下为分句对译

"These,"   they shouted, "are the voices of the swastika gods—Cha and Yang, Fortune and Prosperity!" And filled with awe, they offered up the bloody flesh and gore.

"Can such a wretched offering be of any benefit?" asked theking.

Swastika[ˈswɒstɪkə]：万字饰;

「这些，」苯教徒喊道，「就是(卍)神明恰和扬的声音！祂们是吉祥与富足之神。」雍仲苯教徒充满敬畏地献上血淋淋的牲肉和兽血。这样悲惨不堪的祭祀，究竟能带来何种利益？」国王问道。

"It is for the monarch's good estate that we do these things,"the Bonpos replied.   "For us the Bon, it is rather to our detriment. Is your faith not kindled, O Great King? Are you not moved to wonderment?"

Detriment：损害，伤害

「我们是为了王权的稳固昌盛才做这些事的，」苯教徒回答，「这对我们信奉苯教者反而是有损害的。哦，大王，难道您没有被激发出信心？难道您不为此而惊叹感动？」

But the pious   king was sick at heart and the others were at a loss, not knowing what to think. And all in a quandary,   they returned to the main temple.

然而，国王的内心深深反感，其他人则觉迷惘不已，不知该如何作想。他们全都在困窘中返回主庙。

Now, the translators and panditas had been watching these events and said: "One doctrine can not have two teachers. If the east is low, the west will naturally   be high.

那时，佛教译师和学者们一直留心观看所发生的经过，说道：「一法不能有二师。东边低了，西边自然会高。

Fire and water   can never keep company. It is nonsense to mix the teachings of the Buddha with   the tradition of these heathens.

Heathen[ˈhi:ðn]：不信上帝的人; 异教徒; 野蛮人

水火永远不容。将佛陀的教法和这些异教的野蛮习俗混在一起实在荒唐。

Evil doers should be banished far away! Not for a single moment can we take the part of the   black-hearted, nor should we even drink the water in the valleys where   samaya-breakers dwell. Let us away to solitude! Let us cultivate   samadhi!"

take the part of：袒护

作恶之徒应该被流放到边远地方去！我们一刻也不能与这些黑心之人同流合污，我们甚至不应该飮用违反三昧耶誓句者所在的山谷之水。让我们离开到僻静之处！让我们修习三摩地！」

And so they sent   word to the king and supplicated him nine times, saying: "Either the Buddha dharma will be established in the land of Tibet, or the doctrine of Bon   will prevail. But not  for a moment can the two stay side by side.

他们送出信息向国王建言，礼请国王九次。「要不是佛法立足于藏地，就是苯法盛行于此处-但是两者一刻都无法并存。」

"When the message had been read for the last time, the pious king summoned before him, his ministers and his court and spoke thus:

当此信息最后一次诵读结束时，虔敬之王召集大臣和所有廷臣来到面前，如此说道：

"Kyema Ho! Hear me, ministers and all my court. The traditions of the Bon and of the Buddhists are like the palm and the back of a single hand.

「嗟玛吹！大臣和全朝廷都听我说。苯教和佛教就像是一只手的正反面。

One must be   accepted and the other rejected; one is to be practiced and the other laid   aside. No reconciliation can there be between them.

Conciliation：和解的意愿;和解;调解 Conciliation is willingness to end a   disagreement or the process of ending a disagreement.

我们必须接受其一而放弃另外；奉行一个就得搁下其他。两者之间没有妥协的余地。

These are the   counsels of the Indian scholars, the Tibetan translators, and the Sangha of   the three thousand, newly ordained. What shall we do?"

这是印度学者、藏族译师和三千新近出家僧众的建言。我们该如何是好？」

The Bon ministers from Zhang replied: "Sire and Majesty! Happy indeed if the river could keep company with its banks! A similar situation arose some time ago, and it was necessary to banish many translators who behaved improperly.

象地的苯教大臣们回答：「陛下！若是河水能与河道相容，是再好不过了！不久之前有类似的情况发生-那时必须将许多行为不当的译师流放外地。

Do the same   again. Let the Bon keep to their proper place and the Buddhists to theirs.   Then there will be peace."

您应当再次采取同样的措施，让苯教徒继续留在适合他们的地方，让佛教徒待在他们该在的处所，那么就会有和平的一天。」

To be continued

英文整理 | Matata

排版 | 一心一意