百喻经之四六: 偷犛牛喻
§46 偷犛牛喻
(46) to steal the yak
譬如一村，共偷犛牛，而共食之。其失牛者，逐迹至村，唤此村人，问其由状，而语之言：“在尔此村不？”
once there was a village whose people jointly participated in stealing a yak for food. the man who lost the yak followed their trail to the village. he called out to the villagers, "do you all live in this village?"
偷者对曰：“我实无村。”
the villagers replied, "we live in no village."
又问：“尔村中有池，在此池边共食牛不？”
again the man asked, "there is a pond in your village. have you eaten the yak together on the side of the pond?"
答言：“无池。”
replied the people: "we know of no pond."
又问：“池傍有树不？”
again he asked, "is there any tree near the pond?"
对言：“无树。”
they answered, "we know of no tree."
又问：“偷牛之时，在尔村东不？”
again he asked, "were you on the east side of your village when you stole my yak?"
对曰：“无东。”
they answered, "we know of no east direction."
又问：“当尔偷牛，非日中时耶？”
again he asked, "wasn't it at noon when you stole my yak?"
对曰：“无中。”
they answered, "we know of no noon time."
又问：“纵可无村，及以无树，何有天下无东，无时。知尔妄语，都不可信。尔偷牛食不？”
again he asked, "although it is possibly true of your first three answers, how can you say there is no direction and no time in all the world. now i know you are lying. so i don't believe you at all. sure enough, you have stolen my yak. haven't you?"
对曰：“实食。”
thereupon, the stealer could not but admit it.
破戒之人，亦复如是。覆藏罪过，不肯发露，死于地狱。诸天善神以天眼观，不得覆藏，如彼食牛，不得欺拒。
so are those who break commandments. people who hide their sins are reluctant to disclose them. they will, however, go to hell after their death. since devas and good gods possess supernatural eyes, people should not even try to deceive them just like the villagers should not refuse to admit stealing a yak for food.
注释：
①犛牛：犛，音毛。兽如牛而尾长，名叫犛牛。
白话：
譬如有一个村子的人联手偷了一头犛牛，一起吃了。丢牛的人循著足迹，找至村中，叫住这个村的人打听情况，问道：「牛在这村不?」偷牛者答道：「我们其实没有村子。」失主又问：「你们村中有池，在那池边一起吃了这牛不?」村里人答道：「没有池。」失主又问：「池边有树不?」村里人答道：「没有树。」失主又问：「你们偷牛之时，在村子东边不?」村里人答道：「没有东边。」失主又问：「当你们偷牛的时候，不是正午吗?」村里人答道：「没有正午。」失主问道：「纵然可以没有村，没有树，天下哪可没有东边，没有时间? 可见你们说谎了，完全不可相信。你们偷牛吃了不?」村里人答道：「确实吃了。」
破戒的人也是这样，把罪过掩盖藏匿起来，不肯发露，死后就堕入了地狱。诸天的善神以天眼来观察，就掩盖藏匿不了了，就如那些偷牛吃的人，无法欺骗抵赖了。
这故事比喻∶修持佛法而破戒的人，每每把罪恶隐藏起来，不肯如法发露忏悔，改过迁善，却常常想假造理由，自圆其说；但结果终掩盖不了所作的罪恶，受了种种的苦恼。只有勇于承认自己的过失，恳切地发露忏悔，才能走上佛法的大道。
解说：
为了抵赖，直至否定时间和空间的存在，否定基本事理，常是说谎者的手法，因而也是检测说谎与否的标尺。
供您思考：
圣法法师在《百喻故事广释》中说：世间每一个人都有每个人的隐密，而隐密也有善的也有恶的。譬如‘隐恶扬善’隐人家的过错，而扬人家的善德即是善的。反过来说，把人家的过错秘密公开出来，人家的善心善行隐藏起来，即是恶的，对别人如此，对自己呢？对自己即相反的，有一点过错即应吐露出来，让人家知道，以表示忏悔。无论有多大的功德或善事都隐藏起来，不要让人家知道，这才是君子的作为。佛法说：三轮体空，才是无限的功德。
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