---
title: 百喻經 14 殺商主祀天喻 Offering The Guide Up As Sacrifice To God
description: "14 Offering The Guide Up As Sacrifice To God"
---

14 Offering The Guide Up As Sacrifice To God

14殺商主祀天喻

Once upon a time there was a group of merchants who wanted to go to the sea. A guide was required. They set out in quest of such a man. After finding such a man, they started the trip and saw a temple when they reached a land of wilderness. A man had to be immolated to cross it.

After consultation, the group of merchants said that they could not choose anyone in the company to be killed, for they were all related. The only one fit to be sacrificed was the guide. So they killed him. After performing the rites, they soon lost their way and knew not which direction to go. They then died one after another. So are the people in general.

Those who seek to fish for treasure in the sea of Dharma should keep the commandments of doing good deeds as their guide. If they break them, they will end their lives in the wilderness and can never be rescued. Furthermore, they will have to go through the Three Evil Paths of Transmigration and suffer forever and ever.

Such men are just like the group of merchants who killed the guide and died in a body as a result.

譯文

過去，有一群商人，想入大海去采寶。入大海的首要條件，是需要一個向導，然後方可去。于是就紛紛覓求，找到了一位向導。既已得了向導，便一起出發，至一處曠野中，前有一座天祠，須用活人作祭祀，然後才能通過。這群商人便聚在一起商量起來：「我們這班夥伴，大家都是親屬，如何可殺?只有這位向導，可用來祭祀天神。」于是殺了向導，用以祭祀。祀天完畢之後，卻迷失了道路，不知往哪兒走，窮途末路，都困死了。

世上人也是這樣，想入佛法的大海中去采取珍寶，便應當把修善法行作為向導。倘若毀壞了善行，那麼，就陷入在生死輪迴的曠遠之路中了，永遠沒有擺脫出來的希望，就會經歷入地獄受猛火燒、成畜生而互相噉食、做餓鬼遭刀劍逼迫這樣的三涂，長遠地受苦，就如那班商人將入大海而殺了向導，便迷失了津路，終致困死。

原典

昔有賈客，欲入大海。入大海之法，要須導師，然後可去。即共求覓，得一導師。既得之已，相將發引，至曠野中，有一天祠，當須人祀，然後得過。于是眾賈共思量言：「我等伴黨，盡是親屬，如何可殺?唯此導師，中用祀天。」即殺導師，以用祭祀。祀天已竟，迷失道路，不知所趣，窮困死盡。

一切世人，亦復如是，欲入法海，取其珍寶，當修善法行①以為導師。毀破善行，生死曠路，永無出期。經歷三涂，受苦長遠。如彼商賈，將入大海，殺其導者，迷失津濟，終致困死。

注釋

①善法行：是修習利他的十行之一。指四無礙陀羅尼門等法，成就種種化他之善法，以守護正法，令佛種不斷。