百喻經 17 債半錢喻 The half-Cent Debt

17 The half-Cent Debt

17債半錢喻

In bygone times a certain merchant loaned out a half cent and for a long time didn』t get it back. Finally, he decided to visit his debtor and demand repayment of the loan. On his way, he came upon a great river and had to pay two cents ferry fare to get across. When he reached his debtor』s house, he found out that he wasn』t there. On his return home, this man had to cross the river again, and he paid another two cents for the ferry fare.

And so, for a 「half a cent」 debt, he ended up losing four cents, not to speak of the extreme tiredness he felt from his journey. The debt was small; the loss was significant.

People of the world are also like this. For the sake of a little fame or gain, they think nothing of ruining their great conduct. They care only for the survival of their own persons and disregard what is righteous and proper. In this present life they earn a bad name; in the future they will reap a bitter retribution.

譯文

往昔有一位商人，借給他人半個錢，許多時日過去了，沒有得到償還，就前去討債。途中，前面有條大河，雇船擺渡，付了兩個錢，然後才渡過去。到了那兒，卻沒見到欠債人，回來渡河，又費去兩個錢。為了半個錢的債，而用掉四個錢，加上路途往返，疲勞乏困。債很少，討債所費卻極多，結果被眾人譏笑。

世人也是這樣，為了要小小名利，卻毀掉了根本的德行。要使自身獲得暫且的安逸，就不顧禮義，現前擔受了惡名，將來則得到苦痛的報應。

原典

往有商人，貸他半錢，久不得償，即便往債。前有大河，雇他兩錢，然後得渡。到彼往債，竟不得見。來還渡河，復雇兩錢。為半錢債，而失四錢，兼有道路疲勞乏困。所債甚少，所失極多，果被眾人之所怪笑。

世人亦爾，要少名利，致毀大行。苟容己身，不顧禮義，現受惡名，後得苦報。