法句譬喻經 4.28

4.28

Formerly, when the Buddha was in the vihāra in the country of Śrāvastī, he preached the Dharma for gods, dragons, spirits, kings, and the people. At that time, there was a young bhikṣu who, in the early morning, put on his robes, leaned on his staff, and held his bowl, going into a large village to beg for alms. At that time, beside the main road, there was an official vegetable garden, on the outside of which proso and foxtail millet were planted; outside that field, in the grass, trip-wire arrows were set up: if any beasts, insects, or thieves came, touching the net, the arrows would fire, and those struck by an arrow would die. There was a comely young woman who guarded this garden alone; when people wished to go there, she would call to them from afar to show the path, and only then could they enter the garden; those who did not know the path would surely be killed by the trip-wire arrows. Now this woman, alone on guard, was singing a plaintive song; her voice was bewitching and clear. None of those who heard it failed to stop their carts and halt their horses, turning around and treading softly, wishing to approach her; lingering without departing, all were captivated by the sound. At that time, this bhikṣu, returning from begging for alms, heard the sound of the song along the road. Incline his ear to listen to the tone, his five senses were uninhibited; confused in mind and bewildered in intention, greedy and clinging without letting go, he thought this woman must be exceedingly comely. In his longing he wished to see her, to sit, stand, and converse with her, and so he turned and approached her. Before he arrived, his mind was distracted and dazed; his hand lost his pewter staff and his shoulder lost his robe and bowl without him being aware of it at all. With the three knowledges, the Buddha saw that if this bhikṣu walked forward just a little further, he would be killed by the arrows. Since he had the merit to attain the Way but was confused by folly and covered by the hindrance of desire, [the Buddha] took pity on his foolishness and wished to deliver him. He transformed himself into a white-robed layman, went to his side, and rebuked him with verses, saying: