Thursday 1 April 2021

Verse 2. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

He is always conscious to attain the highest virtuous deeds,

The greatest in what he sees and hears.

Already sunken and bound by the five life dwellings,

Can he really in his supreme conduct surpass another.

常自覺得尊行,
Cháng zì juédé zūn xíng.  
自聞見行無比。
zì wén jiàn xíng wúbǐ.
已墮繫世五宅,  
Yǐ duò xì shì wǔ zhái,
自可奇行勝彼。
zì kě qíxíng shèng bǐ.

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 797

Discussion: 世五宅 (shì wǔ zhái) in the 3rd line translated as the five life dwellings, could possibly be understood as the five skandhas (Sanskrit).