王一亭画二十四孝图题词
Wáng Yītíng’s Painting [Of] Twenty-Four Filial Piety Pictures’ Inscription Verses
孝之为道，
其大无外。
天经地义，
民行悉在。
Of filial piety as [the] path, its greatness [is] without [that] beyond. [With] heaven’s principle [and] earth’s righteousness, [for] people’s conduct, [with] all in [it].
世间诸法，
以孝为本。
根本既立，
余俱适允。
All worldly Dharma [teachings, are] with filial piety as foundation. [With the] roots since established, [the] others [are then] together appropriate.
孝如树根，
须力培植。
干枝花果，
自能茂实。
[With] filial piety like trees’ roots, [there] must [be] striving hard [to] cultivate [them. The] stems, branches, flowers [and] fruits, [will then] naturally [be] able [to be] lush [and] abundant.
能如是者，
方为尊亲。
尽未来际，
乐我天真。
Those able [to do] thus, are then [with] honouring [of their] parents. Exhausting [the] future’s limit, [with] bliss [of] one’s true nature.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
