English
English version: Having seen the light, they went to the place where the Buddha was. Having arrived, they bowed their heads to his feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, and with focused and upright mindfulness, sat down to one side. At that time, there were also bhiksus (male monastics), bhiksunis (female monastics), upasakas (lay male followers), and upasikas (lay female followers) who, having seen the light, went to the place where the Buddha was. Having arrived, they bowed their heads to his feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, and with focused and upright mindfulness, sat down to one side. At that time, there were also dragons (nagas, serpent deities in Indian mythology), yakshas (a type of guardian spirit), gandharvas (celestial musicians), asuras (a type of warring deity), garudas (a giant bird), kinnaras (a half-human, half-bird deity), mahoragas (a giant serpent deity), humans and non-humans from the three thousand great thousand worlds who, having seen the Buddha's light, went to the place where the Buddha was. Having arrived, they bowed their heads to his feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, and with focused and upright mindfulness, sat down to one side. At that time, the Venerable Sariputra (Sariputra, one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, known for his wisdom) rose from his seat, arranged his robe on one side, knelt on his right knee, and, with palms joined, reported to the Buddha, saying: 'World Honored One! These many bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas, and upasikas have all come. World Honored One! These many devas (gods), dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans, the Four Great King Heavens (the heavens where the Four Heavenly Kings reside), the Thirty-Three Heavens (Trayastrimsa, the heaven where Indra resides), the Yama Heaven (Yama, the lord of time), the Tusita Heaven (Tusita, the heaven where Maitreya Bodhisattva resides), the Nirmanarati Heaven (Nirmanarati, the heaven of delight in transformation), the Paranirmita-vasavartin Heaven (Paranirmita-vasavartin, the heaven of control over others' creations), and the Brahma-kaya-devas (Brahma-kaya-deva, the heavens of the first dhyana in the realm of form), and even countless thousands of sons of the heavens with pure bodies in the pure abodes, have all come, having seen the Buddha's light. World Honored One! Why do you emit light from between your eyebrows? We hope that you will explain it to us.' At that time, the Venerable Sariputra then asked the Tathagata (Tathagata, one of the Buddha's titles) in verse, saying: 'Many thousands of beings, and also billions of nayutas (nayuta, a unit of quantity, representing a very large number); because they saw the Buddha's light, they have all come to see the World Honored One! World Honored One, for what reason? And for what cause and condition? These many billions of beings are now gathered here. World Honored One knows the meaning of it, for what reason have they come here? May the Guide (a respectful term for the Buddha) have compassion and tell me the reason for it.' Having asked in this way, the Buddha said to the Venerable Sariputra: 'Sariputra! This newly ordained bhiksu who received the precepts this morning asked: 'If there is a bhiksu who practices the Mahayana path, wholeheartedly aspiring to seek all-knowing wisdom (sarvajna-jnana, unobstructed wisdom regarding all things), he' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
人云何食众僧食能消他施？’舍利弗！我今欲答彼比丘问。为是义故，如是无量亿千众生和集来此。” 尔时慧命舍利弗言：“唯愿世尊！惟愿善逝！今答此问。” 佛言：“舍利弗！若说此义，有人迷没。何以故？舍利弗！一切大龙不可思议；有大神通大师子吼不可思议；师子之吼不可思议；大众生法不可思议。此非一切愚痴凡夫、声闻、缘觉所能信解，故汝三问，我皆默然不答此义。” 慧命舍利弗白佛：“世尊！今此会中有比丘、比丘尼、优婆塞、优婆夷，天、龙、夜叉、乾闼婆、阿修罗、迦楼罗、紧那罗、摩睺罗伽、人非人等，能信此义，唯愿世尊！利益彼人答我所问。” 佛言：“舍利弗！若说此义，众生迷没。” 尔时慧命舍利弗复以偈颂请如来曰： “善哉愿今说， 菩萨何功德？ 若行菩提心， 闻已勤精进。” 如是请已。佛告慧命舍利弗言：“舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨天人世间无上福田，舍利弗！非菩萨摩诃萨不消布施。何以故？舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨毕竟消施。舍利弗！若菩萨摩诃萨日日常食一切众生所施饮食抟如须弥，披其袈裟广长之量如阎浮提，劫劫常尔，菩萨摩诃萨恒常如是，毕竟消施。 “舍利弗！若菩萨摩诃萨，三千大千世界众生， 现代汉语译本：有人问：‘人吃什么食物，众僧吃的食物能够消化他人的布施？’舍利弗（Śāriputra，佛陀十大弟子之一，以智慧著称）！我现在要回答那位比丘（bhikṣu，佛教出家男众）的问题。为了这个缘故，像这样无量亿千的众生聚集到这里。 这时，慧命舍利弗说：‘唯愿世尊（Bhagavan，佛陀的尊称）！唯愿善逝（Sugata，如来的称号之一）！现在回答这个问题。’ 佛说：‘舍利弗！如果说这个道理，有人会迷惑沉没。为什么呢？舍利弗！一切大龙（nāga，印度神话中的蛇神）不可思议；有大神通的大师子吼不可思议；师子的吼声不可思议；大众生法不可思议。这不是一切愚痴凡夫、声闻（Śrāvaka，听闻佛法而修行的弟子）、缘觉（Pratyekabuddha，独自悟道的修行者）所能相信理解的，所以你三次提问，我都沉默不回答这个道理。’ 慧命舍利弗对佛说：‘世尊！现在这个集会中有比丘、比丘尼（bhikṣuṇī，佛教出家女众）、优婆塞（upāsaka，在家男居士）、优婆夷（upāsikā，在家女居士），天（deva，天神）、龙、夜叉（yakṣa，一种鬼神）、乾闼婆（gandharva，一种天神，善于音乐）、阿修罗（asura，一种好战的神）、迦楼罗（garuḍa，一种大鹏金翅鸟）、紧那罗（kiṃnara，一种半人半鸟的神）、摩睺罗伽（mahoraga，一种大蟒神）、人非人等，能相信这个道理，唯愿世尊！为了利益他们，回答我所问的问题。’ 佛说：‘舍利弗！如果说这个道理，众生会迷惑沉没。’ 这时，慧命舍利弗又用偈颂请求如来说： ‘善哉！愿您现在说，菩萨（bodhisattva，立志成佛的修行者）有什么功德？如果修行菩提心（bodhicitta，追求觉悟的心），听了之后会勤奋精进。’ 这样请求之后，佛告诉慧命舍利弗说：‘舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨（bodhisattva-mahāsattva，大菩萨）是天人世间无上的福田。舍利弗！不是菩萨摩诃萨不能消化布施。为什么呢？舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨毕竟能消化布施。舍利弗！如果菩萨摩诃萨每天都吃一切众生所布施的饮食，堆积如须弥山（Sumeru，佛教宇宙观中的圣山），披的袈裟（kāṣāya，佛教僧侣所穿的法衣）广长如阎浮提（Jambudvīpa，四大部洲之一，我们所居住的世界），劫劫常常如此，菩萨摩诃萨恒常这样，毕竟能消化布施。 ‘舍利弗！如果菩萨摩诃萨，三千大千世界（trisahasra-mahāsahasra-lokadhātu，佛教宇宙观中的一个大世界）的众生，
English
English version: 'What food does a person eat, and can the food eaten by the Sangha (saṃgha, Buddhist monastic community) digest the offerings of others?' Śāriputra (one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom)! I now intend to answer that bhikṣu's (Buddhist monk) question. For this reason, countless billions of beings have gathered here. At that time, the wise Śāriputra said, 'May the World-Honored One (Bhagavan, an epithet of the Buddha)! May the Well-Gone One (Sugata, one of the titles of the Tathagata)! Now answer this question.' The Buddha said, 'Śāriputra! If this meaning is spoken, some will be lost in confusion. Why? Śāriputra! All great nāgas (mythical serpent beings) are inconceivable; the great lion's roar of great spiritual powers is inconceivable; the lion's roar is inconceivable; the Dharma (law, teaching) of great beings is inconceivable. This is not something that all foolish ordinary people, Śrāvakas (disciples who learn by hearing the teachings), or Pratyekabuddhas (those who attain enlightenment on their own) can believe and understand. Therefore, I remained silent and did not answer this meaning to your three questions.' The wise Śāriputra said to the Buddha, 'World-Honored One! In this assembly now, there are bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs (Buddhist nuns), upāsakas (male lay