Udanavarga 3.3-4

3.3

昔佛在舍衛國祇樹精舍，食後為天人、帝王臣民、四輩弟子說甘露法。時有遠方長老婆羅門七人，來至佛所，稽首於地，叉手白佛言：「吾等遠人伏聞聖化，久當歸命而多諸礙，今乃得來覲覩聖顏，願為弟子得滅眾苦。」佛即受之悉為沙門，即令七人共止一房。然此七人覩見世尊，尋為得道不惟無常，共坐房中但思世事，小語大笑不計成敗，命日促盡不與人期，但共喜笑迷意三界。佛以三達智知命欲盡，佛哀愍之，起至其房而告之曰：「卿等為道當求度世，何為大笑也？一切眾生以五事自恃。何謂為五？一者恃怙年少，二者恃怙端政，三者恃怙多力，四者恃怙財富，五者恃怙貴姓。卿等七人小語大笑，為何所恃？」

Once the Buddha was in the Jetavana vihāra in the kingdom of Śrāvastī. After the meal, he preached the nectar-like Dharma for devas, humans, kings, ministers, commoners, and the fourfold assembly of disciples. At that time, there were seven elderly brāhmaṇas from distant regions who came to the Buddha's place. They bowed their heads to the ground, clasped their hands, and addressed the Buddha, saying: "We are men from afar who have heard of your sagely transformation with submission. We should have taken refuge long ago, but there were many hindrances. Only now have we been able to come and behold your sagely countenance. We wish to become your disciples and attain the extinction of all suffering." The Buddha immediately accepted them, and all became śramaṇas. He ordered the seven men to stay together in one room. However, having seen the Bhagavat, these seven men soon thought they had already attained the Way; they did not contemplate impermanence, and sitting together in the room, they only thought about worldly affairs. Whispering and laughing loudly, they did not consider success or ruin. Life diminishes and draws to a close by the day, granting no promise to human beings, yet they merely rejoiced and laughed together, their minds confused by the three realms. Through his knowledge of the three clear insights, the Buddha knew that their lives were about to end. Pitying them, the Buddha arose, went to their room, and told them: "You have left household life for the Way and should seek liberation from the world; why do you laugh so loudly? All sentient beings rely upon five things. What are the five? The first is relying upon youth; the second is relying upon handsome features; the third is relying upon great strength; the fourth is relying upon wealth; the fifth is relying upon noble birth. You seven men whisper and laugh loudly—what is it that you rely upon?"

Buddha was residing in the Jetavana, at Śrāvastī. After having eaten, he began to preach the Law of Eternal Life for the benefit of gods and men, in the presence of the King and his ministers. At this time there were seven men, Brahmans, who had come from a distance, and having bowed at the feet of the World-honoured one, besought him to allow them to dwell near him, and hear his instructions. Having had the permission, they were assigned an upper chamber as their dwelling-place. Having retired there, they began to talk together and laugh loudly. On hearing this, Buddha went to them, and opened his mouth in these words :—

3.4

於是世尊即說偈言：

Thereupon the Bhagavat spoke this verse: