，回过头来光临寒舍享用素食。’佛默许了。才明欢喜雀跃，右绕佛三圈，礼拜佛后退下。回家准备各种美味的饭食，清净香洁，颜色鲜艳味道甘美，精心装饰家里，悬挂绸缎幡盖，铺设舒适的床座，用香水洒地，散花焚香。供品设备完毕，在门前遥遥长跪烧香，遥对佛说：‘希望佛能按时降临。’ 当时，世尊敕令各位弟子，穿好袈裟，拿着钵，前往长者才明处接受邀请。随即到达他家门前，才明恭敬地用鲜花香和音乐迎接，请佛进入家中，佛与圣众依次就座。这时，才明拿着金瓶，亲自为大家倒水洗手，亲手斟酌，对上对下都一样平等。饭食完毕后，再次为大家倒水洗手，长跪合掌，上前对佛说：‘希望世尊，垂怜四种平等之心，再接受三天像今天这样的邀请。’佛默许了。于是，才明供养佛和圣众，各种香洁的物品，如同第一天一样。四天结束后，用金色的、价值十万的叠（die，一种布）献给世尊，然后是价值九万的叠献给上座，依次往下，最后一位下座得到价值一万钱的叠，作为哒嚫（dachen，供养）。 他的妻子随即起身，长跪合掌，对世尊说：‘惟有天中之天（tianzhongzhitian，对佛的尊称），慈悲加于人和万物，希望您能留下神光，接受卑贱妾的邀请，再住四天。’佛默然应允。他的妻子供养佛，从第一天到最后一天，四天的饭食香洁，没有丝毫差异。四天结束后，又用价值十万的金色的叠，奉献给世尊，其次是九万的叠，最下等的是一万钱的叠。 这时，才明的儿子起身来到佛前，长跪合掌。
English
English version: The sentient beings offered great protection, encircling the city, chanting blessings at each gate, expounding the wonderful Dharma, eliminating misfortune and bringing auspiciousness, so that all diseases and plagues in the country were eradicated, and the national boundaries were completely peaceful. At this time, Caiming (Caiming, a personal name) stepped forward, prostrated at the Buddha's feet, knelt with palms together, and said to the World Honored One: 'Previously, you, World Honored One, promised to have compassion, and only hope that tomorrow you can, with all the great assembly, turn your light and grace to visit my humble abode for a vegetarian meal, for the sake of compassion for sentient beings.' The Buddha silently agreed. Caiming rejoiced and leaped, circumambulated the Buddha three times to the right, bowed to the Buddha, and retreated. He returned home to prepare all kinds of delicious meals, pure and fragrant, with bright colors and sweet tastes, carefully decorating the house, hanging silk banners and canopies, laying comfortable beds, sprinkling the ground with fragrant water, scattering flowers and burning incense. With the offerings prepared, he knelt and burned incense remotely at the door, saying remotely to the Buddha: 'I hope the Buddha will descend on time.' At that time, the World Honored One ordered his disciples to put on their robes, carry their bowls, and go to the elder Caiming to accept the invitation. They immediately arrived at his door, where Caiming respectfully greeted them with flowers, incense, and music, inviting the Buddha into the house. The Buddha and the holy assembly took their seats in order. At this time, Caiming held a golden vase and personally poured water for everyone to wash their hands, personally pouring and measuring, equally for those above and below. After the meal was finished, he poured water again for everyone to wash their hands, knelt with palms together, and stepped forward to say to the