汝等比丘，已能住戒，当制五根，勿令放逸，入于五欲。
You and other Bhikṣus, those already able to abide by the precepts, should restrain your five roots [of the (1) eye, (2) ear, (3) nose, (4) tongue and (5) body (眼耳鼻舌身)], not leading to laxity, with entering of the five desires [for (1) wealth, (2) sex, (3) fame, (4) food and (5) sleep (财色名食睡)].
譬如牧牛之人，执杖视之，不令纵逸，犯人苗稼。若纵五根，非唯五欲，将无涯畔，不可制也。亦如恶马，不以辔制，将当牵人墬于坑陷。
For example, like those persons herding cows, holding staves looking after them, do not lead them to be released and escape, to invade other persons’ seedlings and crops. If releasing the five roots, not only will the five desires, have boundless banks, they cannot be restrained too. Also like fierce horses, not with reins restrained, they will be those leading people to fall into pits and traps.
如被劫贼，苦止一世，五根贼祸，殃及累世，为害甚重，不可不慎。是故智者制而不随，持之如贼，不令纵逸。假令纵之，皆亦不久见其磨灭。
If by thieves robbed, the suffering is only for one life, while the five roots’ thieves’ misfortunes, bring disasters to accumulated lives, doing harms that are extremely heavy. There cannot be no caution. Therefore, those wise will restrain and not comply with them, resisting them like thieves, not leading them to be released and escape. If there are those releasing them, all will also not long see their obliteration.
此五根者，心为其主。是故汝等，当好制心。心之可畏，甚于毒蛇、恶兽、怨贼、大火越逸，未足喻也。
These five roots, are with the mind as their master. Therefore, you and others, should well restrain your minds. That fearfulness of the mind, is even more so than poisonous snakes, fierce beasts, hateful thieves, and great fires, surpassing these, with them yet to be sufficient as analogies.
譬如有人，手执蜜器，动转轻躁，但观其蜜，不见深坑。譬如狂象无钩，猿猴得树腾跃踔踯，难可禁制。
For example, there are people, with hands holding honey vessels, moving and turning hastily and impulsively, only looking at that honey, not seeing deep pits. For example, like mad elephants without hooks, apes and monkeys getting to trees, leaping and dithering, they are difficult to be restrained.
当急挫之，无令放逸。纵此心者，丧人善事，制之一处，无事不办。是故比丘，当勤精进，折伏汝心。
There should urgently be inhibiting of it, without leading to laxity. Those releasing (i.e. or indulging) this mind, will lose humans’ good matters, while those restraining it in one place, are with no matters not done. Therefore, Bhikṣus, you should be constantly diligent, in subduing your minds.
释迦牟尼佛
Śākyamuni Buddha
《佛遗教经》
The Sūtra Of The Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings
