百喻经之四六: 偷犛牛喻

(46) TO STEAL THE YAK

譬如一村，共偷犛牛，而共食之。其失牛者，逐迹至村，唤此村人，问其由状，而语之言：“在尔此村不?”

Once there was a village whose people jointly participated in stealing a yak for food. The man who lost the yak followed their trail to the village. He called out to the villagers, "Do you all live in this village?"

偷者对曰：“我实无村。”

The villagers replied, "We live in no village."

又问：“尔村中有池，在此池边共食牛不?”

Again the man asked, "There is a pond in your village. Have you eaten the yak together on the side of the pond?"

答言：“无池。”

Replied the people: "We know of no pond."

又问：“池傍有树不?”

Again he asked, "Is there any tree near the pond?"

对言：“无树。”

They answered, "We know of no tree."

又问：“偷牛之时，在尔村东不?”

Again he asked, "Were you on the east side of your village when you stole my yak?"

对曰：“无东。”

They answered, "We know of no east direction."

又问：“当尔偷牛，非日中时耶?”

Again he asked, "Wasn't it at noon when you stole my yak?"

对曰：“无中。”

They answered, "We know of no noon time."

又问：“纵可无村，及以无树，何有天下无东，无时。知尔妄语，都不可信。尔偷牛食不?”

Again he asked, "Although it is possibly true of your first three answers, how can you say there is no direction and no time in all the world. Now I know you are lying. So I don't believe you at all. Sure enough, you have stolen my yak. Haven't you?"

对曰：“实食。”

Thereupon, the stealer could not but admit it.

破戒之人，亦复如是。覆藏罪过，不肯发露，死于地狱。诸天善神以天眼观，不得覆藏，如彼食牛，不得欺拒。

So are those who break commandments. People who hide their sins are reluctant to disclose them. They will, however, go to hell after their death. Since Devas and good gods possess supernatural eyes, people should not even try to deceive them just like the villagers should not refuse to admit stealing a yak for food.

注释：

①犛牛：犛，音毛。兽如牛而尾长，名叫犛牛。

白话：

譬如有一个村子的人联手偷了一头犛牛，一起吃了。丢牛的人循著足迹，找至村中，叫住这个村的人打听情况，问道：「牛在这村不?」偷牛者答道：「我们其实没有村子。」失主又问：「你们村中有池，在那池边一起吃了这牛不?」村里人答道：「没有池。」失主又问：「池边有树不?」村里人答道：「没有树。」失主又问：「你们偷牛之时，在村子东边不?」村里人答道：「没有东边。」失主又问：「当你们偷牛的时候，不是正午吗?」村里人答道：「没有正午。」失主问道：「纵然可以没有村，没有树，天下哪可没有东边，没有时间? 可见你们说谎了，完全不可相信。你们偷牛吃了不?」村里人答道：「确实吃了。」

破戒的人也是这样，把罪过掩盖藏匿起来，不肯发露，死后就堕入了地狱。诸天的善神以天眼来观察，就掩盖藏匿不了了，就如那些偷牛吃的人，无法欺骗抵赖了。

这故事比喻∶修持佛法而破戒的人，每每把罪恶隐藏起来，不肯如法发露忏悔，改过迁善，却常常想假造理由，自圆其说;但结果终掩盖不了所作的罪恶，受了种种的苦恼。只有勇于承认自己的过失，恳切地发露忏悔，才能走上佛法的大道。