Declination to Throne (2)
讓王(二)
1 Danfu, the king of the State of Bin, loved people and worked hard for his nation. However, the richness and stability of a country may become a disadvantage because the countries around it may covet after him. The State of Di was the one that deliberated on occupying Bin.
邠國國王亶父勤政愛民，國家治理的井然有序，國泰民安，深受百姓愛戴。然而，這樣的國家也有缺點，因為它極可能成為臨國嘴邊的一塊肥肉，大家都想咬它一口。緊臨邠國的狄國就處心積慮地想將邠國佔為己有。
大王亶父居邠，狄人攻之。
2 The year, army of Di loomed to Bin. A war was inevitable. Danfu looked people as his children so he wouldn’t like to let his people be the victim of war. So he presented the best hide, cloth, and the livestock and treasure in his palace to the State of Di. He wished that the presented things could stop the king of Di to launch the war.
有一年，狄國大軍壓境，一場戰爭似乎已經是不可避免的事。亶父愛民如子，不願自己的百姓成為戰爭的犧牲品，因此向狄國獻上最好的皮革、衣料，將自己擁有的家畜拿出來，將宮中保存的珠寶、財物也貢獻出來，亶父希望用這些東西賄賂狄王，請其不要揭起戰端。
事之以皮帛而不受，事之以犬馬而不受，事之以珠玉而不受。
3 But all efforts were in vain. Army of Di was determinate to invade, no leeway to go.
然而，所有這些努力都失敗了，狄軍執意入侵，完全沒有轉圜的餘地。
狄人之所求者土地也。
4 He thought that it was wrong to make people die in war just for keeping his own throne. Then, Danfu made an announcement to his people. He declared, “I would not witness that your brother die for me in battle; I could not stand that your son die for me. I could not imagine that I stay with people as if nothing happened when they are grieving over the dead.”
這時亶父通告天下。他表示，為了自己國王的地位而犧牲百姓的生命是不對的。他說: 「我不能眼見百姓的兄弟因我而戰死，我也不能容忍百姓的子女為我而犧牲。在百姓悲痛之時，我還若無其事的與之生活在一起。」
大王亶父曰：「與人之兄居而殺其弟，與人之父居而殺其子，吾不忍也。
5 He added, “You calm down to stay! What the king of Di wants is my throne. There will be no big difference for him or me to be your king. – You just hand in rice and pay tax. I am to remise my throne to him! If my remising can avoid a bloody war, it fairly is a good thing.”
他又說：「你們就都安心的待下來吧！狄王只是在求我這個國王的位子而已。我做你們的國王與狄王做你們的國王其間的差異不大，都是一樣的繳稅、納糧。我就讓位給狄王吧！如果這樣能避開一場血腥的戰爭，毋寧是一件好事。」
子皆勉居矣！為吾臣與為狄人臣奚以異！且吾聞之，不以所用養害所養。」
6 The next day, Danfu with his family left the country. Then, many people followed him to arrive the foot of Qi Mountain. They exploited there and built a new country.
隔天，亶父就攜家帶眷地離開了邠國。此時許多百姓跟著亶父一起走，來到岐山之下，從新開墾，建立了一個新的國家。
因杖筴而去之。民相連而從之。遂成國於岐山之下。
7 It is admirable for a king like Danfu, respecting life so much.
做為一個國君，能有亶父這樣尊重生命的觀念，是令人敬佩的。
夫大王亶父，可謂能尊生矣。能尊生者，雖貴富不以養傷身，雖貧賤不以利累形。
今世之人居高官尊爵者，皆重失之。見利輕亡其身，豈不惑哉！