大道幽深，如何消息，說破鬼神驚駭。挾藏宇宙，剖判玄光，真樂世間無賽。靈鷲峰前，寶珠拈出，明映五般光彩。照乾坤上下群生，知者壽同山海。
大道幽深，如何消息，说破鬼神惊骇。挟藏宇宙，剖判玄光，真乐世间无赛。灵鹫峰前，宝珠拈出，明映五般光彩。照乾坤上下群生，知者寿同山海。
The Great Way is deep and hidden—how can its workings be known? Speak its secret, and ghosts and gods take fright.It enfolds the universe and opens the mysterious light; its true joy has no rival in the world.Before Vulture Peak the precious pearl is lifted, shining bright with light of five colours.It lights all living things above and below, throughout Heaven and Earth;those who know it live as long as mountains and seas.
卻說三藏師徒四眾別樵子，下了隱霧山，奔上大路。行經數日，忽見一座城池相近。三藏道：「悟空，你看那前面城池，可是天竺國麼？」行者搖手道：「不是，不是。如來處雖稱極樂，卻沒有城池，乃是一座大山，山中有樓臺殿閣，喚做靈山大雷音寺。就到了天竺國，也不是如來住處，天竺國還不知離靈山有多少路哩。那城想是天竺之外郡，到邊前方知明白。」
却说三藏师徒四众别樵子，下了隐雾山，奔上大路。行经数日，忽见一座城池相近。三藏道：「悟空，你看那前面城池，可是天竺国么？」行者摇手道：「不是，不是。如来处虽称极乐，却没有城池，乃是一座大山，山中有楼台殿阁，唤做灵山大雷音寺。就到了天竺国，也不是如来住处，天竺国还不知离灵山有多少路哩。那城想是天竺之外郡，到边前方知明白。」
Now, Sanzang and his three disciples took leave of the woodcutter, came down Mist-Concealing Mountain and reached the main road. After several days’ travel they suddenly saw a walled city close ahead. Sanzang said, “Wukong, look at that city up ahead. Is it India?” Pilgrim waved his hand. “No, no. The Buddha’s abode may be called the land of perfect bliss, but there’s no walled city there. It’s a great mountain with towers, terraces, halls and pavilions, called the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Spirit Mountain. Even when we reach India, we won’t be where the Buddha lives. Who knows how far India is from Spirit Mountain? That city must be an outlying prefecture of India. We’ll find out when we get there.”
不一時至城外，三藏下馬，入到三層門裡，見那民事荒涼，街衢冷落。又到市口之間，見許多穿青衣者左右擺列，有幾個冠帶者立於房簷之下。他四眾順街行走，那些人更不遜避。豬八戒村愚，把長嘴掬一掬，叫道：「讓路，讓路。」那些人猛擡頭，看見模樣，一個個骨軟筋麻，跌跌蹡蹡，都道：「妖精來了，妖精來了！」諕得那簷下冠帶者戰兢兢躬身問道：「那方來者？」三藏恐他們闖禍，一力當先，對眾道：「貧僧乃東土大唐駕下拜天竺國大雷音寺佛祖求經者。路過寶方，一則不知地名，二則未落人家，才進城甚失迴避，望列公恕罪。」那官人卻才施禮道：「此處乃天竺外郡，地名鳳仙郡。連年乾旱，郡侯差我等在此出榜，招求法師祈雨救民也。」行者聞言道：「你的榜文何在？」眾官道：「榜文在此，適間才打掃廊簷，還未張掛。」行者道：「拿來我看看。」眾官即將榜文展開，掛在簷下。行者四眾上前同看。榜上寫著： 大天竺國鳳仙郡郡侯上官，為榜聘明師，招求大法事：茲因郡土寬弘，軍民殷實，連年亢旱，累歲乾荒，民田菑而軍地薄，河道淺而溝澮空。井中無水，泉底無津。富室聊以全生，窮民難以活命。斗粟百金之價，束薪五兩之資。十歲女易米三升，五歲男隨人帶去。城中懼法，典衣當物以存身；鄉下欺公，打劫吃人而顧命。為此出給榜文，仰 望十方賢哲，禱雨救民。恩當重報，願以千金奉謝，決不虛言。須至榜者。 行者看罷，對眾官道：「郡侯上官何也？」眾官道：「上官乃是姓，此我郡侯之姓也。」行者笑道：「此姓卻少。」八戒道：「哥哥不曾讀書。《百家姓》後有一句『上官歐陽』。」三藏道：「徒弟們，且休閑講。那個會求雨，與他求一場甘雨，以濟民瘼，此乃萬善之事；如不會，就行，莫誤了走路。」行者道：「祈雨有甚難事？我老孫翻江攪海、換斗移星，踢天弄井、吐霧噴雲，擔山趕月、喚雨呼風：那一件兒不是幼年耍子的勾當？何為稀罕？」
