J92 Mahāsāra Jātaka

《王冠上的宝石和王后的珍珠链》

本生经92: 大精本生
王冠上的宝石——国王头冠上的宝石丢了，怎么使盗贼归还宝石而不劳累大家呢？
王后的珍珠链——王后的珍珠项链被盗，几名无辜者供认自己是窃贼。谁才是真正的罪魁祸首？如何找回珍珠链？

绘图/ 袁美真
设计/ 王宗使
编译/ 自在居友
审稿/ 陈语

The Jewel on the King’s Crown and The Pearl Necklace of the Queen

Jātaka 92: Mahāsāra Jātaka
The Jewel on the King’s Crown – The king has lost the jewel on his crown, how to get the thief to return the jewel without wearing everyone?

The Pearl Necklace of the Queen – The queen's pearl necklace was stolen. Several innocents confessed as the thief. Who is the real culprit? How to recover the necklace?

Readability level: Intermediate II
Illustrated by Yan Mee Chen
Designed by Ong Chong Sai
Retold by Zi Zai Ju
Proofread by Hon Vai Yee


一时，在祇陀林(Jetavana)，导师佛陀开示关于长老[1]阿难尊者。
At one time in Jetavana, Buddha, the Teacher, delivered a talk regarding Ᾱnanda Thera[1].

有一天，憍萨罗国(Kosala)的波斯匿王的王妃们自我省思：
One day, the concubines of King Pasenadi, the King of Kosala, had a self-reflection among themselves.

妃子一：“佛陀的出现是难得的，能获得人身又身心俱全，亦是难得。”
“The arisen of Buddha is rare, it is also rare to obtain this human birth and with perfect senses,” said the first concubine.

妃子二：“如此难得的时机具足一起，但我们却不能随自己的喜好前往寺院去闻法、顶礼佛陀、作供养或行布施。”
“With such rare opportunities coming together, yet we are unable to go to the monastery to listen to Dhamma, to pay homage to the Buddha, to do alms-giving or make offerings as we like to,” said the second concubine.

妃子三：“我们像住在一个盒子里。”
“As if we live in a box,” said the third concubine.

妃子四：“让我们禀告国王，请他允许一位比丘过来，教导我们佛法。”
“Let us seek permission from the king, to allow a bhikkhu to come over and teach us the Dhamma,” said the fourth concubine.

妃子五：“我们从他那里学习一切我们所能学习的东西，并施行布施等善事吧！”
“Let us learn all possibly we can from him and make offerings as well as conduct other good deeds,” said the fifth concubine.

妃子六：“这样，我们不只获得时机，也将获得其果报。”
“In this way, we will not only get the opportunities, but also its rewards,” said the first concubine.

于是，她们一起去见国王并将自己的想法和理由告知国王。
Therefore, they went to meet the king and inform him their thoughts and reasons.

“善哉。” 国王答应了。
“Sādhu (very good),” the king agreed.

一天，园丁正在为国王扫除王苑的时候，他见到导师在一棵树下坐着。
One day, while the gardener was cleaning the royal garden for the king, he saw the Teacher seated under a tree.

遂去禀告国王：“陛下，王苑已准备好了，但世尊正坐在苑中树下。”
Then he went to the king and said, “Your majesty, the royal garden is ready, but the Blessed One is sitting under a tree in the garden.”

“很好，朋友，” 国王说道： “那我们到导师那里去听闻佛法！” 于是，就乘了马车去王苑。
“Sādhu, my friend,” said the king, “then, let us go to the Teacher to listen to the Dhamma.” So, he went to the royal garden in his chariot.

当时，有一个已证得三果(anāgāmi)的优婆塞(upāsaka，在家信徒)，名叫“撑伞”(Chattapāṇi)，他正坐在导师旁边听法。
At that time, there was an upāsaka (lay disciple) named Chattapāṇi, who had attained the Third Path (anāgāmi), sitting down beside the Teacher and listening to the Dhamma.

波斯匿王看见他，感到怀疑，他站了片刻既而想到：“这一定不是恶人，否则他不会坐在导师身旁听法。” 于是便走近导师身边，顶礼后，坐在一旁。
Seeing him, King Pasenadi felt suspicion and stood for a moment. Subsequently, he thought, 
“He must not be a bad person, else he would not be sitting by the Teacher to listen to the Dhamma.” 
Therefore, he approached the Teacher to pay homage and sit aside.

