..續本文上一頁ll not forget your words, Dharma Master. I will have a monastery established in my hometown, Kaushambi, so that the people there will have the opportunity to hear the wonderful Dharma. I only hope that the Dharma Master will compassionately help me fulfill my vow."
雖建道場 未真修行
Although Pandu established the monastery,
he did not truly practice the teachings.
幾年過去了，珠寶商潘杜愈來愈發達。潘杜皈依那拉達尊者之後，一直帶頭做供養，並護持著他幫那拉達尊者所建立的道場。只要生意不忙，他就去聽潘舍卡比丘講經；這位比丘是這間寺廟的住持，也是那拉達尊者的老弟子。此外，潘杜總是盼望著老法師的來臨，以便能接受師父明智的教誨。不過他從來沒有把所聽到的教誨加以實踐，總認爲修行是出家人的職務，而自己俗務纏身，實在是分身乏術。
Years passed, and Pandu the jeweler prospered. He took refuge with and became a disciple of Narada, and was a leading donor and protector of the monastery at Kaushambi he had helped Narada to found. Whenever his business allowed, he went to listen to Sutra lectures given by the Bhikshu Panthaka, the abbot of the monastery and a senior disciple of Narada. Pandu always looked forward to receiving Narada”s instructions whenever he visited town, but he never put the teachings he heard into practice. He told himself that cultivation was the duty of monks and that his own worldly business kept him too busy.
王冠惹禍 因果難逃
The crown brought disaster upon Pandu,
and he had difficulty escaping his retribution.
從他在波羅奈的路上，初識那拉達尊者算起，至今已過六、七年。有一天，潘杜的店裏接到一張不尋常的訂單。山另一端的鄰國國王聽說潘杜手工精美，于是向他訂作一頂新王冠；這頂王冠必須以純金打造，四周還要鑲上印度各種最昂貴的寶石。印度的國王們，一向有喜歡珍奇寶石的毛病；而潘杜也一直夢想著自己能成爲王室的珠寶供貨商。他確信那時自己不但會有名望，也會十分富有。現在機運來臨了。
One day, six or seven years after his first meeting with the Venerable Narada on the road to Varanasi, Pandu”s workshop received an unusual order. The king of the neighboring country across the mountains desired a new royal crown. He had heard of the beauty of Pandu”s jewel work. The crown was to be wrought in gold and set about with the costliest gems to be found in all of India. Indian kings had always had a weakness for precious stones, and Pandu had often dreamed of becoming the supplier of jewelry to a royal house. Then he would be assured not simply of prosperity, but of great riches. Now his chance had arrived.
潘杜立即四處采購，他投資了大部分的積蓄，盡可能找到最上等的藍寶石、紅寶石和鑽石；並且親自設計、製作這頂王冠。爲了確保運送途中的安全，潘杜召集一批強壯的武裝護衛，來抗拒山上的強盜；然後就出發到鄰國了。
Pandu immediately sent out orders for the finest sapphires, rubies, and diamonds that could be had. He invested the greater part of his wealth in them. He designed and worked the crown himself. Then, gathering together a strong escort of armed men to ensure his safety against robbers in the mountains, he set out for the neighboring kingdom.
這一路上都平安順利，可是等到他們抵達山峰的一處隘口時。突然一群強盜帶著凶悍地喊叫聲，由高處沖下來。雖然潘杜的護衛隊比較多人數，但是受到驚嚇馬匹，加上山壁陡斜的隘口，阻撓了防衛的工作。
All was well until they reached a narrow pass at the mountains” summit. There, a troop of fiercely yelling brigands descended from the heights. Pandu”s escort was greater in number, but the shying horses and steep sides of the mountain pass hampered the defenders in battle.
沒一會兒的功夫，潘杜的隊伍已經潰散，全被繳械了。兩個滿臉胡子、髒兮兮的強盜沖上前去，一腳踢開車門，把潘杜拉出來摔到地上，拿著棍子對他又打又踢。潘杜默默忍受這些攻擊，一心只想著那個藏在衣袍內的錢袋，他將它緊緊地抱在懷中；那裏面藏著那頂王冠，和他打算巴結王後和公主的珠寶。
In a matter of minutes Pandu”s men were disarmed. Two unshaven and dirty men threw open the door to the jeweler”s carriage, pulled him out, flung him to the ground, and began kicking him and beating him with sticks. Pandu bore the blows, thinking only of the purse that was concealed in his robes, clutching it against his chest. In it lay the crown and a store of other jewels with which he had planned to tempt the king”s daughter and the queen.
強盜頭子 索討債務
The robber chieftain
demanded payment of the debt.
「等一等，兄弟們！」有個聲音在耳邊響起。好熟悉的聲音！但是潘杜一時想不起是誰。「我說不要打他了！」
"Stop a moment, my boys!" a voice called out, a voice that Pandu had heard before, though at first he could not recall whose it was. "Stop beating him, I said!"
潘杜睜開眼睛一看，站在他面前的人，身穿皮衣，長發上綁著一條紅絲巾，竟然是多年前挨過他鞭的奴隸摩诃都塔。潘杜曾聽…
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