从前有户人家，十分贫穷，生了个小男孩，实在养不起，只好用破布包着，趁夜深人静的时候，把孩子扔在街上，还把家中仅有的一点钱，放在孩子身边，希望能碰上个好心人，把孩子捡去抚养。那一天，正好是个节日，全国老百姓，无论男女老少、高贵低贱，都张灯结彩、游戏庆祝。
Once upon a time, there was a very poor couple who had just
given birth to a baby boy. However on that
very night, due to severe poverty, they abandoned the newly born baby on the
street after wrapping him with a piece of tattered rag, and attached with the
little money they could found in the house, hoping that a kind people would
adopt the baby. It was also a nationwide
festive day that the whole nation was
vibrantly decorated and people from all walks of life are celebrating
with many joyful activities.
一个外地来的婆罗门，看到这种节日的盛况，就赞叹说：“真是一个吉祥的日子啊！凡是在今天出生的孩子，无论是男是女，将来一定会成为一个很高贵、很有出息的人。”
A visiting Brahman from faraway place, who was deeply
impressed upon seeing such grand celebration, praised in awe: “what an auspicious
day, those born today, be it boy or girl, shall be a noble and a promising one.”
城里有位财主，是个吠舍，家里积蓄了很多财富，但一直没有孩子，早就想领养一个了。那天，他也出外游玩，听到婆罗门这么祝祷，心里十分高兴，连忙派仆人四处询问，有没有人在当天生了孩子，又丢弃不要的？
There was a wealthy landlord, a Vaishya who had plenty of
properties, except for an heir. Since
long ago he had wanted to adopt a child.
On that very same day, he was in town having leisure time on the street;
he overheard the benediction of the Brahman, he was delighted and thus asked
his servant to seek around for any abandoned baby born on that day.
有人告诉吠舍的仆人说：“早晨有个没孩子的寡妇，在街上捡到一个小男孩。”
Someone told the servant: “A childless widow had picked up a
baby boy on the street this morning.”
仆人连忙回去禀报吠舍，吠舍就带着仆人，找到那个寡妇家。他对寡妇说：“我虽有很多财产，但没有一个儿子。你如果肯把这个孩子让给我，我可以给你一大笔钱。”
The servant swiftly returned to report to his master, whom
later together with the servant, soon found the widow and told her: “although I
have plenty of properties, but I have not even a son. If you agree to give me this child, I shall
give you a big sum of money.”
寡妇答应了。
The widow agreed to the request.
吠舍高高兴兴地把孩子带回去，当作自己的亲生孩子，精心抚育。
The Vaishya happily brought home with him the baby boy,
caring and tendering the boy as if he was his own bloodline.
谁知过没几个月，吠舍的妻子竟然怀孕了。
However, a few months later, the wife of the Vaishya had
unexpectedly pregnant with their own bloodline.
吠舍真是喜出望外，但心想：“我是因为自己没有孩子，才抱养了这个穷小子，既然现在老天爷已赐给我一个后代，还养着这个穷小子干什么？”便用衣被把这孩子裹一裹，趁半夜把他扔到干涸的小河沟里。
The Vaishya was very happy for the sudden surprise, but in
his mind he has a thought: “I adopted the poor boy because I had no child of my
own; in view that now God has bestowed me with my own bloodline, why should I
keep him here?” He waited until midnight, wrapped up the baby boy, thrown him
into a dried brook nearby.
此后一连几天，为吠舍家放羊的牧人，发现母山羊一有空就往小河沟跑，觉得很奇怪，便跟踪过去看，原来母山羊正在给一个眉清目秀的小娃娃喂奶。牧人觉得奇怪极了：“这孩子，怎么会掉到河沟中来呢？”便把孩子抱回去，天天用羊奶喂养。
After which a few days that followed, the pastoral who work
for the Vaidya, noticed a ewe (mother goat) frequently patronized the nearby brook
whenever it was free. He was curious and
thus tracked after the mother goat to find out; he discovered that the mother
goat was breastfeeding a fine looking baby boy inside the brook. He did not understand why the baby could be
dropped into the brook. He thus brought
the baby back to the house and fed him with goat milk every day.
吠舍发现牧人这些日子送来的羊奶不够数，便气势汹汹地跑去指责牧人说：“你为什么偷我的羊奶？”
The Vaishya was angry to notice that the goat milk brought
to him lately was insufficient. He accused
the pastoral for stealing his goat milk.
牧人忙说：“我在小河沟里捡到一个没人要的小男孩，挺可怜的！又没什么东西可喂养，所以每天喂他一些羊奶，还望主人恕罪。”
The pastoral quickly explained: “I picked up an abandoned
baby boy from the brook, such a poor baby! There is not much to feed him, so I
feed him with some goat milk every day; I beg your pardon, master.”
吠舍一看，正是自己扔掉的那个孩子，觉得很不好意思，也有点后悔，便把这个孩子重新收养下来。
The Vaishya was embarrassed to see that was the baby who he
had thrown away. He had slight regret
and decided to adopt the baby for the second time.
又过了几个月，吠舍的妻子生下一个小男孩。
After a few months, the wife of the Vaishya gave birth to a
baby boy.
吠舍又觉得这个抱养的孩子，实在是个累赘，又产生了恶念。这次，他将孩子包裹起来后，趁深夜时扔在大车道上，心想：“这次一定会让过往的大车把这孩子辗死，或让牛马把他踏死，干脆俐落多了！”
The Vaishya again thought that the adopted child was a nuisance;
he again had an evil idea. This time, he
threw the wrapped up baby in the middle of night on the main road, hoping some big carts or animals like
cow or horse would tumble him to death, clean and tidy.
清晨，有几百个商人赶着几百辆牛车，从这条大车道走过，领头的牛发现路上有个婴儿，便停住脚步，无论商人怎么用鞭子抽打，也不肯前进。
Early in the morning, hundreds of merchants ushering their oxcarts
passed through the main road. The
leading cow saw the baby on the road; it stopped and refused to move on
regardless how hard the merchant whipped it.
商人们觉得很奇怪，下车一看，才发现这个孩子。
The wondered merchants got down on the road to examine, and
discovered the abandoned baby boy.
大家看这个孩子长得相貌端正，都说：“这简直是天神的孩子啊！怎么会扔在这儿呢？”便把孩子抱上车。
Upon seeing such a fine baby boy, the merchants said in
admiration: “this must be a child of God, how could he be thrown here?” They
carried the baby onto the cart.
领头的牛，才又开始前进。
The leading cow then moved on.
走了大约三十来里路，商人们来到一间小客栈休息。
After travelled for about 30 miles, the merchants came to a
little inn for some rest.
开客栈的是个孤老太婆，她听说这个小孩是商人们在路上捡来的，又看这孩子实在可爱，就哀求道：“请把这孩子送给我吧！我一个孩子也没有，他以后可以为我养老送终。”
The owner of the inn was a lonely old woman, she heard that
the baby boy was picked up from the road, and was delighted to see such a cute
baby. She pleaded to them: “please give
me the baby, I have no child, he could take care of me to my old age.”
商人们觉得带着这个小孩上路，也确实不方便，又见这孤老太婆挺可怜的，便把小孩送给她。
The merchants understood it was not convenient to bring
along a baby on their trip, and also sympathized at the lonely old woman; they
hence gave the baby to her.
过往商人在大车道上捡了个漂亮小男孩的消息，很快地传开了。
The news that the merchants had picked up a fine baby from
the road was soon spread around.
吠舍听到之后，又有点后悔，心想：“这件事我是做得有点缺德，万一以后受到报应，怎么办？”他越想越后悔，便来到开客栈的老太婆那儿，把小孩赎了回去，与自己的孩子一起抚养。
The Vaishya heard about the news and was again regretted at his
own wicked act; he worried that he might commit some sins and suffers the retributions. He soon came to the little inn and redeemed
the baby and brought him back home, nurtured him along with his own son.
两三年过去了，两个孩子渐渐长大。
Two or three years had passed; both the children were gradually
growing up.
吠舍看这个捡来的孩子，比自己的孩子聪明能干，心中很不安，想道：“这个孩子这么聪明，我的孩子远比不上他，以后，我的孩子一定会受他欺负的。”想来想去，觉得还是趁早把这个孩子除掉的好。于是他将这孩子带进深山，捆绑起来，吊在竹林深处的竹梢上，心想：“这下他一定会饿死在这里！”就放心地下山了。
The Vaishya noticed that the adopted son was much smarter
and more capable than his own heir, he again felt uneasy: “this boy is such a
smart one, my son is far behind him, hence my son might be bullied by him in
the future.” After some thought, he felt that it was better to get rid of the
adopted one the sooner the better. He
thus brought the young boy into a dense jungle and tied him up before hung him
on top of a bamboo grove. He thought
that the boy would soon starve to death.
