百喻经之四九：小儿争分别毛喻

　　英文：

　　There were once two boys who dived in a river where they found at its bottom a bundle of feathers. one said that it was the beard of some spirit, whereas the other said it was the bear's hair. they argued without a right answer. a supernatural being nearby was then approached by the two and was asked to settle the argument. he put rice and sesame seeds into his mouth and chewed for a while, then he spat them into his hand and said, "what i have got here seems to me a peacock's excrement."

　　It is known his answer was beyond the question, which was put to him.

　　So are the stupid in the world. during the time of preaching, those who facetiously discuss the teachings of buddhism do not give the answer to the right doctrine, just like the supernatural being not answering the question. people from all walks of life are made a laughing stock. so is the frivolous and empty gossip.

　　古文：

　　譬如昔日，有二小儿，入河遨戏，于此水底得一把毛。一小儿言：鈥湸耸窍尚搿ｂ�澮恍《�言：鈥湸耸切苊�。鈥澏�时河边有一仙人，此二小儿诤之不已，诣彼仙所，决其所疑。而彼仙人寻即取米及胡麻子，口中含嚼，吐著掌中，语小儿言：鈥溛艺浦姓撸�似孔雀屎。鈥�

　　而此仙人不答他问，人皆知之。

　　世间愚人，亦复如是。说法之时，戏论诸法，不答正理，如彼仙人不答所问，为一切人之所嗤笑。浮漫虚说，亦复如是。

　　译文：

　　譬如过去有两个小儿到河里遨游嬉戏，在水底摸得一把毛。一小儿说：鈥溦馐窍扇说暮�须。鈥澚硪恍《�说：鈥溦馐穷嫉拿�。鈥澋笔焙颖咦≈�一位仙人，这两个小儿争执不下，便到那仙人处，请他决断。而那仙人随即取了一把米和胡麻子，含在口中嚼了，吐在掌上，对小儿说道：鈥溛艺浦械南袷强兹甘骸ｂ�澱庀扇嗣挥谢卮鹚�们的问题，人们都是知道这一点的。

　　世上的愚人也是这样，说法的时候，随便地谈论其他种种毫不相关的学说，并不就理上正面答覆，如那个仙人答非所问一样，遭到一切人的嗤笑。浮泛散漫地虚说一通，都是这样子的。