[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [分別功德論](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507) › 4.20 # 分別功德論 4.20 分別功德論 4.20 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [4.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507.4.20) 迦旃延所以稱善分別義者，將欲撰法，心中惟曰：「人間憒閙精思不專。」故隱地中七日，撰集大法已訖呈佛。稱曰：「善哉。」聖所印可，以為一藏。此義微妙，降伏外道，故稱第一。又復稱第一者，世尊至釋翅國，坐一樹下執一杖。釋種咸來觀佛：「往棄我女，相好勝前。今意復云何？」答曰：「意者不著世間、不染於俗。」梵志曰：「善哉。」受解還去。後諸比丘不解此語，問迦旃延：「佛稱仁者辯才扸理解義第一。世尊所答梵志不染不著者，其義云何？」時迦旃延即為解說：「比丘當知，眼緣色起痛、緣痛起想、緣想來往生識分別起染著心。於此染著永已捨離。」諸比丘聞說此語意猶怏然，迦旃延觀諸比丘意不了，即引喻曰：「有人於此欲求牢固之物，反捨根本而取枝葉。為得牢固不？」曰：「不得也。」「君等亦如是。佛近住此而反見問，豈非捨本取其末耶？」諸比丘即往問佛，稱迦旃延所解如是：「不審理應爾不？」佛答曰：「如迦旃延所說等無有異。」以是因緣復稱第一。 > The reason why Kātyāyana is called foremost in skill at distinguishing the meaning is that when he was about to compile the Dharma, he reflected in his heart: "The human world is tumultuous and noisy; fine contemplation cannot be focused." Therefore he hid within the earth for seven days, and having compiled and assembled the Great Dharma, he presented it to the Buddha. \[The Buddha\] praised it, saying: "Excellent!" Sealed and approved by the Sage, it was made into one Piṭaka. This meaning is subtle and profound, subduing the non-Buddhists; therefore he is called foremost. Another reason he is called foremost is that the World-Honoured One went to the Śākya country, sat beneath a tree, and held a staff. The Śākyas all came to gaze upon the Buddha: "Formerly you abandoned our daughters, yet your marks and characteristics are superior to before. What is in your mind now?" He replied: "The mind does not cling to the world and is not contaminated by the mundane." The brahmacārin said: "Excellent!" and receiving this understanding, went away. Later, the monks did not understand these words and asked Kātyāyana: "The Buddha praised your honor as foremost in eloquence, analyzing principles, and understanding the meaning. What was the meaning of the World-Honoured One's answer to the brahmacārin about being uncontaminated and unattached?" Then Kātyāyana explained it for them: "Monks, you should know that dependent on form, the eye gives rise to sensation; dependent on sensation, perception arises; dependent on perception coming and going, discriminating consciousness arises, giving rise to an attached mind. From this attachment, he has permanently parted." When the monks heard this explanation, their minds were still unsatisfied. Kātyāyana observed that the monks' minds had not understood, so he drew an analogy, saying: "Suppose there is a person here who wishes to seek a solid object, yet conversely abandons the root and takes the branches and leaves. Would he obtain a solid object?" They said: "He would not." "You gentlemen are also like this. The Buddha is staying nearby, yet conversely you come to ask me; is this not abandoning the root and taking its branches?" The monks immediately went to ask the Buddha, reporting that Kātyāyana had explained it thus: "We wonder if the principle should be so?" The Buddha answered: "Just as Kātyāyana has explained, it is identical and without difference." Because of this circumstance, he is again called foremost. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 4.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507.4.19) - [Next: 4.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507.4.21) - [Up: 4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507.4) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507~en-mt.4.20) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.25.13) — 道世, Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507.4.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1507.4.20) · Pramāṇa