法，無界，不思議

前言：

什麼是往世書?

往世書（天城體：पुराण purāṇa，梵語原意為「古代的」或「古老的」）是一類古印度文獻的總稱。這類文獻覆蓋的內容非常廣泛，包括宇宙論、神譜、帝王世系和宗教活動。它們通常為問答式詩歌體，其基本內容經常是不同人物聯繫起來的一些故事。

有許多文獻都被稱為往世書。現存的往世書非常多，其中最重要的是大往世書和小往世書。這是狹義的往世書，以梵語寫成。它們通常講述宇宙和人類的產生、帝王和仙人的世系等內容，並包含故事、哲學和宗教話題。

往世書的分類：

一般傳統以結構的分類法，往世書被分為五大類：

如果依傳統的說法，往世書又分為以下的分類：

《毘濕奴往世書》（IAST：Viṣṇu purāṇa，梵文：विष्णुपुराण）是十八部瑪哈普拉那之一，是古代和中世紀文本的一種印度教流派。它是外什那瓦主義文學語料庫中重要的五卷文本。《毘濕奴往世書》的手稿以多種版本流傳至今。與任何其他主要往世書相比，《毘濕奴往世書》更多地以Pancalaksana 格式呈現其內容– Sarga（宇宙起源）、Pratisarga（宇宙學）、Vamśa（諸神、聖賢和國王的家譜）、Manvantara（宇宙週期）和Vamśānucaritam（古代傳說）各國王的時代）

目錄：

+ Preface(前言)：

+ Book I(第一冊)

. Chapter I - Maitreya inquires of his teacher (Parashara；波羅奢羅)—彌勒問師

. Chapter II - Prayer of Parashara to Vishnu –Parashara向毗濕奴祈禱

. Chapter III - Measure of time, Moments of Kashthas, etc.

. Chapter IV - Narayana appearance, in the beginning of the Kalpa, as the Varaha (boar)

. Chapter V - Vishnu as Brahma creates the world

. Chapter VI - Origin of the four castes

. Chapter VII - Production of the mind-born sons of Brahma

. Chapter VIII - Origin of Rudra: his becoming eight Rudras

. Sacrifice of Dakṣa (From the Vāyu Purāṇa)

. Chapter IX - Legend of Lakshmi

. Chapter X - The descendants of the daughters of Daksa married to the Rsis

. Chapter XI - Legend of Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada

. Chapter XII - Dhruva commences a course of religious austerities

. Chapter XIII - Posterity of Dhruva

. Chapter XIV - Descendants of Prithu

. Chapter XV - The world overrun with trees; they are destroyed by the Pracetasas

. Chapter XVI - Inquiries of Maitreya respecting the history of Prahlada

. Chapter XVII - Legend of Prahlada

. Chapter XVIII - Hiranyakasipu's reiterated attempts to destroy his son

. Chapter XIX - Dialogue between Prahlada and his father

. Chapter XX - Visnu appears to Prahlada

. Chapter XXI - Families of the Daityas

. Chapter XXII - Dominion over different provinces of creation assigned to different beings

+ Book II

. Chapter I - Descendants of Priyavrata, the eldest son of Svayambhuva Manu

. Chapter II - Description of the earth (the seven Dvipas and seven seas)

. Chapter III - Description of Bharata-varsha

. Topographical Lists from the Mahābhārata

. Chapter IV - Account of kings, divisions, mountains, rivers, and inhabitants of the other Dvipas

. Chapter V - Account of the Seven religions of Patala, below the earth

. Chapter VI - Account of the different hells, or divisions of Naraka

. Chapter VII - Extent and situation of the seven spheres

. Chapter VIII - Description of the sun (his chariot; its two axles; his horses)

. Chapter IX - Planetary system, under the type of the Sisumara, or porpoise

. Chapter X - Names of the twelve Adityas

. Chapter XI - The sun distinct from, and supreme over, the attendants on his car

. Chapter XII - Description of the Moon (candra)

. Chapter XIII - Legend of Bharata: Bharata abdicates his throne and becomes an ascetic

. Chapter XIV - Bharata expounds the nature of existence

. Chapter XV - Bharata relates the story of Ribhu and Nidagha

. Chapter XVI - Ribhu returns to his disciple, and perfects him in divine knowledge

