百喻经之四一：毗舍阇鬼喻

　　英文：

　　Once upon a time, there were two pisacah devils who conjointly owned a suitcase, a stick and a pair of wooden shoes about which they fought for their monopoly. they were quarreling all day long without reaching a settlement.

　　An onlooker came over and asked, "what are the particularities of those three things that you have been fighting for so angrily?"

　　The two devils replied, "this suitcase of ours turns out all sorts of things such as clothes, food, bed articles used on a bed, and other living necessities. one who takes the stick can conquer his hateful enemies without encountering resistance. one who puts on these shoes will be able to fly without a hitch."

　　Upon hearing it, the onlooker said to the devils, "would you please stand further away！ let me equally apportion them to you both."

　　The two devils moved away. immediately the onlooker flew off snatching their suitcase and stick with the shoes on. the two devils were startled at the loss of their share. to them he said, "i got what you have been fighting for. now you need not are any more."

　　Here pisacah refers to devils and heretics. almsgiving applies to the suitcase that turns out all the essential things to the needs of the five ways of existence such as human beings, devas, etc. meditation symbolizes the stick, which can disperse or submit devils, enemies and afflictions as thieves. commandments observing is like the shoes that ensure rebirth in the world of devas and men.

　　As for the devils and heretics, coveting the suitcase, it signifies that they labor themselves to the seeking for the reward of enlightenment in the imperfect way, which result in nothing to be obtained. if one can perform acts of merit together with almsgiving, commandments observing and meditation practice, he will be rid of all suffering and in turn obtain nirvana.

　　古文：

　　昔有二毗舍阇鬼，共有一箧、一杖、一屐。二鬼共诤，各各欲得。二鬼纷纭，竟日不能使平。

　　时有一人来见之已，而问之言：鈥湸梭妗⒄取㈠煊泻纹嬉欤咳甑裙糙海�嗔恚乃尔？鈥�

　　二鬼答言：鈥溛掖梭嬲撸�能出一切衣服、饮食、床褥、卧具资生之物，尽从中出。执此杖者，怨敌归服，无敢与诤。著此屐者，能令人飞行无挂碍。鈥�

　　此人闻已，即语鬼言：鈥溔甑刃≡叮�我当为尔平等分之。鈥�

　　鬼闻其语，寻即远避。此人即时抱箧捉杖蹑屐而飞。二鬼愕然，竟无所得。人语鬼言：鈥湺�等所诤，我已得去。今使尔等更无所诤。鈥�

　　毗舍阇者，喻于众魔，及以外道；布施如箧，人天五道资用之具，皆从中出；禅定如杖，消伏魔怨烦恼之贼；持戒如屐，必升人天。

　　诸魔外道诤箧者，喻於有漏中强求果报，空无所得。若能修行善行，及以布施、持戒、禅定，便得离苦，获得道果。

　　译文：

　　从前有两个饿鬼，共有著一只小箱、一根棍杖、一双木屐。两个鬼争执起来，都想各自拥有这三样东西。吵嚷了整整一天，无法平分。这时有一个人走来，见了这般情形，便问道：鈥溦怏妗⒄取㈠煊惺裁雌嬉欤�你们争执得这般怒气冲冲？鈥澏�鬼答道：鈥溛艺怏婷矗�能产生一切东西，衣服、饮食、床褥、卧具之类生活用品，都可从里面得到；执了这根杖么，怨敌就降服，不敢再对抗了：穿上这屐么，能令人自在飞行，毫无阻碍。鈥澱馊颂�罢，便对鬼说道：鈥溎忝巧陨酝撕笠坏悖�我会为你们平分的。鈥澒硖�了这话，便即刻远远地避开了。这人说时迟那时快，抱箧，捉杖，蹑屐，飞腾而去。二鬼愕然，竟然一无所得。人对鬼说道：鈥溎懔┧�争的东西，我拿去了。如今让你们再没有什么好争的了。鈥�

　　饿鬼譬喻众魔及外道：布施就好比是箧，人、天等五道众生的生活用具都可从这里面产生：禅定则好比是杖，可以消灭降伏邪魔、烦恼之类的怨贼：持戒就如屐，穿上它，必可以升在人、天之类善道。众魔及外道争这个箧，譬喻在烦恼垢染中强求果报，空无所得。若是能修行善行、布施、持戒、禅定，便可以出离苦境，获得道果。