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FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING.
III, 10.
"To be rich and lose all desire for religion, this is to gain but outside wealth. But to be poor and even thus despise religion, what pleasure can indulgence give in such a case! 814
‘But when possessed of all the three, and when enjoyed with reason and propriety, then religion, wealth, and pleasure make what is rightly called a great master; 815
Permit not, then, your perfectly-endowed body to lay aside (sacrifice) its glory, without reward (merit); Mandha(ri) the Kakravartin, as a monarch, ruled the four empires of the world, 816
And shared with Sakra his royal throne, but was unequal to the task of ruling heaven. But you, with your redoubtable strength, may well grasp both heavenly and human power; 817
'I do not rely upon my kingly power', in my desire to keep you here by force, but seeing you change your comeliness of person, and wearing the hermit's garb, 818
Whilst it makes me reverence you for your virtue, moves me with pity and regret for you as a man; you now go begging your food, and I offer you (desire to offer) the whole land as yours; 819
Whilst you are young and lusty enjoy yourself?. During middle life acquire wealth, and when old and all your abilities ripened, then is the time for following the rules of religion; 820
When young to encourage religious fervour, is to destroy the sources of desire; but when old and
? That is, I do not command you as a king, but desire you to share my kingly power.
Receive the pleasure of the five enjoyments (of sense), i.e. the indulgence of the five senses.
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| SR No. | 007676 |
| Book Title | Text of Confucianism Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | James Legge |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1882 |
| Total Pages | 2405 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 43 MB |