采果集(#12) 錫克教大師與金手鐲

清澈的亞穆納河在深深的下方湍急地奔騰,高高矗立的河堤在上方皺眉蹙額。周圍聚集著密林溟蒙的群山,山洪在其間劃出道道傷痕。

錫克教大師戈文達坐在岩石上,讀著經文。這時,以富貴自傲的拉古納特走了過來,向他鞠躬施禮,說:「我為您帶來了一份薄禮,不成敬意,懇請賞臉。」說罷,他拿出一對鑲著昂貴寶石的金手鐲,遞到大師面前。

大師拿起一只,套到手指上快速旋轉,寶石放射出一道道閃光。突然間,這只手鐲從他手中滑落,滾下堤岸,掉進水中。

「啊!」拉古納特失聲尖叫,跳進河水。

大師聚精會神地重念經文,河水藏住所獲之物,又朝遠處奔騰而去。

暮色茫茫,渾身濕淋淋的拉古納特回到大師身邊,已是筋疲力盡。他氣喘吁吁地說:「如果您告訴我手鐲落在哪裡,我還是能把它找回來的。」

大師拿起所存的一只手鐲,揮手扔進水裡,說:「就落在那裡。」

#1, 亞穆納河是恆河流域最大的支流。
#2, 主要參考網路上吳笛的翻譯。

###(采果集12)

Far below flowed the Jumna, swift and clear, above frowned the jutting bank.
Hills dark with the woods and scarred with the torrents were gathered around.
Govinda, the great Sikh teacher, sat on the rock reading scriptures, when Raghunath, his disciple, proud of his wealth, came and bowed to him and said, "I have brought my poor present unworthy of your acceptance."
Thus saying he displayed before the teacher a pair of gold bangles wrought with costly stones.
The master took up one of them, twirling it round his finger, and the diamonds darted shafts of light.
Suddenly it slipped from his hand and rolled down the bank into the water.
"Alas," screamed Raghunath, and jumped into the stream.
The teacher set his eyes upon his book, and the water held and hid what it stole and went its way.
The daylight faded when Raghunath came back to the teacher tired and dripping.
He panted and said, "I can still get it back if you show me where it fell."
The teacher took up the remaining bangle and throwing it into the water said, "It is there."

 ###(Fruit Gathering 12)