46 Stealing a Yak

46偷犁牛喻

Once upon a time, the people of a certain village together stole a yak and ate it. The owner of the yak traced their tracks and came to that village. He called out to the villagers saying, “Do you live in this village?”

The villagers said, “We know of no village.”

The owner further asked, “There is a pond in your village. Did you eat the yak together on the side of the pond?”

The villagers replies, “We know of no pond.”

The owner again asked, “Is there a tree near the pond?”

“No, we know of no tree, “answered the villagers.

“Were you on the east side of the village when you stole my yak?”

“We know of no eastern direction.”

“Wasn’t it at noon that you stole my yak?”

“Although it is possible that there is no village and no tree,” said the owner, “How could it be possible that there is no direction and no time in all the world? This proves you have been lying and that I can’t believe you at all. Did you steal my yak and eat it?”

The villagers finally admitted; “We ate your yak.”

Those who break the precepts are this way, too. They cover up their offenses and refuse to admit them. Upon death they enter the hells. Under the scrutiny of the good spirits and gods, these people are unable to conceal their offenses, just like the villagers who could not but admit that they stole the yak for food.

译文

譬如有一个村子的人联手偷了一头髦牛，一起吃了。丢牛的人循着足迹，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。

原典

譬如一村，共偷犁牛①而共食之。其失牛者逐迹至村，唤此村人间其由状而语之言：「在尔此村不?」偷者封曰：「我实无村。」又问：「尔村中有池，在此池边共食牛不?」答言：「无池。」又问：「池傍有树不?」封言：「无树。」又问：「偷牛之时，在尔村东不?」封曰：「无东。」又问：「当尔偷牛非日中时耶?」对曰：「无中。」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?」对曰：「实食。」

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

注释

①犁牛：犁，音毛。兽如牛而尾长，名叫犁牛。

解说

为了抵赖，直至否定时间和空间的存在，否定基本事理，常是说谎者的手法，因而也是检测说谎与否的标尺。