He then left the jungle feeling relieve.
孩子被捆吊在竹梢，难受极了，大声哭号也无人搭理，又拚命挣扎，从竹梢摔到地面；附近不远有条小溪，那孩子扭动挣扎着，一不小心，滚落到小溪中，顺着小溪，半沉半浮地向下游漂去。
The boy struggled hard and cried out loudly due to the
painful bind, eventually he dropped down onto the ground, which a stream was
nearby, he kept struggle that he rolled into the stream. Drifted along and flew down stream with the flow.
刚好有户人家死了人，把死人抬到山中，准备举行火葬仪式，正派人四处砍柴草，看到小溪中漂着一个小孩，急忙捞上来，幸好还活着。
Coincidently, there was a family who had just lost a member;
they carried the body into the jungle for cremation, their helpers were
wandering around looking for firewood.
As they saw a boy floating down the stream, they quickly pulled him up
and fortunately he was still alive.
大家看这孩子相貌端庄可爱，都惊珍地说：“这莫非是从天上掉下来的孩子？”就带回家去抚养。
They were amaze to see such a decent and lovely boy, they
thought he was sent down from the heaven. They thus brought the boy back to raise
him at home.
这消息传到吠舍耳里，他又后悔害怕起来了，便拿出一大笔钱，哭着把孩子领回来，仍与自己的孩子一起抚养。
This news was heard by the Vaishya who again regretted and
frighten. He prepared a big sum of money
and tearfully brought the boy back to his house; again he raised him along with
his own son.
两个孩子越长越大，吠舍为他们请来教师，教他们读书识字，学习各种知识和技艺。
The two boys soon grew up; the Vaishya employed a teacher to teach them reading and writing, learning all sorts of knowledge and skills.
The two boys soon grew up; the Vaishya employed a teacher to teach them reading and writing, learning all sorts of knowledge and skills.
捡来的老大天性聪明，无论什么书籍，过目能诵；无论什么知识和技能，一学就会。他仁慈善良，经常帮助人们排难解纷，讲起话来头头是道，都是劝人戒恶行善的大道理。
The adopted son was blessed smart; he could read any book at
first glance, he learnt fast about any knowledge and skills. He was also kindhearted and compassionate. He often helped people to resolve problems
and arguments, he spoke eloquent and logical truths, all his reasoning were
said to advise and propagate kindness.
城里的人都认为这个孩子，是个了不起的人，经常有很多人来向他学习请教。
People in the town acknowledged the adopted son as a great person;
they often came to consult him and seek for his advices.
相比之下，吠舍亲生的孩子，简直只是个什么也不懂，只知顽皮瞎闹的小傻瓜。
In contrast, the actual heir was just a naughty and nonsense
little fool.
吠舍看到这种情况，心中升起一股莫名的妒火，怎么也按捺不住，下定决心无论如何都要把老大除掉，以除后患。
Realizing the situation, the Vaishya was very jealous at his
adopted son. He eventually failed to
overcome his jealousy that he decided by all means to get rid of him, once and
for all, for good.
吠舍手下有个铁匠，住在离城七里的郊外。
The Vaishya had a blacksmith who lived 7 miles away into the
suburb.
吠舍便给铁匠写了封信，他把信密封后，把老大叫过来，骗他说：“我一天一天老了，加上又有病，看来是活不了多久了，你拿着这封信到城外铁匠家去一趟，结算一下他共欠我们多少钱，这笔钱就算送给你了。”
The Vaishya wrote to his blacksmith
a letter, after which he sealed it firmly.
He called upon the elder son and told him: “I am growing old day by day,
beside my illness, I guess I shall not live very long, you bring this letter to
the ironsmith at the outskirt, sum up how much they owe us, the money is yours.”
老大按照父亲的指示，去城外送信，刚走到城门口，正好碰上老二在与一群儿童弹胡桃玩。
The elder son acted upon the father’s instruction to deliver the letter. As he arrived at the city gate, he coincidently met up with his brother who was playing shooting walnuts with a group of children.
The elder son acted upon the father’s instruction to deliver the letter. As he arrived at the city gate, he coincidently met up with his brother who was playing shooting walnuts with a group of children.
老二已输得一塌糊涂，看到老大过来，高兴地叫道：“哥哥！你来得太好了，快帮我翻本。”
The younger brother badly lost to his friends. He was delighted to see the elder brother coming;
he told the elder brother to help him to recover his loss.
老大说：“不行！父亲命我到铁匠处送信算帐。”
The elder brother declined him that he had to deliver a
letter to the blacksmith.
老二抢过信，叫道：“你替我弹胡桃，我替你送信。”说罢，一溜烟走了。
The younger brother seized the letter from his elder brother
and told him to shot the walnuts while he would deliver the letter on his behalf. The younger brother soon disappeared with the
letter.
老二来到铁匠家，把信交给铁匠。
The younger brother arrived at the blacksmith’s house and
handed over the letter.
铁匠打开信，只见信上写着：“自从这个孩子来到我家之后，我家疾病不断、鸡犬不宁，财产不断消耗、家畜不断死亡，我请婆罗门占过卦，婆罗门说：‘这一切完全是这个孩子造成的。’
接到我这封信，你马上将这个孩子给我扔到火里烧死。”
The blacksmith opened the sealed letter and found it was written:
“ever since this boy came to our house, my family has always suffered from
diseases, conflicts, continuous properties loss, poultries died. I have asked a
Brahman for divination; he said it was all due to this boy. Immediately throw him into the fire and burn
him to death upon receiving my letter.”
铁匠看完信，二话不说，抓过老二就扔到炉里去了。
After reading the letter, without a word the blacksmith
grabbed the boy and threw him into the furnace.
吠舍打发老大走了以后，觉得这根肉中刺从此去掉了，心里十分高兴，看看天色将晚，还不见自己的亲生儿子回来，便派仆人出去寻找。
The Vaishya was very happy after he dispatched the elder son
to the blacksmith; he thought that he had finally got rid of his painful obstacle. However when his beloved son did not return
home despite the day was getting late, he sent out his servant to look for him.
仆人寻到城门口，看见老大捧着一大堆胡桃正准备回家，就问他：“你是否看见过老二？老爷正在找他呢！”
When the servant arrived at the city gate, he saw the elder
son holding a huge bunch of walnuts heading home; he asked him if he had seen
his brother, as the father was looking for him.
老大赶忙回家告诉父亲，说：“老二替我送信去了。”
The elder son quickly returned home and told his father that
the younger brother had replaced him to deliver the letter.
吠舍一听吓呆了，拉过一匹马，拚命地往城外铁匠家跑。可是等他赶到，老二早就成灰了。
The Vaishya was stunned with the answer; he immediately
hopped on a horse and rushed towards the blacksmith’s house. However, his arrival was too late that his
son had already been burned to ash.
吠舍捶胸顿足、呼天喊地地痛哭起来，但人死不能复活，哭又有什么用呢？他回到家里，一头躺在床上，病倒了。一股闷七郁结在他心中，两条腿像棉花似地，一点劲也没有，从此只好天天躺在床上，打发时光。
The Vaishya was greatly in pain that he cried out loud, but
despite his howling cries, his beloved son was forever gone. He returned home in great sorrow and lied on
his bed, he had fallen sick. With
heartfelt agony, his felt that his legs were lifeless. Ever since then, he
lived his remaining days on the bed.
虽然这样，吠舍仍不知悔改，反而更加痛恨老大，必欲除之而后快。他想：“没儿子就没儿子吧！断子绝孙就断子绝孙吧！我非想法子把他除掉不可！”
Despite the painful lesson, the Vaishya did not repent upon
his mistake; instead he hated the elder son even more. He was determined to eliminate him as quickly
as possible. He did not mind leaving no heir
in the world, and desperately wanted to get rid of the adopted son.
吠舍在距城一千里远的地方，有座庄园。有一天，他把老大叫到面前，又交给他一封用蜡封得密实的信，说：“那个庄园的总管，把庄园搞得一塌胡涂，你马上去代我整顿整顿。”老大接过信，向父亲告别后，就带领几个仆人，连夜向庄园赶去。
The Vaishya had a manor about a thousand miles away from the
town he was residing. One day, he called
upon the elder son, and handed him a letter firmly sealed with wax, and said to
him: “the manager of the manor was not doing his job, he had messed up the manor,
hence you would better hurry over and help me get things back to order.” The
elder son took the letter and bade farewell to his father, he brought along a
few servants and rushed to the manor the very night.
吠舍有个弟弟，正好住在庄园附近。
The Vaishya had a younger brother who lived adjacent to the manor.
老大路过，心想：“无论怎样，应该先拜见这位叔叔。”就带着仆人先到叔叔家。
As the elder son was passing by the uncle’s house, he
thought that he should drop in for some courtesy greetings. He hence asked his servants to drop by with
him.
吠舍的弟弟一听是哥哥的孩子来了，十分高兴，连夜举办酒宴，欢迎老大，还请了不少亲戚、邻居来作陪。
The uncle was delighted to learn that his nephew was
visiting. He hosted a dinner feast to
welcome the nephew, and invited many of their relatives and neighbors to come
to celebrate with them.
大家看到老大模样端庄，仪表堂堂，都很钦慕；在宴会上，宾主交欢，又歌又舞，直到深夜才尽兴而散。因为太累，大家很快呼呼地进入梦乡。
The crowd was amazed to see the handsome looking elder
son. The feast was celebrated with
singings and dancing that it was adjourned only late at night. Everybody felt asleep quickly as they had had
great fun the whole evening.
吠舍的弟弟，有个女儿，容貌艳丽、聪慧过人，看到堂兄来访，心里暗暗起了爱慕之情，同时，也为这个堂兄事先连个招呼也不打，突然前来，感到有点奇怪。她想：“也不知伯父让这位堂兄去办什么重大的事情？”当夜，她看大家都已酣睡，就偷偷打开老大的背囊，取出信件，打了开来，只见信上写着：“等这孩子一到，马上捆起来，绑上大石头，扔到深渊中去。”
The Vaishya’s brother had a beautiful and bright daughter,
whom upon seeing her visiting cousin, grew profound admiration towards
him. Besides, she was curious at the
cousin’s sudden visit and the task that her uncle assigned to his cousin. Later in the night when everyone was asleep,
she quietly opened the cousin’s knapsack and took out the latter to read, it
was written: “upon this boy’s arrival, bundle him and tie to a big rock before
throw him into the abyss.”
这位姑娘不禁目瞪口呆，心想：“天底下有这么狠毒的人，用这种方式来残害自己的孩子！”想到这位俊秀的堂兄，不久将丧命深渊中，不禁心惊胆颤；想来想去，终于想出一条妙计。
The girl was stunned to know her uncle was such a cruel man
who wanted to sabotage his own son.
Knowing the cousin as a handsome man yet would soon lost his life in the
gully, she was terrified. After soma few
thoughts she came out with a trick.
她另拿一张信纸，模仿伯父的笔迹写道：“我已年近古稀，最近疾病缠身，身体一日不如一日。我弟弟有个女儿，聪明贤慧、知书达礼，我将娶为儿媳妇。接到这封信后，请马上准备种种聘礼，务必要选最精美、最好的东西，亲自去把这门亲事订下来，并尽快举行婚礼。”
She took out a writing paper and imitated the uncle’s
handwriting: “I am at my very old age; suffering illness lately, my body is
worsen day by day, I have a brother who has a daughter, beautiful and bright,
well learned and well mannered, I shall propose her as my daughter in law. Upon receiving this letter, please prepare
dowry at once, all shall be of the finest, the best and confirm the engagement
in person, arrange for wedding as soon as possible.”
然后她把信装回原来的信封中，按原样封好，悄悄地放回去。
She then put the letter into the envelope, sealed back as it
was before she placed it back.
第二天一早，老大告别叔父启程，很快地来到吠舍的庄园。
Early in the morning the following day, the elder son bade farewell
to his uncle and soon arrived at the manor.
庄园总管看完主人的来信，马上按照信中的吩咐，准备了许多金银珠宝、绫罗绸缎，亲自来到姑娘家求婚。
The manager read the letter handed to him, did the
arrangements as ordered, prepared plenty of precious jewelries, satins and fine
silks, and personally arrived at the girl’s house to propose marriage to her
parents.
