| |
Original |
Legge's
Translation |
Susuki's
Translation |
Goddard's
Translation |
| 1 |
|
Men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die. |
Abroad in life, home in death. |
Life is a going forth; death is a returning home.
|
| 2 |
|
Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves); and three
are ministers of death.
|
There are thirteen avenues of life; there are thirteen avenues of death; on thirteen
avenues men that live pass unto the realm of death.
|
Of ten, three are seeking life, three are seeking death, and three are dying.
|
| 3 |
|
There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose
movements tend to the land (or place) of death. And for what reason? Because
of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.
|
Now, what is the reason? It is because they live life's intensity.
|
What is the reason? Because they live in life's experience. (Only one is immortal.)
|
| 4 |
|
But I have heard that he who is skilful in managing the life
entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun
rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff
coat or sharp weapon. The rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust
its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws,
nor the weapon a place to admit its point. And for what reason?
Because there is in him no place of death. |
Yea, I understand that one whose life is based on goodness, when traveling on
land will not fall a prey to the rhinoceros or the
tiger. When coming among soldiers, he need not fear
arms and weapons. The rhinoceros finds no place wherein
to insert its horn. The tiger finds no place wherein
to put his claws. Weapons find no place wherein to
thrust their blades. The reason is that he does not
belong to the realm of death. |
I hear it said that the sage when he travels is never attacked by rhinoceros
or tiger, and when coming among soldiers does not fear
their weapons. The rhinoceros would find no place to
horn him, nor the tiger a place for his claws, nor
could soldiers wound him. What is the reason? Because
he is invulnerable. |