+ Book III

. Chapter I - An Account of the several Manus and Manvantaras

. Chapter II - Of the seven future Manus and Manvantaras

. Chapter III - Division of the Veda into four portion, by the Vyasa, in every Dwapara age

. Chapter IV - Division of the Veda, in the last Dvapara age by the Vyasa Krishna Dvaipayana

. Chapter V - Division of the Yajur-veda

. Chapter VI - Division of the Sama-veda

. Chapter VII - By what means men are exempted from the authority of Yama

. Chapter VIII - How Vishnu is to be worshipped

. Chapter IX - Duties of the religious student, householder, hermit, and mendicant

. Chapter X - Ceremonies to be observed at the birth and naming of a child

. Chapter XI - Of the Sadacaras, or perpetual obligations of a householder

. Chapter XII - Miscellaneous obliations purificatory, ceremonial, and moral

. Chapter XIII - Of Shraddhas, or rites in honour of ancestors

. Chapter XIV - Of occasional Shraddhas, or obsequial ceremonies

. Chapter XV - What Brahmans are to be entertained at Shraddhas

. Chapter XVI - Things proper to be offered as food to deceased ancestors

. Chapter XVII - Of heretics, or those who reject the authority of the Vedas

. Chapter XVIII - Buddha goes to the earth, and teaches the Daityas to contemn the Vedas

+ Book IV

. Canto I - Dynasties of the kings

. Chapter II - Birth of Ikshvaku and narration of Kakutstha

. Chapter III - Hymns of destroying the Nagas, origin of Sagara

. Chapter IV - Ashvamedha sacrifice of Sagara

. Chapter V - Sacrifice if Nimi, origin of Sita and story of Kushadhvaja's race

. Chapter IV - Dynasty of the Moon, An account of Tara, origin of three Fires

. Chapter VII - Lineage of Puruvasas and Jahnu

. Legend of Paraśurāma

. Chapter VIII - Lineage of Ayu and origin of Dhanvantari

. Chapter IX - Battle of Raji and Daityas

. Chapter X - An account of Nahusha and Yayati

. Chapter XI - Race of Yadu, An account of Arjuna, the lord of a thousand arms

. Chapter XII - Lineage of Kroshtri, the son of Yadu

. Chapter XIII - An account of the sons of Satvata

. Chapter XIV - Dynasty of Anamitra and Andhaka

. Chapter XV - The story of the previous birth of Shishupala and the sons of Vasudeva

. Chapter XVI - Dynasty of Turvasu

. Chapter XVII - Druhyu

. Chapter XVIII - Lineage of Anu, the son of Yayati

. Chapter XIX - Dynasty of Puru

. Chapter XX - Dynasty of Kuru

. Chapter XXI - Narration of the kings of the future periods

. Chapter XXII - Future princes of the family of Ikshvaku

. Chapter XXIII - Descendants of the kings of Magadha

. Chapter XXIV - Dynasty of the kings of the Kali age

+ Book V

. Chapter I - Marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki

. Chapter II - Yogamaya enters into the womb of Yashoda and Hari into Devaki

. Chapter III - Origin of the lotus-eyed deity Acyuta

. Chapter IV - Freedom from imprisonment

. Chapter V - Killing of Putana

. Chapter VI - Breaking of Wagon, Namakarana ceremony of Krishna and Balarama

. Chapter VII - Chastisement of Kaliya

. Chapter VIII - Destruction of demon Dhenuka

. Chapter IX - Destruction of demon Pralamba

. Chapter X - Descriptions of the season of autumn

. Chapter XI - Anger of Indra and holding Govardhana mountain by Krishna

. Chapter XII - Indra comes to Krishna

. Chapter XIII - Herdsmen appraised Krishna

. Chapter XIV - Slaughter demon Arishta, disguished as a savage bull (Vrishabha)

. Chapter XV - Kansa sent Akrura to invite Krishna

. Chapter XVI - Slaughter demon Keshin

. Chapter XVII - Journey of Akrura to Gokula

. Chapter XVIII - Krishna depart for Mathura

. Chapter XIX - Slaughter of a washerman, the servant of Kansa

. Chapter XX - Grace upon Kubja

. Chapter XXI - Ugrasena's coronation

. Chapter XXII - Defeat of Jarasandha

. Chapter XXIII - Burning of Yavana king, Kalayavana and praise of Mucukunda to Kansa