Buddha: 'I hope the World Honored One will have the four equal minds and accept three more days of invitations like today.' The Buddha silently agreed. Thereupon, Caiming offered the Buddha and the holy assembly all kinds of fragrant and pure items, just like the first day. After the four days were over, he offered a golden die (die, a kind of cloth) worth 100,000 to the World Honored One, then a die worth 90,000 to the senior seat, and so on down the line, with the last seat receiving a die worth 10,000 coins as a dachen (dachen, offering). His wife then rose, knelt with palms together, and said to the World Honored One: 'Only the Tianzhongzhitian (Tianzhongzhitian, a respectful title for the Buddha), has compassion for people and all things. I hope you will leave your divine light and accept the invitation of this humble concubine to stay for four more days.' The Buddha silently agreed. His wife made offerings to the Buddha, from the first day to the last day, the meals for the four days were fragrant and pure, without any difference. After the four days were over, she again offered a golden die worth 100,000 to the World Honored One, then a die worth 90,000, and the lowest a die worth 10,000 coins. At this time, Caiming's son rose and came before the Buddha, kneeling with palms together. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
手，白世尊言：“惟天中天，已受父母各四日食，幸垂慈哀怜愍，受我四日之请。”佛亦默许。其子恭勤，四日供养，饭食甘美，亦如父母。即以金色十万价叠，奉献世尊，次坐九万，末下万钱。 子妇又起长跪，白佛：“世尊弘慈，已受公姑及夫供养，幸如前比，复受四日。”佛又默受。所设肴膳，如前无异，亦至四日，亦以金色十万价叠，次坐九万，下坐万钱，以为哒嚫。 居家大小，于佛前坐，奉受训诲，佛为颁宣，敷演四谛苦集尽道，八贤圣路，断除劳意二十二结，证谛沟港。 维耶离国诸王、大臣、长者、居士、合国人民，皆生心念：“佛来至国，为独以一才明故乎？”意皆怀嫌，象马车步皆共来集，向才明家，欲坏其舍得见世尊。大众震动，响响有声，佛悉预睹，故问阿难：“外有何声？” 阿难白佛：“维耶离王、大臣、长者、国人巨细，皆怀怨心。世尊入国，才明请归，独固在家，至十六日，余不得见。以此为嫌，故集会来，欲见世尊。” 佛告阿难：“出慰诸人，莫赍恨意，欲见佛者，便听使入。”阿难宣命，谓诸大众：“以启听入。” 国王、大臣及一切人，闻佛教告，怒心霍除，无余微恨，如雨淹尘，便入见佛，五体投地，稽首佛足。大众浩浩，其舍不 现代汉语译本：才明（Cai Ming，人名）再次跪拜，对佛陀说：‘尊敬的世尊，您已经接受了我的父母各四天的供养，恳请您慈悲怜悯，接受我四天的供养。’佛陀默许了。他的儿子恭敬勤劳，四天供养的饭食甘美，如同供养父母一样。然后用价值十万金的坐具，奉献给世尊，其次的坐具价值九万金，最后的是一万金。 儿媳也起身长跪，对佛陀说：‘世尊弘扬慈悲，已经接受了公婆和丈夫的供养，希望您像之前一样，再次接受我四天的供养。’佛陀再次默许。所准备的菜肴，和之前一样没有不同，也是四天，也用价值十万金的坐具，其次的坐具价值九万金，最后的是一万金，作为供养。 一家老小，在佛陀面前坐下，接受训诲，佛陀为他们宣讲，详细阐述四谛（苦、集、灭、道），八贤圣道（正见、正思惟、正语、正业、正命、正精进、正念、正定），断除烦恼的二十二种结缚，证得真谛。 维耶离国（Viyali，古印度城市）的诸位国王、大臣、长者、居士、全国人民，都生起这样的念头：‘佛陀来到我国，难道只是因为才明一个人的缘故吗？’心中都怀有不满，于是象、马、车、步兵都一起来到才明家，想要破坏他的房屋，见到世尊。大众震动，响声很大，佛陀全部预先知道，所以问阿难（Ananda，佛陀的十大弟子之一）：‘外面有什么声音？’ 阿难对佛陀说：‘维耶离国的国王、大臣、长者、百姓，都怀有怨恨之心。世尊进入我国，才明请佛陀到他家，独自在家，已经十六天了，其他人不得相见。因此心怀不满，所以一起来，想要见世尊。’ 佛陀告诉阿难：‘出去安慰这些人，不要让他们怀有怨恨之意，想要见佛陀的人，就让他们进来。’阿难宣扬佛陀的命令，对大众说：‘已经禀告佛陀，允许你们进入。’ 国王、大臣以及所有人，听到佛陀的教诲，怒火立刻消除，没有一丝怨恨，如同雨水淹没尘土，于是进入见到佛陀，五体投地，顶礼佛足。大众浩浩荡荡，才明的房屋容纳不下。