21 The Woman Who Wished For A Second Child

21妇女欲更求子喻

In the past, there was a woman who had a son. She wanted another child, and asked other women, “Who could bring me another child?”

An old woman told her, “I can help you get another child; but you must make a sacrifice to heaven.”

The woman asked the old woman, “What kind of sacrifice should I offer?”

The old woman told her, “Kill your son and make a sacrifice of his blood to heaven. Then you will certainly be blessed with many more children.”

The woman followed the old woman’s advice and was about to kill her own son when an intelligent bystander laughed and chastised her, saying, “How could you be so stupid and ignorant?” You’re not sure whether you will get another child; yet you intend to kill the one you already have.”

Stupid people act in the same way. Desiring the bliss of a future, they leap into a fiery pit, exposing themselves to all sorts of harm, thinking that this is the way to attain rebirth in the heavens.

译文

过去有个女人，已有了一个儿子，还想要一个，就问其他女人：「谁能使我再有一个儿子?」 一位老太婆对这女人道：「我能使你实现求子的愿望，需要祭祀天神。」她问道：「需用何物来祭祀呢?」老太婆说道：「杀了你的儿子，拿他的血来祭祀天神，必定能有很多儿子。」这女人当时就听从了她的话，要杀自己的儿子。傍边一位聪明人嗤笑骂詈道：「你愚痴无知到了这般地步!还没有生出来的儿子，都还不知究竟能不能得?却想杀掉眼前的儿子。」

愚人也是这样，为了那还没有产生的快乐，自愿投身到火坑中去，做种种损害身体的苦行，为了能够生到天上去。

原典

往昔世时，有妇女人，始有一子，更欲求子。问余妇女：「谁有能使我重有子?」有一老母语此妇言：「我能使尔求子可得，当须祀天。」问老母言：「祀须何物?」老母语言：「杀汝之子，取血祀天，必得多子。」时此妇女，便随彼语，欲杀其子。傍有智人，嗤笑骂詈：「愚痴无智，乃至如此!未生子者，竟可得不?而杀现子。」

愚人亦尔，为未生乐，自投火坑，种种害身，为得生天。

解说

此则可与第二十九则<贫人烧粗褐衣喻>并读。