. Chapter XXIV - Mucukunda departed to Gandhamadana to perform penance

. Chapter XXV - Balabhadra went to the woods of Vraja

. Chapter XXVI - Krishna married Rukmini

. Chapter XXVII - Sambara killed by Pradyumna

. Chapter XXVIII - Slaughter of Rukmini

. Chapter XXIX - Slaughter of demon Naraka

. Chapter XXX - The story of the Parijata tree

. Chapter XXXI - Krishna arrived over Dvaraka

. Chapter XXXII - Description of Usha the daughter of Bana

. Chapter XXXIII - Battle of Krishna and demon Bana

. Chapter XXXIV - An account of the burning of Varanasi by Krishna and killing of Paundraka

. Chapter XXXV - Wedding of Samba, the son of Krishna

. Chapter XXXVI - Destruction of monkey Dvivida

. Chapter XXXVII - The curse of the sages and destruction of the Yadu race

. Chapter XXXVIII - Funeral ceremonies of Yadavas and coronation of Parikshit

+ Book VI

. Chapter I - Account of the nature of the Kali age

. Chapter II - An account of the Shudras and women in the Kali age

. Chapter III - Measure of Time

. Chapter IV - Nature of elemental dissolution (Prakrita-pralaya)

. Chapter V - Three kinds of worldly pain (inseparable, incidental and superhuman)

. Chapter VI - Explanation formerly given by Keshidhvaja to Khandikya

. Chapter VII - Descriptions of Brahma-yoga

. Chapter VIII - The greatness of the Vishnu-purana

看到Maitreya這個稱號，朋友們一定會想到佛教的未來佛—彌勒佛。是的，往世書所提的彌勒，就是佛教所提到的彌勒菩薩，未來的彌勒佛。事實上，如果朋友接觸過印度的經典的話，會發現其實在佛教甚至於道教所尊的佛菩薩神明，在印度的的經典裏是可以找到的。

例如：道教裏為大家所熟知的三太子(哪咜)，及他的哥哥，在印度的經典裏叫做：那羅鳩婆及Manigriva(馬尼格里瓦)；道教的三太子因搗東海龍宮而自斷身體，民間稱流氓太子；而羅鳩婆及Manigriva(馬尼格里瓦)則是一對天天飲酒作樂的紈絝子弟，因冒犯了聖人Narada而被囚禁在一顆大樹裏一千年，後來被孩子神奎師那救出。

不同的地區裏，同樣的人物基本上故事會有所不同，這是為什麼筆者會去讀印度經典的原因。

本文：

Invocation. Maitreya inquires of his teacher, Parāśara, the origin and nature of the universe. Parāśara performs a rite to destroy the demons: reproved by Vaśiṣṭha, he desists: Pulastya appears, and bestows upon him divine knowledge: he repeats the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Viṣṇu the origin, existence, and end of all things.

 祈禱（尤指對神，有時作為宗教儀式的一部分）。彌勒向他的老師波羅奢羅詢問宇宙的起源和本質。波羅奢羅拉舉行了一場消滅惡魔的儀式：受到Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；吠陀聖人之一)的責備，他停止了：Pulastya(補羅斯底耶)出現，並賜予他神聖的知識：他重複《Viṣṇu Purāṇa.(毘濕奴往世書)》。毘濕奴是萬物的起源、存在和終點。

OM! GLORY TO VĀSUDEVA.—Victory be to thee, Puṇḍarīkākṣa; adoration be to thee, Vīswabhāvana; glory be to thee, Hṛṣikeśa, Mahāpuruṣa, and Pūrvaja

 哞！榮耀歸於VĀSUDEVA(瓦蘇代瓦)。—勝利屬於你，Punḍarīkākṣa(指毗師奴或奎師那；意：蓮花眼)；崇拜你，Vīswabhavana；榮耀歸於你，Hṛṣikeśa(赫希克沙；毘濕奴的第47個稱號)、Mahāpuruṣa(瑪哈普魯沙；意：至尊主；梵王)和Pūrvaja(普爾瓦佳；替羅摩；亦是毗濕奴的化身)

May that Viṣṇu, who is the existent, imperishable, Brahma, who is Īśvara, who is spirit; who with the three qualities is the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction; who is the parent of nature, intellect, and the other ingredients of the universe; be to us the bestower of understanding, wealth, and final emancipation.

