亨。利贞。可小事,不可大事。飞鸟遗之音,不宜上宜下,大吉。
Hsiâo Kwo indicates that (in the circumstances which it implies) there will be progress and attainment. But it will be advantageous to be firm and correct. (What the name denotes) may be done in small affairs, but not in great affairs. (It is like) the notes that come down from a bird on the wing;—to descend is better than to ascend. There will (in this way) be great good fortune.
飞鸟遗其音声,哀以求处,上愈无所适,下则得安。愈上则愈穷,莫若飞鸟也。
「小过亨」至「大吉」。○正义曰:「小过,亨」者,「小过」,卦名也。王于《大过》卦下注云:「音相过之过」。恐人作罪过之义,故以音之。然则「小过」之义,亦与彼同也。过之小事,谓之小过,即「行过乎恭,丧过乎哀」之谓是也。褚氏云:「谓小人之行,小有过差,君子为过厚之行以矫之也,如晏子狐裘之比也。」此因小人有过差,故君子为过厚之行,非即以过差释卦名。《彖》曰「小过,小者过而亨」,言因过得亨,明非罪过,故王于大过音之,明虽义兼罪过得名,上在君子为过行也。而周氏等不悟此理,兼以罪过释卦名,失之远矣。过为小事,道乃可通,故曰「小过,亨」也。「利贞」者,矫世励俗,利在归正,故曰「利贞」也。「可小事,不可大事」者,时也。小有过差,惟可矫以小事,不可正以大事,故曰「可小事,不可大事」也。「飞鸟遗之音,不宜上,宜下,大吉」者,借喻以明过厚之行,有吉有凶。飞鸟遗其音声,哀以求处。过上则愈无所适,过下则不失其安,以譬君子处过差之时,为过厚之行,顺而立之则吉,逆而忤鳞则凶,故曰:「飞鸟遗之音,不宜上,宜下,大吉」。顺则执卑守下,逆则犯君陵上,故以臣之逆顺,类鸟之上下也。○注「飞鸟」至「求处」。○正义曰:「飞鸟遗其音声,哀以求处」者,遗,失也。鸟之失声,必是穷迫,未得安处。《论语》曰:「鸟之将死,其鸣也哀。」故知遗音即哀声也。