第61章 · 原文
现代白话译文
大国要像居于江河下游那样，使天下百川汇集，处在天下雌柔的位置。雌柔常以静定战胜雄强，因为静定而又居于下位。所以大国对小国谦下，就能取得小国的信任；小国对大国谦下，就能取得大国的信任。所以有的因为谦下而取得，有的因为谦下而被取得。大国不过是要兼并小国，小国不过是要见容于大国。如果双方都能达到目的，大国尤其应该谦下。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
江海居大而处下则百川流之．大国居大而处下则天下流之．故曰大国者下流．天下之所归会者也．静而不求．物自归之也．以其静故能为下．牝雌也．雄躁动贪欲．雌常以静故能胜雄也．以其静复能为下故物归之也．大国以下犹云以大国下小国．小国则附之．大国纳之也．言唯修卑下然后乃各得其所欲．小国修下自全而已．不能令天下归之．大国修下则天下归之．故曰各得其所欲则大者宜为下也.
河上公注（汉）
大邦者下流者，大国如江海，处于下流也。天下之牝者，天下如雌牡也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
道莫妙於受。受而動，是名受而實不受也。欲受而動，是實受而名不受也。天下相報以實，而相爭以名，陰陽之於人固然，況人事乎？語其極，則欲「兼畜人」，非能畜人；欲「入事人」，非能事人。何也？實元動也，況欲之而又不能靜乎？愈大則愈可受。人能為陰陽之歸，其處下尤甚。靜其欲，靜其動，江海之所以為百谷王也。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言無為之益，福利於民，反顯有為之害也。凡治大國，以安靜無擾為主，行其所無事，則民自安居樂業，而蒙其福利矣。故曰若烹小鮮。烹小鮮，則不可撓。撓，則靡爛而不全矣。治民亦然。夫虐政害民，災害並至，民受其殃。不知為政之道，乃以鬼神為厲而傷人，反以祭祀以要其福。其實君人者不道所致也。若以道德君臨天下，則和氣致祥，雖有鬼而亦不神矣。不神，謂不能為禍福也。且鬼神非無，然洋洋乎如在其上，如在其左右，豈不昭格於上下耶。第雖靈爽赫然，但只為民之福，不為民害。故曰非其鬼不神，但其神不傷人耳。然非其神不傷人，實由聖人含哺百姓，如保赤子。與天地合其德，鬼神合其吉凶，而絕無傷民之意，故鬼神協和而致福也。故曰非其神不傷人，聖人亦不傷之。如湯之時，七年大旱。湯以身代犧牲，藉茅以禱，致雨三尺。故民皆以湯王克誠感格所致，斯蓋由夫兩不相傷，故其德交歸焉。此無為之德，福民如此。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
大邦者，下流也，天下之牝。天下之郊也，牝恒以静胜牡，以静为下。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
A large state is like a lower river, the intersection of the world, the female of the world. The female always overcomes the male through stillness. Through stillness she takes the lower position. Therefore if a large state serves a small state, it gains the small state. If a small state serves a large state, it gains the large state. Therefore some serve to gain, others serve to be served. The large state only wishes to gather and protect people. The small state only wishes to enter and serve people. If each gets what it wants, the large should especially take the lower position.
A large state is like a lower river, the meeting place of the world, the female of the world. The female always overcomes the male through stillness. Through stillness she takes the lower position. Therefore if a large state serves a small state, it gains the small state. If a small state serves a large state, it gains the large state. Therefore some serve to gain, others serve to be served. The large state only wishes to gather and protect people. The small state only wishes to enter and serve people. If each gets what it wants, the large should especially take the lower position.
A large state is like a lower river, the meeting place of the world, the female of the world. The female always overcomes the male through stillness. Through stillness she takes the lower position. Therefore if a large state serves a small state, it gains the small state. If a small state serves a large state, it gains the large state. Therefore some serve to gain, others serve to be served. The large state only wishes to gather and protect people. The small state only wishes to enter and serve people. If each gets what it wants, the large should especially take the lower position.