Udanavarga 3.40

3.40

昔佛在舍衛國精舍，時有四比丘坐於樹下，共相問言：「一切世間何者最苦？」一人言：「天下之苦無過婬欲。」一人言：「世間之苦無過瞋恚。」一人言：「世間之苦無過飢渴。」一人言：「天下之苦莫過驚怖。」共諍苦義云云不止。佛知其言往到其所，問諸比丘：「屬論何事？」即起作禮具白所論。佛言：「比丘！汝等所論不究苦義，天下之苦莫過有身！飢渴寒熱、瞋恚驚怖、色欲怨禍皆由於身。夫身者眾苦之本，患禍之元，勞心極慮憂畏萬端，三界蠕動更相殘賊，吾我縛著生死不息，皆由於身。欲離世苦，當求寂滅，攝心守正怕然無想，可得泥洹，此為最樂。」

In days of old, when Buddha was residing in the Jetavana, at Śrāvastī, there were four Bhikshus seated under a tree, who conversed together thus: “What think you is the greatest misery to bear in all the world?” One said the greatest misery in the world is lust; another said the greatest misery is hunger and thirst; another said it was anger; another said it was fear. Whilst they were thus disputing, without any hope of agreement, Buddha, knowing the case, transported himself to the spot, and inquired what their disputation was about. On this the Bhikshus, having arisen and paid him homage, explained how the case stood. On this the World-honoured explained that they had not got to the bottom of the matter, but that the body itself was the greatest misery, for from the body comes the misery of hunger and thirst, cold and heat, anger, and pride, and lust; and therefore our aim should be to get rid of the body, and thus attain the perfect rest of Nirvāna. And then he added these stanzas:—