The Story of Thera Mahakala
While residing in the neighborhood of the town of Setabya, the Buddha uttered Verses (7) and (8) of this book, with reference to Mahakala and his brother Culakala. Mahakala and Culakala were two merchant brothers from the town of Setabya. While travelling about with their merchandise on one occasion, they had a chance to listen to a religious discourse given by the Buddha. After hearing the discourse Mahakala asked the Buddha for admission to the Order of the bhikkhus. Culakala also joined the Order but with the intention of coming out of the Order and to bring out his brother along with him.
Mahakala was serious in his ascetic practice at the cemetery (Sosanika dhutinga) and diligently meditated on decay and impermanence. He finally gained Insight and attained arahatship.
Later, the Buddha and his disciples, including the brothers, happened to be staying in the forest of Simsapa, near Setabya. While staying there, the former wives of Culakala invited the Buddha and his disciples to their house. Culakala himself went ahead to prepare seating arrangements for the Buddha and his disciples. Once there, the former wives of Culakala made him change into lay clothes.
The next day, the wives of Mahakala invited the Buddha and his disciples to their house hoping to do the same with Mahakala as the wives of Culakala had done to Culakala. After the meal they requested the Buddha to let Mahakala remain to "express appreciation" (anumodana). So the Buddha and the other disciples left.
Arriving at the village gate the bhikkhus expressed their dissatisfaction and apprehension. They were dissatisfied because Mahakala was permitted to stay behind and they were afraid that, like Culakala, his brother, Mahakala, too, would be made to leave the Order by his former wives. To this, the Buddha replied that the two brothers were not alike. Culakala indulged in sensual pleasures and was lazy and weak; he was just like a weak tree. Mahakala, on the other hand, was diligent, steadfast and strong in his faith of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Samgha; he was like a mountain of rock.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Kết Một Tràng Hoa
Thiền Sư Thích Nhất Hạnh |
Tích Truyện Pháp Cú Thiền viện Viên Chiếu |
Tâm Minh Ngô Tằng Giao Chuyển Dịch Thơ |
Translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita |
| Kẻ nào không thấy được thân là bất tịnh, không thu nhiếp được các căn, ăn uống không chừng mực, kiêu mạn, đọa lạc, khiếp nhược, kẻ ấy sẽ bị cái tà chế ngự như gió thổi làm cho cỏ nằm rạp xuống. |
Ai sống nhìn tịnh tướng, Không bộ trì các căn, Ăn uống thiếu tiết độ, Biếng nhác chẳng tinh cần, Ma uy hiếp kẻ ấy, Như cây yếu trước gió. |
Ham theo lạc thú nổi trôi Giác quan buông thả sống đời mê say Uống ăn vô độ hàng ngày Lại thêm biếng nhác, chẳng hay chuyên cần Con người bị cuốn đến gần Ma vương dục vọng ngàn lần hại ta Như cơn gió lốc thổi qua Cây cành nghiêng ngả, lá hoa tơi bời. |
Just as a storm throws down a weak tree, so does Mara overpower the man who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in eating, indolent, and dissipated. |
| Kẻ nào quán được thân là bất tịnh, có khả năng thu nhiếp được các căn, ăn uống biết chừng mực, thường có hạnh phúc trong sự tinh tiến tu học, kẻ ấy sẽ không bị cái tà lay chuyển, như ngọn núi cao không bị gió làm cho lay động |
Ai sống quán bất tịnh, Khéo bộ trì các căn, Ăn uống có tiết độ, Có lòng tin, tinh cần, Ma không uy hiếp được, Như núi đá trước gió. |
Nhận ra ô uế thân người Giác quan kiềm chế, sống đời tịnh yên Uống ăn điều độ giữ gìn Lại thêm bền vững đức tin, chuyên cần Người đâu dễ bị cuốn gần Ma vương dục vọng ngàn lần thua ta Khác gì cơn gió thổi qua Núi cao, vách đá khó mà lung lay. |
Just as a storm cannot prevail against a rocky mountain, so Mara can never overpower the man who lives meditating on the impurities, who is controlled in his senses, moderate in eating, and filled with faith and earnest effort. |