..續本文上一頁appen to him. The same is true of evil. Evil acts create bad personalities and unfortunate lives. Everything you have thought, said, and done makes up the kind of person you are now, and also contains the seeds of your future. This is the law of cause and effect, the law of karma."

　　原來如此！」狄發拉叫著說：「可是我並不是很壞的人啊！爲什麼我今天會碰到這樣的事！」

　　"That may be," Devala cried, "but I am not such a bad person, and look what happened to me today!"

　　「事實並非如此！朋友！」那拉達法師說：「今天如果換成是他擋了你的路，而且你身旁有一位專門欺負弱小的車夫，難道你不會對這珠寶商做出同樣的舉動嗎？」

　　"Isn”t it true, though, friend," Narada asked, "that you might have done the same thing to the jeweler today, if he”d been the one who was blocking the road, and you”d been the one with a bully for a coachman

　　"

　　狄發拉聽了法師的話後默不作聲。他想起在那拉達法師未幫助他之前，心中的確只有報複的念頭；正如法師所說的，他恨不得能將珠寶商的馬車推倒，讓這個有錢人跌在泥濘中掙紮，自己再得意地駕車離去。「沒錯！法師！」他說：「我的確有這樣的念頭。」

　　Devala was silenced by the Bhikshu”s words. He realized that, until Narada had come forward to help him, there had been nothing in his mind but thoughts of revenge. Angrily he had been wishing just what Narada had said: that he could have been the one to overturn the jeweler”s cart and then drive on proudly while the rich man struggled in the mud. "Yes, Dharma Master," he said. "It is true."

　　兩人都不再說什麼，直到輪軸又發出正常的聲音，輪子也裝回了馬車。農夫還一直思惟著比丘的話，雖然他沒受過教育，但是他是那種對事情會慢慢去追根究底的人。忽然，他說：「這事真可怕！現在珠寶商傷害了我，將來我也會對他做同樣的傷害；然後他再來報複我，我又去報複他。真是沒完沒了！」

　　The two men said nothing for a while, until the linchpin was sound again and the wheel remounted on the cart. The farmer was pondering the Bhikshu”s words. Although Devala lacked schooling, he was a thoughtful man who always tried to figure things out and see the reasons behind events. Suddenly he said, "But this is a terrible thing! Now that the jeweler has harmed me, I will do some harm to him. Then he will repay me in kind, and then I”ll come back to get him, and it will never end!"

　　「不，並不一定像你說的那樣！」那拉達法師說：「人可以行善，也可以作惡。如果你能用幫助，而不是傷害的方式，去對待這位驕傲的珠寶商，那麼這個因果循環就會破除了！」

　　"No, it doesn”t have to be that way," Narada said. "People have the power to do good as well as evil. Find a way to pay that proud jeweler back with help instead of with harm. Then the cycle will be broken."

　　狄發拉一邊重新安好他的貨車，一邊疑惑地點點頭。他相信比丘所說的，卻沒辦法想象自己是否有機會把法師的建議付諸實踐。這怎麼可能呢？他只是一個窮農夫，怎麼有辦法去幫助一位富商？他請那拉達法師坐在身邊，就拉起缰繩趕馬上路。

　　Devala nodded doubtfully as he climbed back on his cart. He believed what the Bhikshu had told him, but he didn”t see how he would ever have an opportunity to carry out his advice. How could he, a poor farmer, find a way to help out a rich businessman

　　 He invited Narada to sit next to him, and took up the reins.

　　但是他的馬沒跑多遠，就突然避到路邊停了下來。「有一條蛇在路中間！」農夫嚷著。但是那拉達法師趨前一瞧，發現那不是一條蛇，而是一個錢袋。他下了車，拾起那錢袋，袋子裏裝的是沈甸甸的金子。

　　His horse had not drawn them far, however, when it suddenly shied aside and came to a halt. "A snake on the road!" the farmer cried. But Narada, looking more closely, saw that it was no snake, but a purse. He stepped down from the cart and picked the purse up. It was heavy with gold.

　　「我認得這個，它是珠寶商潘杜的袋子。」他說：「他在馬車上時，把錢袋放在腿上；可能是在打開車門看你時，掉下來的。我不是說過，他的命運和你息息相關嗎？」

　　"I recognize this; it belongs to Pandu, the jeweler," he said. "He had it in his lap in the carriage. It must have dropped out when he opened the door to look at you. Didn”t I tell him that his destiny was tied to yours

　　"

　　他把錢袋交給狄發拉：「你可以藉此機會去化解你和這位珠寶商之間，由憤怒與報複所交纏的惡緣了！當我們抵達波羅奈後，你去他住的旅店，把錢還給他；這時他會爲自己的無禮而向你道歉。不過你要對他說，你不但不介意，還祝他成功。我告訴你吧！其實你們倆是息息相關的，所以你現在怎麼做，就會決定以後你們是一起墮落，或是一起超越了！」

　　He handed the purse to Devala. "Here is your chance to cut the bonds of anger and revenge that tie you to the jeweler. When we reach Varanasi, go to the inn where he is staying and give him his money back. He will apologize for his rudeness to you, but tell him that you hold no grudge and that you wish him success. For, let me tell you, you two are much alike, and you will fall or prosper togeth…

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