百喻經(jīng)之四七: 貧人能作鴛鴦鳴喻

(47) THE POOR MAN CROWS LIKE A DUCK

昔外國(guó)法，節(jié)慶之日，一切婦女盡持優(yōu)缽羅花以為鬘飾。

It happened once that a foreign country was celebrating its Religious Day for festivities. All women wore blue lotus flowers as ornament in their hair.

有一貧人，其婦語(yǔ)言：“爾若能得優(yōu)缽羅花來(lái)用與我，為爾作妻;若不能得，我舍爾去。”

To her husband, a woman said, "If you can get blue lotus flowers for me, I shall remain as your wife. Otherwise. I'll walk out on you."

其夫先來(lái)常善作鴛鴦之鳴，即入王池，作鴛鴦鳴，偷優(yōu)缽羅花。時(shí)守池者而作是問(wèn)：“池中者誰(shuí)?”

Her husband was capable of crowing like a duck. He then entered the king's pond to steal blue lotus flowers. He crowed when he was caught by the palace guard. The guard asked: "Who are you?"

而此貧人失口，答言：“我是鴛鴦。”

With a slip of the tongue, the poor man replied: "I'm a duck."

守者捉得，將詣王所，而扵中道復(fù)更和聲作鴛鴦鳴。守池者言：“爾先不作，今作何益!”

He was arrested and was taken to the king. On the way, he crowed again. Thereupon, the guard said, "You didn't crow properly before, what's the use of doing so now?"

世間愚人，亦復(fù)如是。終身殘害，作眾惡業(yè)，不習(xí)心行，使令調(diào)善。臨命終時(shí)，方言：“今我欲得修善。”

So are the stupid in the world. One who in his lifetime does all kinds of evil deeds to the others, is reluctant to repent and subdue his mind. Only at the time of his demise, he says, "From now on, I shall start to do good deeds."

獄卒將去付閻羅王，雖欲修善，亦無(wú)所及已。如彼愚人欲到王所作鴛鴦鳴。

The guard will nevertheless send him to the King of Hell. It is too late for him to want to do good deeds, just as the stupid man who could crow like duck.

注釋?zhuān)?/strong>