第一回: Chunk 29

derek

August 25, 2008, 01:25 AM posted in General Discussion

却说甄士隐俱听得明白,但不知所云"蠢物"系何东西.遂不禁上前施礼,笑问道: " 二仙师请了."那僧道也忙答礼相问.士隐因说道:"适闻仙师所谈因果,实人世罕闻 者.但弟子愚浊,不能洞悉明白,若蒙大开痴顽,备细一闻,弟子则洗耳谛听,稍能警省 , 亦可免沉伦之苦."二仙笑道:"此乃玄机不可预泄者.到那时不要忘我二人,便可跳出火坑矣. "士隐听了,不便再问.因笑道:"玄机不可预泄,但适云`蠢物',不知为何, 或可一见否? "那僧道:"若问此物,倒有一面之缘."说着,取出递与士隐.士隐接了看时, 原来是块鲜明美玉,上面字迹分明,镌著"通灵宝玉"四字,后面还有几行小字.正欲细看时,那僧便说已到幻境,便强从手中夺了去,与道人竟过一大石牌坊,上书四个 大字,乃是"太虚幻境".

Then Zhen Shi Yin having heard all this clearly, but did not know what this so called "Stupid Thing" was. [He] could not help but step forward, bowing and smiling asked: My two Celestial Masters please. The masters hastened to reply to the courteous enquiry.

Zhen Shi Yin said:  Having heard everything the masters have discussed of preordained fate, [it] really is a story rarely heard in the world, but [this] disciple is foolish and thick, [and] unable to understand clearly, if you can greatly relieve [my] stupidity and ignorance, and carefully inform [me], [this] disciple will clear [my] ears and listen attentively, [and] be able to [attain] a little awareness, [and] also may avoid sinking into the suffering of human relations.The two celestial masters smiled saying: This secret operation cannot be divulged in advance. At that time, do not forget us two, [then will be] the opportunity [to] jump out of the abyss of suffering.

Zhen Shi Yin hearing this, could not appropriately ask any more questions. So smiling said: [This] secret operation cannot be divulged in advance, but that stupid thing you just spoke about, [i] do not know what it is, perhaps I can have a look at it? The masters replied: if [you] ask of this thing, there must be a reason. Saying so, took out [the stone] and passed it to Shi Yin. Shi Yin accepted it and had a look, [seeing] it was a piece of clear beautiful jade. On top four characters were engraved in distinct handwriting: Tong Ling Bao Yu, on the back there was also several lines of small characters. Just as he was about the start carefully reading, the Buddhist then said: we have already reached the land of dreams, then forcibly snatched back [the stone from Shi Yin's] hand, [then] with the Daoist passed through a great stone archway, with a four character memorial statement, being: Tai Xu Huan Jing.

Breakdown:

却说甄士隐俱听得明白,但不知所云"蠢物"系何东西.遂不禁上前施礼,笑问道: " 二仙师请了." ->
Then Zhen Shi Yin (俱听得明白) having heard all this clearly, but did not know what this (所云) so called "Stupid Thing" was. [He] (不禁) could not help but step forward, (施礼) bowing and smiling asked: My two Celestial Masters please.

(系何东西: related to what thing. 施礼: salute.)

那僧道也忙答礼相问. ->
The masters (忙) hastened to reply to this (礼相问) courteous enquiry.

(礼相问: is 相 used as a conjunction here?)

士隐因说道:"适闻仙师所谈因果,实人世罕闻 者.但弟子愚浊,不能洞悉明白,若蒙大开痴顽,备细一闻,弟子则洗耳谛听,稍能警省 , 亦可免沉伦之苦." ->
Zhen Shi Yin said:  Having heard everything the masters have discussed of (因果) preordained fate, [it] (实人世罕闻) really is a story rarely heard in the world, but [this] disciple is (愚浊) foolish and thick, [and] unable to (洞悉明白) understand clearly, if you can (蒙大开痴顽) greatly relieve [my] stupidity and ignorance, and (备细一闻) carefully inform [me], [this] disciple will (洗耳谛听) clear [my] ears and listen attentively, [and] (稍能警省) be able to [attain] a little awareness, [and] also may 免(沉伦之苦) avoid sinking into the suffering of human relations.

(因果: cause and effect. 蒙大: vastly)

二仙笑道:"此乃玄机不可预泄者.到那时不要忘我二人,便可跳出火坑矣. " ->
The two celestial masters smiled saying: This secret operation cannot be (预泄) divulged in advance. At that time, do not forget us two, [then will be] the opportunity [to] (跳出火坑) jump out of the abyss of suffering.

(玄机: profound or abstruse operation or theory. 火坑: fiery pit, pit of hell, etc.)

士隐听了,不便再问.因笑道:"玄机不可预泄,但适云`蠢物',不知为何, 或可一见否? "那僧道:"若问此物,倒有一面之缘." ->
Zhen Shi Yin hearing this, could not conveniently ask any more questions. So smiling said: [This] secret operation cannot be divulged in advance, but that stupid thing you just spoke about, [i] do not know what it is, (或可一见否) perhaps I can have a look at it? The masters replied: (若问此物) if [you] ask of this thing, (倒有一面之缘) there must be a reason.
 

说着,取出递与士隐.士隐接了看时, 原来是块鲜明美玉,上面字迹分明,镌著"通灵宝玉"四字,后面还有几行小字. ->
Saying so, (取出递与) took out [the stone] and passed it to Shi Yin. Shi Yin (接了看时) accepted it and had a look, [seeing] it was a (块鲜明美玉) piece of clear beautiful jade. On top four characters were (字迹分明) engraved in distinct handwriting: "Tong Ling Bao Yu", on the back there was also several lines of small characters.

(通灵宝玉: Precious Jade of Spiritual Understanding.)

正欲细看时,那僧便说已到幻境,便强从手中夺了去,与道人竟过一大石牌坊,上书四个 大字,乃是"太虚幻境". ->
(正欲细看) Just as he was about the start carefully reading, the Buddhist then said: we have (已到幻境) already reached the land of dreams, then (强从手中夺) forcibly snatched back [the stone from Shi Yin's] hand, [then] with the Daoist passed through a (石牌坊) great stone archway, with a (上书四个大字) four character memorial statement, being: Tai Xu Huan Jing.

(太虚幻境: Dreamland of the Great Void?)