devotees), upāsikās (female lay devotees), devas (gods), nāgas, yakṣas (a type of spirit), gandharvas (celestial musicians), asuras (demigods), garuḍas (mythical bird-like beings), kiṃnaras (mythical half-human, half-bird beings), mahoragas (great serpent deities), humans and non-humans, who can believe this meaning. May the World-Honored One! Answer my question for the benefit of those people.' The Buddha said, 'Śāriputra! If this meaning is spoken, beings will be lost in confusion.' At that time, the wise Śāriputra again requested the Tathagata (another title of the Buddha) with a verse: 'Excellent! May you speak now, what merits do Bodhisattvas (beings striving for enlightenment) have? If they practice the Bodhi-mind (the mind of enlightenment), they will diligently strive upon hearing it.' After this request, the Buddha said to the wise Śāriputra, 'Śāriputra! Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas (great Bodhisattvas) are the supreme fields of merit for gods and humans in the world. Śāriputra! It is not that Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas cannot digest offerings. Why? Śāriputra! Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas ultimately digest offerings. Śāriputra! If Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas daily eat the food offered by all beings, piling it up like Mount Sumeru (the central mountain in Buddhist cosmology), and wear a kāṣāya (Buddhist robe) as wide and long as Jambudvīpa (the continent where humans reside), constantly doing so kalpa (an immense period of time) after kalpa, Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas are always like this, ultimately digesting offerings. 'Śāriputra! If Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas, the beings of the trisahasra-mahāsahasra-lokadhātu (a great chiliocosm, a vast world system in Buddhist cosmology), --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
一一众生于日日中施其床座，广长之量如四天下，高如须弥七宝间错。何等七宝？所谓：金、银及毗琉璃、私颇胝迦、赤色真珠、车𤦲、马瑙，以用庄严师子之座，天衣覆上。舍利弗！若菩萨摩诃萨一一众生于日日中如是布施，菩萨受取随意受用，若坐卧等。舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨常如是受、常如是用，毕竟消施。何以故？舍利弗！乃至初发菩提之心，菩萨摩诃萨即发心日已，是一切声闻、缘觉、众生福田。 “舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨，一一众生于日日中以如是色七处宫殿，其量广长如四天下，谓：阎浮提、西瞿耶尼、东弗婆提、北郁单越，广长如是，一一别处垂七宝帘；彼一一处，七宝网缦高幢幡盖，种种天宝以为庄严，彼殿高大乃至他化自在天处；彼一一处种种宝树处处遍有；彼一切树随意所须一切皆得，一一树中皆出乐音；彼诸树中有树能出种种诸香，有树能出种种妙华，有树能出种种诸果；彼殿彼处多有池水，八分相应满彼池中，底布金沙；彼池多有七宝莲花充满其中；彼一切池用毗琉璃以为阶道，普池周匝七宝栏楯；彼池岸边多有无量师子座处，亿那由他百千敷具以敷其上，以天妙花遍散地处。舍利弗！若菩萨摩诃萨，如是色殿、如是色座、如是色处，若坐、若卧、若行、若住，若语、若默，皆悉随意。 现代汉语译本 每个众生每天都布施床座，其广度和长度如同四大部洲（阎浮提、西瞿耶尼、东弗婆提、北郁单越），高度如同须弥山，用七宝交错装饰。什么是七宝呢？就是：金、银以及毗琉璃（一种宝石）、私颇胝迦（水晶）、赤色真珠（红色珍珠）、车𤦲（砗磲）、马瑙（玛瑙），用这些来庄严狮子座，上面覆盖着天衣。舍利弗（释迦牟尼佛的弟子）！如果菩萨摩诃萨（伟大的菩萨）每天都为每个众生这样布施，菩萨接受并随意使用，无论是坐还是卧等等。舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨总是这样接受、总是这样使用，最终都能消化这些布施。为什么呢？舍利弗！乃至最初发起菩提之心（觉悟之心）时，菩萨摩诃萨从发起心的那一天起，就是一切声闻（听闻佛法而悟道者）、缘觉（通过观察因缘而悟道者）、众生的福田。 ‘舍利弗！菩萨摩诃萨，每个众生每天都以这样的七宝宫殿，其广度和长度如同四大部洲，即：阎浮提（南赡部洲）、西瞿耶尼（西牛贺洲）、东弗婆提（东胜身洲）、北郁单越（北俱卢洲），广度和长度就是这样，每个地方都垂挂着七宝帘子；每个地方，都有七宝网缦、高幢幡盖，用各种天宝来装饰，那些宫殿高大到他化自在天（欲界第六天）的处所；每个地方都有各种宝树遍布；那些所有的树都能随意提供所需的一切，每棵树中都发出美妙的音乐；那些树中有能发出各种香气的，有能发出各种美妙花朵的，有能发出各种果实的；那些宫殿和地方有很多池水，池中充满着八功德水，池底铺着金沙；那些池中充满着七宝莲花；所有的池子都用毗琉璃作为台阶，池子周围都有七宝栏杆；池塘岸边有很多无量的狮子座，用亿那由他（极大的数字单位）百千种敷具铺在上面，用天上的美妙花朵遍洒在地上。舍利弗！如果菩萨摩诃萨，在这样的宫殿、这样的座位、这样的地方，无论是坐、是卧、是行、是住、是语、是默，都可以随意。’