姑娘的父母商量说：“婚姻乃终身大事，理应先派媒人说媒，然后算命合相，再送上聘礼，这样我们才能答应。现在哥哥不派媒人、不合命相，就送上聘礼，还要马上成亲，这不是太草率了吗？”可是转念一想：“男婚女嫁，是自古已然的事，这两个孩子，郎才女貌，也算是天造地配的一双。可能哥哥因自己年老多病，想尽快看到儿子成家吧！”这么一想，就答应了这门亲事。
The parents discussed over the sudden proposal: “Marriage is
such an important even of life; they should have sent a matchmaker for the marriage
proposal, there shall be a fortune-telling conjunction, and then deliver the
dowry, only then we could agree the proposal.
Now that brother delivered his dowry without sending a matchmaker, and have
not done the fortune-telling conjunction, yet he requested to arrange for
immediate wedding, isn’t that too rash?”
Nevertheless, they soon had another thought: “Marriage is an expected
affair; the couple is such a compatible one, guess they are destined for each
other. Maybe brother knows he was
getting older and weaker that he wanted to see the son get married soon!” They
hence agreed at the proposal.
他们把亲戚朋友都请来，即刻举办婚礼。
They invited their relatives and friends and soon held the
wedding ceremony.
亲戚朋友们看见这对粉妆玉琢般的新人，都赞叹说：“真是好福气啊！他们的子孙后代一定会大富大贵。”
The relatives and friends were in awe to witness such a
compatible newlywed couple, that they praised: “What a good fortune! Their
descendants would definitely live on wealthy and prosperous.”
婚事一办完，总管马上派人向主人汇报。
After the wedding, the manager immediately sent a messenger
to deliver the news to his master.
吠舍一听说“老大已与弟弟的女儿成亲”，气得死去活来，连句话也说不出来，只是连连地瞪白眼，一口气提不上来，喉咙咕噜咕噜地直响。
The Vaishya was extremely shocked to hear the news. He turned speechless; his eyes were showing
of ghastly gaze, he could barely breathe; all he could was to mumble in dismay.
来人急忙赶回庄园，禀报总管。
The messenger was frighten and quickly returned to the manor
to inform the manager.
老大听说父亲病危，心急如焚，马上就要赶回去探视。
The elder son was panicked to hear the news that his father
was very sick, he wanted to rush back home to pay visit the father.
姑娘的父亲还想再留他们多住几天，然后选个黄道吉日动身，但老大寝食俱废、坐立不安，怎么也等不及了，便与妻子连夜赶回。
The father in law wanted the newlywed couple to stay on for
few more days, and leaving only after they have selected an auspicious date. However the son in law was too worried that
he was restless, he could no longer wait for another day, hence he left with
his wife in the very night.
回到家中，夫妻俩双双赶到病榻前探望。
Upon arrival at home, the couple quickly visited the
bedridden father.
姑娘向着伯父拜了又拜，哭着说：“我就是您儿子的妻子，承您亲自选我为媳，我一定不辜负您的希望，料理好家务，多生几个儿子，以光大门庭。只希望父亲大人的病早日痊愈，长命百岁，也好让我多尽点孝心！”
The girl kept bowed at her father in law, while crying out:
“I am your son’s wife, as per your decision that I am your daughter in law, I
shall not disappoint you, I shall take good care of house chores, bring you
many heirs in order to expand the family. I hope father would get well soon,
blessed with longevity that I could show more filial piety!”
吠舍的脸憋得青紫，想说些什么，但没能说出来，翻了几下白眼、瞪了几下腿，就咽了气。
The Vaishya was speechless; all he could do was to show off
his ghastly gaze. Soon after stomping his
legs a few times, he breathed his last breathe.
老大见父亲死了，十分伤心，痛哭了一场，夫妻两人把丧事办得十分隆重周到。全城的人，没有一个不夸奖他们是孝子孝媳的。
The elder son was miserable to lose his father, he cried in
dismay. The couple prepared a grand
funeral for the father. Everyone in town
attended the funeral; the couple was well praised for their filial piety.
据《六度集经》卷五《童子本生》改编。参见《大正藏》第三卷第２５页。
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