Udanavarga 1.15

1.15

多聞能持固，奉法為垣牆，
精進難踰毀，從是戒慧成；
多聞令志明，已明智慧增，
智則博解義，見義行法安；
多聞能除憂，能以定為歡，
善說甘露法，自致得泥洹。
聞為知法律，解疑亦見正，
從聞捨非法，行到不死處。
為能師現道，解疑令學明，
亦興清淨本，能奉持法藏。
能攝為解義，解則義不穿，
受法猗法者，從是疾得安。
若多少有聞，自大以憍人，
是如盲執燭，炤彼不自明。
夫求爵位財，尊貴升天福，
辯慧世間悍，斯聞為第一。
帝王聘禮聞，天上天亦然，
聞為第一藏，最富旅力強。
智者為聞屈，好道者亦樂，
王者盡心事，雖釋梵亦然。
仙人常敬聞，況貴巨富人？
是以慧為貴，可禮無過是。
事日為明故，事父為恩故，
事君以力故，聞故事道人。
人為命事醫，欲勝依豪強，
法在智慧處，福行世世明。
察友在為謀，別伴在急時；
觀妻在房樂，欲知智在說。
聞為今世利，妻子、昆弟、友，
亦致後世福，積聞成聖智。
是能散憂恚，亦除不祥衰，
欲得安隱吉，當事多聞者。
斫創無過憂，射箭無過愚，
是壯莫能拔，唯從多聞除。
盲從是得眼，闇者從得燭，
亦導世間人，如目將無目。
是故可捨癡，離慢豪富樂，
務學事聞者，是名積聚德。

Much hearing can preserve firmness;
honoring the Dharma serves as a rampart;
vigor is hard to overcome or destroy;
thereby śīla and prajñā are completed.
Much hearing makes the mind bright;
once bright, wisdom increases;
with wisdom, one broadly comprehends meaning;
seeing the meaning, practicing Dharma brings ease.
Much hearing can eliminate grief;
it can take samādhi as joy;
skillfully expounding the Dharma of amṛta,
one brings oneself to attain nirvāṇa.
Through hearing, one knows dharma and vinaya;
one resolves doubts and also sees rightly;
from hearing, one abandons non-Dharma;
practicing, one reaches the deathless place.
It can manifest the Way for the teacher;
it resolves doubts and makes study bright;
it also gives rise to the root of purity;
it can uphold the dharma treasury.
Being able to restrain oneself brings understanding of meaning;
understanding, the meaning is not pierced;
one who receives the Dharma and relies on the Dharma
from this quickly attains ease.
If one has heard a little or much,
and is conceited, being arrogant toward others,
this is like a blind person holding a candle:
lighting others, yet not bright oneself.
In seeking rank, wealth,
honor, and the merit of ascending to heaven,
or eloquence and vigor in the world,
this hearing is foremost.
Emperors and kings court and honor hearing;
the gods in heaven are also thus;
hearing is the foremost treasury,
richest in wealth and strong in power.
The wise defer to hearing;
those who love the Way also delight in it;
kings serve it with all their hearts,
and even Śakra and Brahmā do so.
Rṣis always revere hearing;
how much more so the noble and wealthy?
Therefore wisdom is honored;
nothing surpasses this in deserve of homage.
One serves the sun for its brightness;
one serves a father for his kindness;
one serves a lord with one's strength;
for the sake of hearing, one serves a renunciant.
A person serves a physician for life;
wishing to prevail, one relies on the powerful;
the Dharma resides in the place of wisdom;
meritorious practice is bright life after life.
Observe a friend in counsel;
distinguish a companion in time of urgency;
look at a wife in bedchamber pleasure;
to know wisdom, look in speech.
Hearing is a benefit in this world
for wife, children, brothers, and friends;
it also brings merit in future lives;
accumulating hearing achieves sage wisdom.
This can disperse grief and hatred;
it also removes misfortune and decline;
wishing to attain peaceful auspiciousness,
one should serve those of much hearing.
No wound surpasses grief;
no arrow shot surpasses folly;
these are so strong none can extract them,
yet solely through much hearing are they removed.
The blind thereby obtain eyes;
the darkened thereby obtain a candle;
it also guides the people of the world,
like one with eyes leading the sightless.
Therefore, one can abandon delusion,
leave behind arrogance and the pleasures of wealth,
striving to learn and serve those who have heard:
this is called accumulating virtue.