King Śuddhodana Requests the Buddha to Expound the Precept Characteristics of the Five Precepts

Original text:闻如是。一时佛在迦维罗卫国。尔时净饭王来诣佛所。头面礼足。合掌恭敬。而白佛言。欲所请求。以自济度。唯愿世尊哀酬我志。佛言。可得之愿。随王所求。

Explanation: Thus have I (Ānanda) heard. At one time, the Buddha was in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu. At that time, King Śuddhodana came to the Buddha's dwelling place, prostrated with his head to the ground at the Buddha's feet, and with palms joined respectfully said to the Buddha: "I wish to make a request for the sake of my own deliverance. I only hope the World-Honored One will compassionately grant my wish." The Buddha said: "The wish you seek may be granted; I shall accord with whatever the King requests."

Original text:王白佛言。世尊已为比丘比丘尼。沙弥沙弥尼。制戒轻重。唯愿如来亦为我等优婆塞。分别五戒可悔不可悔者。令识戒相。使无疑惑。佛言。善哉善哉。憍昙。我本心念。久欲与优婆塞分别五戒。若有善男子受持不犯者。以是因缘当成佛道。若有犯而不悔。常在三涂故。

Explanation: King Śuddhodana said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, You have already established the light and grave precepts for bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, śrāmaṇeras, and śrāmaṇerīs. I only hope the Tathāgata will also, for us upāsakas (lay householders), distinguish which of the five precepts are violations that can be repented and which cannot be repented, so that we may recognize the characteristics of the precepts and be free of doubt and confusion." The Buddha said: "Excellent, excellent! Gautama, it has long been my intention, in my mind, to distinguish and explain the five precepts for the upāsakas. If there are good men who receive and uphold them without violating them, by this cause and condition they will in the future accomplish the Buddha Way. If there are those who violate them and do not repent, they will constantly remain in the three evil destinies."

Original text:尔时佛为净饭王种种说已。王闻法竟。前礼佛足。绕佛而去。佛以是因缘告诸比丘。我今欲为诸优婆塞说犯戒轻重。可悔不可悔者。诸比丘佥曰。唯然。愿乐欲闻。

Explanation: The Buddha then expounded various teachings for King Śuddhodana. After the King had heard the essential Dharma, he approached, prostrated at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated the Buddha, and departed. The Buddha told the bhikṣus of this cause and condition: "I now wish to expound to the upāsakas the gravity of precept violations, and the distinction between violations that can be repented and those that cannot." The bhikṣus all said in unison: "Indeed so! We joyfully wish to hear it."