百喻經 11 婆羅門殺子喻 The Brahman Kills His Own Son

11 The Brahman Kills His Own Son

11婆羅門殺子喻

Once there was a Brahman who thought himself very knowledgeable, understanding all the skills. Presumptuous and wishing to display his abilities, he went abroad, carrying his son and crying. Someone asked the Brahman, 「Why are you crying?」

He replied, 「This baby is going to die within seven days. I』m crying because he shall die so young.」

The people said, 「It』s difficult t know a person』s fate. Perhaps you calculated wrongly. He may not die at the end of seven days. Why weep in advance?」

The Brahman said, 「The sun and moon may grow dark and the stars may fall, but my calculations are never wrong.」

For the sake of fame and gain, and to prove the truth of his saying, he killed his own son when the seven days were up.

When people heard the news of his son』s death after seven days, all praised him saying he was indeed wise and not mistaken. Thus they trusted him and admired him.

This is like Shakamuni Buddha』s four levels of disciples who for the sake of material offerings, pretended to have attained the Path. But some people will undergo limitless sufferings in the future, just like the Brahman who deluded people by killing his own son in order to prove the accuracy of his prediction.

譯文

以前有一位婆羅門，自以為知識宏博，對星象、占術及種種技藝，無不精通。憑恃自己這般能耐，想要顯露一下他的才干，便跑到別的國家，抱兒而哭。有人問婆羅門：「汝為何哭啊?」婆羅門答道：「眼前我這個小兒，七日後會死去，我憐惜他的夭殤，所以哭呀!」這時人們說道：「人的壽命很難推知，計卜算卦也容易出錯。倘若到了第七日或許不死呢，何必預先哀哭?」婆羅門道：「日月可闇沈，星宿可墜落，我的推解，終究是不會有違失的。」為了名利的緣故，到了第七日，婆羅門親手把兒子殺了，用以證實自己的預說。當時一些人聽說他的兒子在七日後果然死了，都嘖嘖嘆道：「真是一位智者，所言一點都不錯。」心內產生了信服之情，都來向他致敬。

這好比佛的四眾弟子，為了利養的緣故，自稱得道了，用愚弄他人的方法，殺善男子，詐偽地現出慈德來，因而使自己的將來受苦無窮。就如婆羅門為了驗證自己的預言，殺死兒子，來迷惑世人一樣。

原典

昔有婆羅門，自謂多知，于諸星術種種技藝無不明達。恃己如此，欲顯其德，遂至他國，抱兒而哭。有人問婆羅門言：「汝何故哭?」婆羅門言：「今此小兒，七日當死，愍其夭殤，是以哭耳!」時人語言：「人命難知，計算喜錯。設七日頭或能不死，何為預哭?」婆羅門言：「日月可闇，星宿可落，我之所記，終無違失。」為名利故，至七日頭，自殺其子，以證己說。時諸世人，卻後七日，聞其子死，咸皆嘆言：「真是智者，所言不錯。」心生信服，悉來致敬。

猶如佛之四輩弟子，為利養故，自稱得道，有①愚人法，殺善男子，詐現慈德，故使將來受苦無窮。如婆羅門為驗己言，殺子惑世。

注釋

①有：為、行、用。

解說

四眾弟子為了貪得供養，自稱得道，以欺世盜名，最終必將遭到傾覆。為理解此意，可抄出《雜譬喻經》(比丘道略集、鳩摩羅什譯)的一則譬喻，以供並讀，亦屬以喻解喻的方法。

昔有一比丘被擯(驅逐走)，懊惱悲嘆，涕哭而行，道逢一鬼。此鬼犯法，亦為毘沙門天王(即四大金剛之一)所擯。

時鬼問比丘言：「汝有何事，涕哭而行?」比丘答曰：「我犯僧事，眾僧所擯，一切檀越供養盡失：又惡名聲流布遠近，是故愁嘆涕泣耳。」鬼語比丘言：「我能令汝滅惡名聲、大得供養，汝可便立我左肩上，我當擔汝虛空中行，人但見汝而不見我身。汝若大得供養，當先與我。」彼鬼即時擔此比丘，于先被擯聚落上虛空中行。時聚落人見皆驚怪，謂其得道，轉相謂言：「眾僧無狀，枉擯得道之人。」

時聚落人皆詣此寺呵責眾僧，即迎此比丘住于寺內，遂大得供養。此比丘隨所得衣食諸物輒先與鬼，不違本要(約)。此鬼異日復擔此比丘游行空中，正值(遇)毘沙門天王官屬，鬼見司官，甚大驚怖，捐棄比丘，絕力而走。此比丘遂墮地而死，身首碎爛。(《大正藏》第四冊第五二三頁)