八佾篇 3.13

3.13　王孙贾问曰¹：“与其媚于奥²，宁媚于灶³，何谓也？”子曰：“不然。获罪于天，无所祷也⁴。”

【译文】

王孙贾问道：“与其求媚于奥神，宁可求媚于灶神，这两句话是什么意思？”孔子说：“这话不对。如果得罪了上天，那就没有地方可以祈祷了。”

【YZG解释】

王孙贾问道：“与其取悦于奥神，不如取悦于灶神，这两句话是什么意思？”孔子说：“我有不同看法。如果没有依循天道行事，那就没有地方可以祈祷了。”

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【English translation】

Wang Sun Gu⁵ asked Confucius: “There is a saying: ‘It is better to ingratiate the God of the Hearth rather than to ingratiate the God of the House⁶.’, what does it mean?” Confucius said: “I do not think so. If we do not follow the Way of Heaven, it would be meaningless to pray to any God.”

【Note】

注释

1. 王孙贾：卫国大夫。 ↩

2. 奥：居室的西南角，古代以为那里有神。 ↩

3. 灶：指灶神。古人以为奥神位尊，灶神位低，但灶为烹饪食物的地方，对人有更实际的作用。这里可能分别以奥神和灶神比喻朝中近臣和权臣。 ↩

4. 无所祷也：此句意谓祭什么神都没有用处了。 ↩

5. Wang Sun Gu (王孙贾): A minister of the State of Wei. ↩

6. the God of House(奥神), and the God of Hearth(灶神): In ancient China, it was believed that there is a god, named the God of House (奥神), in the southwest corner of the room. Meanwhile, there is also a god in the kitchen named the God of Hearth (灶神). Although the God of Hearth is in a lower position than the God of House, it would be more practical to people’s life. Probably the God of House and the God of Hearth are used here as the metaphors for close ministers and powerful ministers respectively. ↩