願毘濕奴，祂是真實存在的、不朽的；梵（Brahma; 萬物的本源），祂是自在無礙的（Īśvara），祂是靈性的；有三種特質的人是創造、生存、毀滅的因；是自然、智力和宇宙其他要素的源頭；成為我們智慧、財富和最終解脫的賜予者。

Having adored Viṣṇu, the lord of all, and paid reverence to Brahmā and the rest; having also saluted the spiritual preceptor; I will narrate a Purāṇa equal in sanctity to the Vedas.

崇拜萬有之主毘濕奴，並崇敬梵（Brahma; 萬物的本源）和其他；也向精神導師致敬；我將講述一部與吠陀經同等神聖的往世書。

Maitreya, having saluted him reverentially, thus addressed Parāśara, the excellent sage, the grandson of Vaśiṣṭha, who was versed in traditional history, and the Purāṇas; who was acquainted with the Vedas, and the branches of science dependent upon them; and skilled in law and philosophy; and who had performed the morning rites of devotion.

彌勒恭敬地向他行禮，然後向精通傳統歷史和往世書的Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)的孫子、優秀的聖人波羅奢羅（Parāśara）說著。他熟悉吠陀經典以及依止它們的科學分支；精通法律和哲學；以及誰進行了早晨的虔誠儀式。

Maitreya said, Master! I have been instructed by you in the whole of the Vedas, and in the institutes of law and of sacred science: through your favour, other men, even though they be my foes, cannot accuse me of having been remiss in the acquirement of knowledge. I am now desirous, oh thou who art profound in piety! to hear from thee, how this world was, and how in future it will be? what is its substance, oh Brahman, and whence proceeded animate and inanimate things? into what has it been resolved, and into what will its dissolution again occur? how were the elements manifested? whence proceeded the gods and other beings? what are the situation and extent of the oceans and the mountains, the earth, the sun, and the planets? what are the families of the gods and others, the Menus, the periods called Manvantaras, those termed Kalpas, and their subdivisions, and the four ages: the events that happen at the close of a Kalpa, and the terminations of the several ages: the histories, oh great Muni, of the gods, the sages, and kings; and how the Vedas were divided into branches (or schools), after they had been arranged by Vyāsa: the duties of the Brahmans, and the other tribes, as well as of those who pass through the different orders of life? All these things I wish to hear from you, grandson of Vaśiṣṭha. Incline thy thoughts benevolently towards me, that I may, through thy favour, be informed of all I desire to know.

彌勒說：

「師父！您在整個吠陀經、律法和神聖科學的領域中教導了我：透過您的恩惠，其他人，即使他們是我的敵人，也不能指責我在獲取知識方面的過失。我現在渴望著–您是深奧的義理！–聽您的開示，這個世界往昔是怎麼樣的，未來又會怎麼樣？婆羅門啊，它的本質是什麼？有生命和沒有生命的事物從何而來？它已經歷經了什麼問題，又會發生什麼問題？這些元素是如何體現的？眾神和其他眾生從何而來？海洋、山脈、地球、太陽和行星的狀況和範圍如何？天神的家庭​​和其他人、Menus(指歷程)、稱為Manvantaras的時期(佛稱”劫)、稱為劫的時期及其細分、以及四個循環：劫結束時發生的事件以及幾個時代的終止是什麼？ 偉大的牟尼啊，眾神、聖賢和國王的歷史；吠陀經Vyasa(廣博仙人)整理後，如何劃分為分支（或學派）：婆羅門、其他種族以及經歷不同生活階層的人的職責？所有這些事情我都希望從你那裡聽到，Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)的孫子阿。請以仁慈的方式向我傾訴您的思想，以便透過您的恩惠，我可以得知我想知道的一切。」

Parāśara replied, Well inquired, pious Maitreya. You recall to my recollection that which was of old narrated by my father's father, Vaśiṣṭha. I had heard that my father had been devoured by a Rākṣas employed by Visvāmitra: violent anger seized me, and I commenced a sacrifice for the destruction of the Rākṣasas: hundreds of them were reduced to ashes by the rite, when, as they were about to be entirely extirpated, my grandfather Vaśiṣṭha thus spake to me: Enough, my child; let thy wrath be appeased: the Rākṣasas are not culpable: thy father's death was the work of destiny. Anger is the passion of fools; it becometh not a wise man. By whom, it may be asked, is any one killed? Every man reaps the consequences of his own acts. Anger, my son, is the destruction of all that man obtains by arduous exertions, of fame, and of devout austerities; and prevents the attainment of heaven or of emancipation. The chief sages always shun wrath: he not thou, my child, subject to its influence. Let no more of these unoffending spirits of darkness be consumed. Mercy is the might of the righteous.

波羅奢羅（Parāśara）回答：

「問得好，虔誠的彌勒。你讓我想起了我祖父Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)古老的敘述。我聽說我的父親被Visvāmitra(眾友仙人)利用的羅剎吞噬了：強烈的憤怒糾纏著我，我開始為毀滅羅剎而獻祭：數百個羅剎被儀式化為灰燼。當時，他們幾乎徹底的消滅了，我的祖父Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)對我這樣說：

『夠了，我的孩子。讓你的憤怒平息：羅剎們沒有罪責：你父親的死是命運的安排。憤怒是愚人的激情；它就不再是個智者了。也許有人會問，有人被誰殺害了嗎？每個人都會為自己的行為承擔後果。我的孩子，憤怒是對人類透過艱苦努力、名聲和虔誠的苦行所獲得的一切毀滅；會阻止你獲得天堂或解脫。主要的聖人總是迴避憤怒：他不是你，我的孩子，控制受它的影響力。不要再讓這些無害的黑暗之靈被吞噬了。仁慈是正義者的力量。」

Being thus admonished by my venerable grandsire, I immediately desisted from the rite, in obedience to his injunctions, and Vaśiṣṭha, the most excellent of sages, was content with me. Then arrived Pulastya, the son of Brahmā, who was received by my grandfather with the customary marks of respect. The illustrious brother of Pulaha said to me; Since, in the violence of animosity, you have listened to the words of your progenitor, and have exercised clemency, therefore you shall become learned in every science: since you have forborne, even though incensed, to destroy my posterity, I will bestow upon you another boon, and, you shall become the author of a summary of the Purāṇas; you shall know the true nature of the deities, as it really is; and, whether engaged in religious rites, or abstaining from their performance, your understanding, through my favour, shall be perfect, and exempt from). doubts. Then my grandsire Vaśiṣṭha added; Whatever has been said to thee by Pulastya, shall assuredly come to pass.

「受到我可敬的祖父的如此訓誡，我立即停止了儀式，服從他的訓令，最優秀的聖人Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)對我感到滿意。隨後Brahmā的兒子Pulastya來到面前。我的祖父以慣常的尊敬方式迎接了他。Pulaha(普拉哈)的傑出兄弟對我說：

『既然你在仇恨的暴力中聽從了你的祖父的話，並表現出了仁慈，因此你將在每門科學上變得博學：既然你儘管憤怒，卻克制了毀滅我的後代慾念，我將賜予你另一個恩惠，你將成為往世書總集的作者；你將茹實地了解本尊的真實本質；並且，無論是參加宗教儀式，或是放棄宗教儀式，透過我的支持，你的理解力將是完美的，並且可以免除疑問。』隨後我的祖父Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)補充說：『Pulastya對你所說的一切，都一定會實現。』」

Now truly all that was told me formerly by Vaśiṣṭha, and by the wise Palastya, has been brought to my recollection by your questions, and I will relate to you the whole, even all you have asked. Listen to the complete compendium of the Pur pas, according to its tenour. The world was produced from Viṣṇu: it exists in him: he is the cause of its continuance and cessation: he is the world

「現在，Vaśiṣṭha(婆私吒；婆藪仙人)和明智的Pulastya以前告訴我的一切，確實已經通過你的提問而讓我記起來了，我將向你講述全部的，甚至你們所問的一切。根據主旨聆聽《Purpas》(接近文字)的完整概要。世界由毘濕奴產生：它存在於他之中：他是世界延續和終止的源頭：他就是世界。」