当撑伞看到他时，他想到：“我要起立迎接他吗？然后他得出结论：
When Chattapāṇi saw him coming, he reflected, “Shall I rise to greet him?” He came to the following conclusion,

“我坐在万王之王的面前，所以见到一个省的国王时，我没有必要起立。即使他生气，我也不会起立。因为如果我起来迎见国王，那是恭敬国王而不是导师。所以我不会站起来。” 因此，撑伞并没有起立。[2]
“Since I am seated in the presence of the King of kings, I do not need to rise upon seeing the king of a province. I will not rise even if he gets angry. For if I rise on seeing the king, that’s a respect to the king but not to the Teacher. Therefore, I will not rise.” Thus, Chattapāṇi did not rise.[2]

然而，波斯匿王看到撑伞没有起立，他感觉被冒犯了。
However, when King Pasenadi saw Chattapāṇi did not rise, he felt offended.

导师知道国王的不悦，便称赞撑伞的德行，说道：“大王，这位优婆塞博学多闻、通达教理，已舍离所有的欲望。”
Noticing the king’s displeasure, the Teacher praised the virtues of Chattapāṇi, “Great king, this upāsaka is very-learned, expert in the teaching and had given up all pleasure desires.”

“好的。” 国王心想： “导师既然如此称赏他的德行，他当非下贱之辈。”
“Surely.” The king thought, “Since the Teacher praises his virtues, he must not be a despicable person.”

于是国王对他说道：“优婆塞，如果你有任何需要，请告诉我。”
So, the king said to him, “Upāsaka, do let me know if you are in need of anything.”

撑伞接受并回道：“善哉。”
“Sādhu,” Chattapāṇi accepted.

国王听完导师的教导，作右绕之礼而去。
After the king listened to the Teacher’s teaching, he went a round with his right side turned to the Teacher[3], and left.

一天，国王看见撑伞路过宫殿，便召见他。 撑伞放下凉鞋和雨伞，向国王礼敬，并恭敬地站在一旁。国王对撑伞道：
One day, the king saw Chattapāṇi walking by the palace and thus, summoned him. Chattapāṇi laid aside his sandals and umbrella, then paid respect to the king and stood respectfully aside. The king asked Chattapāṇi,

“优婆塞，你为什么把伞和凉鞋放在一边？”
“Upāsaka, why did you lay aside your umbrella and sandals?”

“当我听到 ‘国王召见你’这句话时，我马上把伞和凉鞋放在一边，然后才到您的面前。”
“Once I heard the sentence, ‘The king summons you,’ I laid aside my umbrella and sandals before I came to you.”

“显然，你今天才知道我是国王。”
“Obviously, you only learned today that I am the king.”

“我一直都知道您是国王。”
“I always knew that you were the king.”

“如果那是真的，那为什么那天在导师面前见到我时，却没有起立？”
“If that is true, then why didn’t you rise when you saw me the other day when you were seated in front of the Teacher?”

“陛下，如果我坐在万王之王的面前，而在看见一个省的国王而站起来，这表示对导师的不恭敬。因此我没有起立。” [4]
“Your majesty, if I seated in front of the King of kings and rose upon seeing a king of a province, it would be disrespectful for the Teacher. Therefore, I did not rise.” [4]

“很好，让过去成为过去吧。有人说你很博学，我的女人们想听闻佛法，如果你愿意教她们，这将是很好的宗教义务之善行。”
“Very well, let the pass be the pass. I was told that you are very knowledgeable. My ladies are keen to hear the Dhamma. If you are willing to teach them, it will be a good act of religious duty.”

“陛下，一个在家居士在国王的内宫中履行比丘的责任是不合适的。如果是导师、尊者们那会是合适的。”
“Your majesty, it is not suitable for a layman to perform the duty of bhikkhus in the king's inner palace. It is appropriate to be done by the venerable teachers.”

国王意识到：“这人说得有道理。”
“What this man said is reasonable,” the king realised.

国王唤来了女人们，问道：“贤妻们，我到导师那里去请一位比丘来，为大家说法、诵经。在八十个大弟子中，邀请谁来呢？”
The king called upon his concubines to ask, “Dear wives, I will go to the Teacher to invite a bhikkhu to preach and recite the Dhamma. Which one of the eighty chief disciples shall I invite?”

经过讨论之后，她们说：“请法之宝库的阿难长老。”
Upon discussion, the concubines said, “Please invite Ānanda Thera, the Treasurer of the Dhamma.”

国王来到导师那里，顶礼后，坐在一旁，说道：
The king went to the Teacher, paid homage, sat aside and said,

“尊者，宫中的女人们，希望从阿难长老那里听闻、学习佛法，如果长老到我宫中去教法，那无疑是一项很好的宗教义务。”
“Bhante, the ladies in palace wish to learn the Dhamma preached by Ānanda Thera, if Thera comes to teach in my palace, it is undoubtedly a very good religious duty.”

“善哉。”
“Sādhu.”

导师答应， 随即下令阿难长老。
The Teacher accepted and gave the order to Ānanda Thera.

阿难长老定期给国王的女人们教法。
Ānanda Thera began teaching the king’s concubines regularly.

平时，她们总是很欢喜地听闻佛法开示。但是这一天，尊者入王宫，发现大家都很忧虑。
Usually, they are always happy to hear Dhamma teachings. However, on this day, the Thera found everyone was worried when he entered the palace.

“诸位！今天妳们这是怎么了？” 长老问。
“Everyone, what caused you like this today?” asked the Thera.

其中一位说道：“尊者，国王王冠上的宝石[5]遗失了。他命令大臣们一一搜查宫中所有的人以寻找宝石。大臣们先开始审问宫里的女人们，这使许多人感到疲惫。我们不知道会遭遇什么，所以感到忧心忡忡。”
One of them said, “Bhante, the jewel on the king’s crown[5] is lost. He ordered the ministers to interrogate everyone in the palace to find the jewel. They started with questioning the ladies and thus, wearing many others. We do not know what will happen to us and therefore, we are unhappy.”

“别想太多了。” 长老安慰她们，随即去见国王。
“Don't think too much.” The Thera comforted them and went to meet the king.

阿难长老告诉国王一个办法可以找回宝石，并且不劳累大家。
Ᾱnanda Thera told the king that there is a way to find the jewel without wearing everyone.

“尊者，是什么呢？”
“Bhante, what is it?”

“大王，用‘分一团’ (piṇḍadāna)的办法。”
“Great king, use a lump-giving (piṇḍadāna) approach.”

“尊者，什么 是‘分一团’呢？”
“What is a lump-giving, Bhante?”

“大王，召集所有的嫌疑者，私下给每人一把草或一团泥土，命令他们： ‘明天清早之前把它拿来，放在指定的地方’。盗宝者会把宝石放在里面。如果第一天就交出来，那就行了。若不行，第二天和第三天仍旧照着这样做。”
“Great king, gather all the suspects, give each a bundle of straw (grass) or a lump of clay privately and demand them to place it at a designated location before the next sunrise. The thief will leave the jewel in it. If it is brought back on the first day, that would be good. Else, repeat the same on the second and third days.”

长老说毕就离去了。
Ᾱnanda Thera left after saying that.

第三天后，长老来了问道：
After the third day, Thera came and asked,

“大王，宝石回来了吗？”
“Great king, has the jewel been returned?”

国王说道：“还没有，尊者。”
“Not yet, Bhante,” said the king.

“那么，大王，请在你大庭的角落摆放一个大缸，贮满水。四周张幕遮蔽起来，命令： ‘宫中所有的人，一个一个走进幕内，洗了手然后再回来’。”
“In that case, great king, please put a large pot of water at the corner of your courtyard. Place the curtain around it and demand everyone to go behind the curtain one after another, wash their hands and return.”

说完建议，长老便离去。国王依计而行。
The Thera departed after giving his advice. The king then did as he said.

那盗贼心想：“被称为‘法库’的那个人是认真地承担起这件事情，宝石不出现，他是不会罢休的。我还是把宝石归还回去吧。”
The thief thought to himself, “That Treasurer of the Dhamma is serious upon undertaking this matter, he will not give up until the jewel is found. I’d better return the jewel.”

于是，他藏着宝石，进入幕内，丢进缸里离开了。
Therefore, he entered behind the curtain with the hidden jewel, dropped it into the pot and left.

在每个人都完成后，缸中的水被倒掉，宝石找到了。
Once everyone was done, the pot was drained, the jewel is found.

国王非常欢喜，说道：“因为有长老，我得以找回宝石。”
“I found my jewel by the help of Ᾱnanda Thera,” said the king joyfully.

宫中的人们也感激长老，让他们脱离了大苦恼。
Residents of the palace were very grateful to Thera Ᾱnanda for freeing them from great distress.

长老的威力传遍全城和比丘僧团。
The power of Thera spread throughout the city and the Sangha members.

比丘众集合法堂，赞颂长老的德行：“贤友们，阿难长老靠着自身的多闻、博学与善巧，使大家不困于疲惫，用方法找回国王的宝石。”
The bhikkhus gathered at the Dhamma hall to praise the virtues of the Thera, “Brothers, Ᾱnanda Thera relied on his well-learned, great knowledge and skilfulness to recover the king’s lost jewel and freed everyone from tiredness.”

导师来到那里，问比丘众他们谈论的主题。被告知后，他说：
The Teacher came and asked about the subject of their conversation. Upon being told, He said,

“诸比丘，不只是现在阿难取回已落入他人手中的物品。在过去，有位智者也曾使大家不受疲惫，用方法把落入动物手中的物品取回。”
“Bhikkhus, it is not only now that Ᾱnanda able to recover the goods that have fallen in the hands of others. In the past, there was also a wiseman who managed to recover the goods that had fallen into the hands of animals, without tiring everyone.”

经由比丘众的邀请，导师说了过去之事。
Upon invitation by the bhikkhus, the Teacher told the past.

___________________________

在过去，当梵授王在波罗奈城治理国家时，菩萨精通所有的学问，成为国王的大臣之一。
In the past, during the ruling of King Brahmadatta in Bārāṇasī, the Bodhisatta mastered all kinds of knowledge and became one of the king's ministers.

有一天，国王和王妃们散步后进入王苑内的浴池。
One day, the king and his concubines went into the bathing pond in the royal garden after a walk.

当王后脱下首饰和外衣，交由婢女放到盒子里看管时，一只母猴目不转睛地盯着。
As the Queen was taking off her jewelry and garment, passing it to the female slave to keep safely in a box, a female monkey was watching them intently.

它等待时机直到婢女困了睡着了，它像风一样跳下来，取走了珍珠项链，戴在颈上，又像风似的跳回到树上。
She waited for the right moment when the female slave began to feel asleep, she jumped down in lightning speed to take the pearl necklace and put it on around her neck before quickly jumping back up to the tree.

为恐别的猴子发现，它把项链藏在树洞中，装作若无其事的样子。
Fearing that other monkeys would find out, she hid the necklace in the tree hole and pretended to be innocent.

婢女醒来发现项链不见了，惊怖得发抖，不知如何是好，就大声叫喊起来：“一个男子，拿了王后的珍珠项链，逃走了。”
When the female slave awoke, she was terrified once discovered that the necklace is missing. “A man has run off with the Queen’s pearl necklace,” she yelled.

守卫们集合，报告国王。
The guards gathered and reported to the king.

“捉拿盗贼！” 国王下令。
“Catch the thief!” said the king.

守卫们离开王苑。“捉贼! 捉贼!”
The guards left the royal garden. “Catch the thief! Catch the thief!”

他们列队探查。
They marched out for the search.

正巧，一个村夫走在宫殿外。他听到叫嚷声，惊慌而逃。
A villager happened to be walking outside the palace. He fled in terror upon hearing the shouts.

守卫们大喊：“这人是贼！”守卫们追逐任何逃跑的人。
“This is the thief,” cried the guards, catching sight of any runaway.

守卫们把他抓住，殴打，并骂道：“呸，你这万恶的盗贼！你想盗取这“至尊珍贵”的首饰吗？”
The guards caught him, beaten and scolded him. “Hey, evil thief! You want to steal away this ‘Most Precious’ jewelry?”

村夫想：“如果我说：‘我没有拿’，今天恐怕要被他们打死，倒不如说是我拿了。”于是，他承认是他拿了。
He thought, “If I say, ‘I did not take it’, I am afraid I will die from their beating today. I had better say that I took it.” Therefore, he admitted.

守卫们绑了他，带他去见国王。
The guards tied him up and brought him to the king.

国王问道：“你盗走了‘至尊珍贵’吗？”
“Did you steal the ‘Most Precious’?” asked the king.

“是的，陛下。”
“Yes, your majesty.”

“现在放在哪里了？”
“Where is it placed now?”

“陛下，以前我什么贵重东西都没见过，哪怕一张床、一把椅子。事实上，是富翁叫我拿走‘至尊珍贵’首饰的。我拿到后就交给他了，他什么都知道。”
“Your majesty, I have never seen any precious thing in my life previously, not even a bed or a chair. In fact, it was the Treasurer who made me take that ‘Most Precious’. I gave it to him after I got it. He knows all about it.”

于是，国王召唤富翁来，询问道：
“是不是他拿了‘至尊珍贵’首饰后交给你的？”
“是的，陛下！。”
“那么，在哪里呢？”
“我呈给祭司官了。”
Therefore, the king summoned the Treasurer for interrogation,
“Did he take the ‘Most Precious’ jewelry and handed it to you?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Where is it then?”
“I had given it to the chaplain[6].”

于是，又召来祭司，作同样的询问。
他承认道：“我给了音乐师了。”
后者说道：“我把它给了一位妓女。”
但她说道：“我没有拿。”
太阳落下来，“时候不早了。” 国王将五人交给大臣们。
Therefore, the chaplain was summoned for the same interrogation.
“I had given it to the chief musician.” He admitted.
Who in turn said, “I had given it to a courtesan.”
But she said, “I did not take it.”
As the sun set, “It’s late,” the king handed over the five people to his ministers.

菩萨想道：
“这首饰是在苑中遗失的，而这个村夫却在苑外。
大门口有强大的守卫，因此苑内之人是决不可能取走项链逃出去的。
这个不幸者说把它交给了富翁，是为了自己得救，而富翁说他给了祭司官，是想和祭司官一同得以脱罪（因他们俩人是有影响力的高官）。
祭司供出音乐师，是因有音乐师在牢狱中可以过得快乐。
音乐师说已送给妓女，是想在监禁期间与她相伴。
这五个人都不是盗贼。另外，苑中有许多猴子，那首饰一定是被其中一只母猴拿走了。”
The Bodhisatta thought,
“The jewelry was lost in the garden, while this villager was outside the garden.
There was a strong guard at the gate and hence, it was impossible for anyone in the garden to escape with the necklace.
This unlucky man said that he gave it to the treasurer to save himself. The treasurer said that he gave it to the chaplain, in the hope that he will get off the accusation if he joined forces with the chaplain (where both of them were influential senior officials).
The chaplain pointed to the chief musician because he wanted to rely on him to live happily in prison.
The chief musician implicated the courtesan because he wanted her companion during his imprisonment.
None of these five are thieves. Furthermore, there are many monkeys in the garden, the jewelry must have been taken away by one of the female monkeys.”

得到此结论后，菩萨去见国王：“大王，请将嫌疑犯交给我吧，我会有办法审问个明白。”
With this conclusion, the Bodhisatta approached the king. “Great king, please hand over the suspects to me for interrogation.”

“好的，智者。”
“Sādhu, wiseman,” the king said.

菩萨把五人放在一间房里。他吩咐仆人好好看守他们，留心听他们讲的一切对话，并向他报告。
The Bodhisatta put the five people in a room. He ordered his servants to watch them carefully, listen carefully to everything they said and report to him.

结果他们的谈话与菩萨的推论相吻合。
Their conversations coincided with the Bodhisatta’s inference.

“我必须找个方法，使母猴把偷去的首饰投落下来。”
“I must find a way to get the female monkey to drop the stolen jewelry.”

菩萨叫人做了许多珠子项链。
The Bodhisatta then ordered to make many bead necklaces.

然后，将苑内的猴子捉来，把珠子项链系在它们的手和脖子上，再放它们回去。
Next, he had the monkeys in the garden captured and put on the bead necklaces around their necks, wrists and ankles before releasing them.

这些猴子向其它猴子炫耀它们的项链。“看，我的首饰！”
These monkeys showed off their necklaces to other monkeys. “See, my jewelry!”

那个母猴终于觉得无法忍耐了，于是也戴上偷来的项链，忍不住炫耀道：“你们这些只是珠子，我的才是真正的珍珠。”
The female monkey felt unbearable and put on the stolen necklace to show off as well. She couldn’t help but said, “These are just beads, mine are real pearls.”

它刚一戴上项链，受菩萨命令的侍卫立即冲上去惊吓它，猴子便丢下了项链。
Once she put on the necklace, the men who were ordered by the Bodhisatta to watch over them frightened her at instance and thus, she dropped the necklace.

菩萨把项链交给国王，并把经过详细诉说了。国王感到非常喜悦，称赞菩萨，说出了下面的偈诵：

“战争时，希求优秀的勇士；

商谈时，希求认真的人；

饮食时，希求亲爱的人；

深奥之理，希求智者。”

The Bodhisatta brought the necklace to the king and recounted the details of the incident. The king was pleased and praised the Bodhisatta by saying this stanza: --

“In war, an outstanding warrior is wished for.

In negotiation, a serious person is wished for.

In mealtime, a dear one is wished for.

For profound matters, a wise one is wished for.”

国王赏赐了菩萨如大雨般的七种宝石。
The king rewarded the Bodhisatta with seven kinds of gems as abundance as heavy raining.

国王一生听从菩萨的教诫，作施舍及其它善行。后来依其业报，投生于应生之处。
The king followed the Bodhisatta’s advices throughout his life, performed charity and other good deeds. Eventually he passed away and reborn according to his kamma.

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导师开示此佛法后，说出阿难长老的德行，并连接贯穿了过去世与现在世：“那时的国王是阿难，而贤明的大臣正是我。”
The Dhamma-teaching ended, the Teacher told the virtues of Ᾱnanda Thera, and showed the connection between the previous birth and the present as follows, “At that time, Ᾱnanda was the king, and I myself was his wise minister.”

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教师指南

智慧题：

A. 佛陀时代之事：

1. 国王的王妃们无法外出听闻佛法，她们如何解决这个问题？
2. 撑伞居士在佛陀面前没对国王起立，这样做正确吗？为什么？
3. 后来另一次，撑伞居士如何礼敬国王？这样做正确吗？为什么？

B.过去之事：

1. 母猴没有遵守五戒的哪一条戒？
2. (a) 这些人没有持守哪一条戒(村夫、富翁、祭司与音乐师)？
    (b) 他们这么做能解决问题吗？为什么？
3. 一个错导致另一个错，如何制止一再犯错？
4. 菩萨解决了此案，他的对应波罗蜜是什么？
5. 从法的领导学的角度，请讨论国王如何珍惜智者。

Teacher’s Guide

Wisdom Questions:

A. Story during Buddha’s Time：

 
1. The concubines of the king were not able to go out to listen to the Dhamma, how did they resolve the problem?
2. Chattapāṇi did not rise for the king in the presence of the Buddha, was his action appropriate? Why?
3. In later occasion, how did Chattapāṇi pay respect to the king? Was his action appropriate? Why?

B. Story of the Past：

1. Which one of the five precepts did the female monkey break?
2. (a) Which precept did these people break? (villager, treasurer, chaplain and chief musician)
    (b) Do you think what they did can solve the problem? Why?
3. One crime leads to another, how to stop a repeated crime?
4. Bodhisatta solved the case, what would be his corresponding pārami?
5. From Dhamma-leadership point of view, please discuss on how the king appreciated the wise.

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省思 Reflection

Steal out of greed, lie out of fear, learn the truth out of the Wise’s investigation.
因贪婪而偷盗，因恐惧而谎言，因智者审查而得知真相。

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[1] 长老(Thera)：即戒腊十年或以上的比丘。
Thera: an elder; a senior bhikkhu whose vassa is ten years and above.

[2] 当一位比自己高尚的人在场，智者看到另一个人保持坐着而没起立时，是不会因此而生气。  In the presence of someone more noble, a wise man does not get angry when they see another man remain seated instead of rising.

[3] 【这没有中文注解。】This is a mode of reverential salutation.

[4] 这有关撑伞和波斯匿王的事故，也记载在法句经第51-52偈。

      This incident about Chattapāṇi and King Pasenadi was recorded in Dhammapada verses 51-52.

[5] 古印度国王的王冠是在头巾上镶嵌宝石。

      The crowns of ancient Indian kings were turbans studded with jewels.

[6] Chaplain: a king’s religious adviser.