不一时至城外，三藏下马，入到三层门里，见那民事荒凉，街衢冷落。又到市口之间，见许多穿青衣者左右摆列，有几个冠带者立于房檐之下。他四众顺街行走，那些人更不逊避。猪八戒村愚，把长嘴掬一掬，叫道：「让路，让路。」那些人猛抬头，看见模样，一个个骨软筋麻，跌跌蹡蹡，都道：「妖精来了，妖精来了！」諕得那檐下冠带者战兢兢躬身问道：「那方来者？」三藏恐他们闯祸，一力当先，对众道：「贫僧乃东土大唐驾下拜天竺国大雷音寺佛祖求经者。路过宝方，一则不知地名，二则未落人家，才进城甚失回避，望列公恕罪。」那官人却才施礼道：「此处乃天竺外郡，地名凤仙郡。连年干旱，郡侯差我等在此出榜，招求法师祈雨救民也。」行者闻言道：「你的榜文何在？」众官道：「榜文在此，适间才打扫廊檐，还未张挂。」行者道：「拿来我看看。」众官即将榜文展开，挂在檐下。行者四众上前同看。榜上写着： 大天竺国凤仙郡郡侯上官，为榜聘明师，招求大法事：兹因郡土宽弘，军民殷实，连年亢旱，累岁干荒，民田菑而军地薄，河道浅而沟浍空。井中无水，泉底无津。富室聊以全生，穷民难以活命。斗粟百金之价，束薪五两之资。十岁女易米三升，五岁男随人带去。城中惧法，典衣当物以存身；乡下欺公，打劫吃人而顾命。为此出给榜文，仰 望十方贤哲，祷雨救民。恩当重报，愿以千金奉谢，决不虚言。须至榜者。 行者看罢，对众官道：「郡侯上官何也？」众官道：「上官乃是姓，此我郡侯之姓也。」行者笑道：「此姓却少。」八戒道：「哥哥不曾读书。《百家姓》后有一句『上官欧阳』。」三藏道：「徒弟们，且休闲讲。那个会求雨，与他求一场甘雨，以济民瘼，此乃万善之事；如不会，就行，莫误了走路。」行者道：「祈雨有甚难事？我老孙翻江搅海、换斗移星，踢天弄井、吐雾喷云，担山赶月、唤雨呼风：那一件儿不是幼年耍子的勾当？何为稀罕？」
Before long they reached the city. Sanzang dismounted, went in through three successive gates and found the people’s affairs in a desolate state, the streets quiet and empty. At the marketplace they saw many men in blue robes lined up on either side, with a few men in official caps and belts standing beneath the eaves. As the four pilgrims walked along the street, these men made no move to give way. Zhu Bajie, a boorish simpleton, thrust up his long snout and shouted, “Make way! Make way!” The men looked up sharply. At the sight of him their limbs went limp and numb; stumbling and staggering, they all cried, “Demons are coming! Demons are coming!” The capped and belted men beneath the eaves were so frightened that they trembled as they bowed and asked, “Where have you come from?” Sanzang, afraid his disciples would cause trouble, pushed resolutely to the front and addressed them all. “This poor monk comes from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, under our sovereign’s commission to visit the Buddha at the Great Thunderclap Monastery in India and seek scriptures. Passing through your honoured district, we do not yet know its name and have found no lodging. We have only just entered the city and failed to keep properly out of your way. I beg you gentlemen to forgive us.” Only then did the officials return his bow. “This is an outlying prefecture of India, called Phoenix Immortal Prefecture. We’ve had drought year after year. The prefect has sent us here to post a notice seeking masters of the religious arts who can pray for rain and save the people.” Hearing this, Pilgrim asked, “Where’s your notice?” The officials said, “Here it is. We’ve only just swept under the eaves and haven’t hung it up yet.” Pilgrim said, “Let me see it.” They unfolded the notice and hung it beneath the eaves. Pilgrim and the other three came forward to read it. It said: