百喻经之四二: 估客驼死喻
§42 估客驼死喻
(42) the trader and the dead camel
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：“好看驼皮，莫使湿烂。”
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."
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。
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.
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。
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.
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。
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.
注释：
①细软：珠宝、绸帛等轻便而易于携带的贵重物品。
②氎：音牒，古印度人抽撚木棉花，纺为缕，织作布，就叫做氎（dié）。
③坐：留驻、守定，此处作使动词用。
④嚚：yín，痴、愚。
⑤法身：法性身。佛的法身，满十方虚空，无量无边，无量光明，无量音声。常现出种种身相，种种名号，种种生死，种种方便，救度众生。
⑥妙因：绝妙的行因，是菩萨的大行。释典常言：妙因斯满，极果顿圆。
白话：
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：「好生看管驼皮，不要让它受潮烂掉了。」过后天落雨了，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。
这故事比喻∶学佛法的人，不去严持净戒，修定开慧，仅作造塔供僧等的财施功德，这是舍本取末的行动，是不能出离生死证到道果的。所以应当先精严地护持戒律，再修财施等善行，如两个学徒应当先护本来贵重的绸毡等货，再护骆驼皮才是。
供您思考：
圣法法师在《百喻故事广释》中说：世间万事有缓急轻重之别，遇到灾难危急之时应取重舍轻，做紧急之事，而非目前所急的事情可以慢慢来进行，才是聪明的人。可是世间竟有缓急颠倒，舍重就轻，岂不是愚迷众生么？
从前有一个经商的人，带了两个年轻的儿子和一头骆驼及许多贵重的货物，欲到很远的地方去做生意。他们选著春天的早晨，春光明媚的时候出发，正是出门旅行的好季节。父子三人牵著骆驼向田野间前进，他们看到农夫在田野工作，这位商人就对儿子说：
‘世间的万事以及事业，那一件不是经过千辛万苦的经营，而后才得到血汗的成果。你看农夫若无春天辛劳的工作，那有秋天的收获’。年轻的儿子说：‘爸，我们出门经商，不也像农人的春耕，若不经遥远的旅途奔走，那能赚得最优厚的利润呢？’商人点点头表示同意儿子的看法。
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