Toh 41Sūryasūtra — Kinh Mặt Trời
Tên Pāli / Sanskrit:Sūryasūtra
Kinh Mặt Trời là một bài kinh ngắn trình bày theo quan điểm Phật giáo về hiện tượng nhật thực. Trong một dịp Đức Phật đang trú tại Śrāvastī, mặt trời bị Rāhu, chúa của các chúng A-tu-la, nắm bắt, gây ra nhật thực. Thiên thần mặt trời cầu xin Đức Phật che chở, sau đó Đức Phật thúc giục Rāhu buông tha mặt trời. Khi bị Vemacitra, một vị chúa A-tu-la khác, tra hỏi, Rāhu giải thích rằng nếu không chịu buông tha mặt trời thì đầu ông sẽ vỡ thành bảy mảnh. Bộ kinh này hiện vẫn được lưu hành rộng rãi và xuất hiện trong các tuyển tập thần chú và văn bản hộ trì của Tây Tạng.
Summary
The
Sūtra of the Sun is a short discourse
providing a Buddhist account of a solar eclipse. On one
occasion while the Buddha is residing in Śrāvastī, the sun
is seized by Rāhu, lord of the asuras, which causes an
eclipse. The god of the sun asks the Buddha for refuge,
after which the Buddha urges Rāhu to release the sun. When
questioned by Vemacitra, another lord of the asuras, Rāhu
explains that if he had not let the sun go, his head would
have split into seven pieces. This sūtra enjoys some
popularity today and appears in Tibetan collections of
mantras and texts for protection.
Acknowledgements
This sūtra was translated by Giuliano Proença, who also
prepared the introduction, the glossary, and the notes. The
English translation and ancillary materials were proofread
by Daniela Espíndola.
The translation was completed under the patronage and
supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the
Buddha.
Introduction
The Sūtra of the
Sun is a short discourse set in Śrāvastī
that presents a Buddhist account of a solar eclipse.
It describes Rāhu seizing the sun and the Buddha
calling for its release. When the eclipse begins, the
god of the sun asks the Buddha for refuge, prompting
the Buddha to demand that Rāhu let the sun go. When
questioned by the asura Vemacitra, Rāhu explains
that if he had not released the sun, his head would
have split into seven pieces.
Peter Skilling dates the translation of the thirteen
late-translated sūtras to the first decade of the
fourteenth century. The Sūtra of the
Sun is found in the Kangyurs of the
Tshalpa, the Thempangma, and the mixed lines, as
well as in some canonical collections from Western
Tibet.
The French Sanskritist and Orientalist Léon Feer
studied Buddhist accounts of eclipses, including the
legend of Rāhu according to Hindu and Buddhist
texts. He translated Daniel John Gogerly’s English
translation of the Pali Candimasutta into French and produced his
own French translations of The
Sūtra of the Moon (1) and The Sūtra of the Moon (2).
His notes are detailed and rich in explanations. He
finalized and published the unfinished work of Paul
Grimblot on some Paritta texts, presenting the Pali
equivalent to the Sūtra of the
Sun, excerpts of its commentary in the
Aṭṭhakathā, and
its translation into French.
Our translation is based on the Tibetan text as
found in the sūtra section of the Degé Kangyur, but
we note variant readings from the witnesses of the
Comparative Edition (dpe
bsdur ma), the Stok Palace Kangyur, and
the Bardan Collection. In addition, we have compared
the Pali with the Tibetan and noted cases where the
Pali presents different readings. We occasionally
refer to The Sūtra of the Moon
(2) and its Sanskrit parallel.
The Translation
The Sūtra of the Sun
Respectful homage
to the noble Three Jewels!
Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was
dwelling in Śrāvastī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. At that time the god Sūrya was seized
by Rāhu, lord of the asuras. Then the god Sūrya,
recollecting and taking the Blessed One to
heart, recited this verse:
“I bow to the heroic Buddha.
May you swiftly liberate all beings!
As I have come into confinement
I take refuge in you.”
“Since buddhas have compassion for the world,
Sūrya took refuge
In the Worthy One, the Tathāgata.
Therefore, Rāhu, set the sun free!
“The sun, circle of mighty splendor,
Illuminates darkness with light.
Rāhu, do not conceal the sun in the sky!
Set this sun free, Rāhu!”
Thereupon Rāhu, lord of the asuras, set the god Sūrya
free and hurriedly approached Vemacitra, lord of the asuras.
He then sat to one side, displeased, agitated, and with all his body hairs
bristling. Vemacitra, lord of the asuras,
now questioned Rāhu, lord of the asuras, in verse:
“Why, Rāhu, did you release
The sun in such a fright?
You are a very miserable sight.
Why did you approach in fear?”
He replied:
“Had I, hearing the Buddha’s verse,
Not then released the sun
My head would have split into seven pieces
And my life would be without happiness.”
This concludes “The
Sūtra of the Sun.”
Notes
Bibliography
Tibetan Source Texts
Related Primary Sources
Western Translations and
References
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