百喻经之四二：估客驼死喻

　　英文：

　　Once there was a trader who was traveling on business. it so happened that the camel suddenly died on the way. the animal was loaded with valuable things such as jewels, clothes, carpet of first quality and sundries. the trader then skinned the camel. he went away leaving it to his two apprentices and said, "watch the camel's skin. don't let it get damp."

　　Later, when it started to rain, the two dull men covered the skin with all the fine carpet, which became entirely ruined. obviously the skin and carpet differed much in price. they put the carpet to cover the skin out of ignorance.

　　So are the people at large. abstaining from killing refers to the fine carpet, the camel's skin, and wealth. to let the carpet get damp when it is raining means to undermine recklessly good merits.

　　The abstention from killing is the supreme motive to attain buddhahood. unfortunately, people do not effectively practice it. they merely adhere to build pagodas or temples and give alms to support monks. this is giving up the essential and pursuing the non-essential. in other words, people are not conscious of seeking the fundamental. unable to go out of the vicious cycle, they lead their lives, through the five ways of existence. therefore, the commandment of the abstention from killing should be earnestly observed by the followers.

　　古文：

　　譬如估客，游行商贾，会于路中，而驼卒死。驼上所载，多有珍宝、细软、上氎种种杂物。驼既死已，即剥其皮。商主舍行，坐二弟子而语之言：鈥満每赐掌ぃ�莫使湿烂。鈥�

　　其后天雨，二人顽痴，尽以好氎覆此皮上，氎尽烂坏。皮、氎之价，理自悬殊，以愚痴故，以氎覆皮。

　　世间之人，亦复如是。其不杀者喻于白氎，其驼皮者即喻财货，天雨湿烂喻于放逸、败坏善行。

　　不杀戒者，即佛法身最上妙因，然不能修，但以财货造诸塔庙，供养诸僧，舍根取末，漂浪五道，莫能自出。是故行者应当精心，持不杀戒。

　　译文：

　　譬如商人四处流动做买卖，恰好在路途之中，骆驼突然死了。上面所载的大多是珍宝、细软、上好的木棉布以及其他种种杂物。骆驼既然已经死了，就把皮剥了下来。商人要继续前行，就让两个徒弟留守著，吩咐道：鈥満蒙�看管驼皮，不要让它受潮烂掉了。鈥澒�后天落雨了，两人愚痴如榆木脑袋，尽是用上好的木棉布覆盖在驼皮上，布都烂坏了。驼皮和布的价值，显然是很悬殊的。因为愚痴，才拿木棉布去盖骆驼皮。

　　世上的人也是这样。不杀生，可以譬喻于白棉布：驼皮就譬喻财货：天落雨打湿烂掉了，譬喻那由于放逸而败坏了善行。不杀生的戒律，就是修得佛的法性身的绝妙的行因，然而却不能修持，只是用财货去造塔建庙，供养众僧，舍本逐末，由于放弃了基本的修持，就漂流在人、天等五道中轮回生死，不能使自身出离生死，所以修行者应当精心持不杀戒。