江海所以能为百谷王者,以其善下之,故能为百谷王。
《老子》第66章
The rivers and seas can become the leaders of many streams precisely because they stay in the lower valleys. So they can be the leaders of many streams.
[注释]
百谷王:谷,小河流。蒋锡昌曰:“《说文》:泉出通川为谷’, 是‘百谷’ 犹百川也。《说文》:‘王,天下所归往也’,是‘王’即归往之义。此言江海所以能为 百川归往者,以其善居卑下之地,故能为百川归往也。61 章王注: ” 江海居大而处下,则百川流之’,即据此文而言。”下之:居于河流之下。之,代指“百谷”。
[译文]
江海所以能成为百川汇聚处,是由于它处于百川的下游,所以能成为百川汇聚处。