Ekottaragama (Sanskrit fragments) 50.8.22

50.8.22

「於是，若有善男子將護翫習其法，契經、祇夜、偈、授決、因緣、本末、譬喻、生、方等、未曾有、說、廣普；彼人誦此法已，深解其義；以解彼深義之法，順從其教，無所違失，所以誦法者，不以勝負之心，與彼競諍；所以誦習法者，欲自纂修有察及；所以誦法者，果有所願，由此因緣，漸至涅槃。猶如有人出彼村落，求覓惡蛇。彼見蛇已，手執鐵鉗，先鑷其頭，後便捉項，不令動搖；設彼惡蛇迴尾欲害彼人，終無所至。所以然者，比丘！由其捉項故！此善男子亦復如是，誦習、誦讀，靡不周遍，觀察其義，順從其法，終無違失，漸漸由此因緣，得至涅槃。所以然者，由其執正法故。是故，諸比丘！其有解吾義者，當念奉行；其不解者，重來問我。如來方今現在，後悔無益。」

“Here, suppose a good son preserves and studies those teachings, which are the sūtras, songs, verses, assurances, circumstances, records, legends, births, extensive discourses, unprecedented things, lectures, and explanations. After that man recites these teachings, he deeply understands their meaning. By understanding the deep meaning of the teachings, he follows their instructions without any shortcomings. He doesn’t recite and study the teachings with the idea of victory or defeat or to argue with others. Those who recite and study the teachings want to collect and cultivate their investigations. Those who recite the teachings as a result have the aspiration to bring about the causes and conditions that gradually arrive at Nirvāṇa.

“It’s like someone who leaves the village looking for a dangerous snake. After seeing the snake, they use a metal fork to first pin its head. After that, they grasp its neck to prevent it from moving. If that dangerous snake were to twist around wanting to hurt the person, it’ll never reach him. That’s the reason, monks, that they grasp it by its neck. This good son is likewise. Reciting and studying the teachings, there’s none that he doesn’t penetrate. He examines their meaning and follows their principles without any shortcomings. Because of these causes and conditions, he gradually arrives at Nirvāṇa. That’s the reason he grasps the correct teaching.

“Therefore, monks, those who understand my meaning should mindfully approve of it. Those who don’t understand it should come repeatedly and question me. Make use of the Tathāgata while he’s present; regret won’t be of help to you later.”