大方便佛報恩經 2.22

2.22

『爾時，大施主遊行觀看，見諸眾生飢餓顦顇，羸瘦戰掉，氣力虛微，顏貌顦顇，頭髮蓬亂，形體瘦黑。於其肩上或見擔揭，純是死人所有頭手、節腕、臂肘、脊脇、肩臂、臏膊、足指，或是肝膽腸胃。時，大施主微聲問言：「汝所擔揭者是何物也？」答言：「我所擔者是死人頭手、臂肘、節腕也。」問言：「汝擔是死人臂肘節腕，何所作為？」答言：「汝不知耶？天時亢旱，時世飢饉，穀米勇貴，人民飢餓，互相食耳。我所擔者是我飲食。」

"'At that time, the great donor went about inspecting and observing. He saw all the sentient beings famished and haggard, emaciated and trembling, their breath and strength feeble, their faces gaunt, their hair disheveled, and their bodies thin and black. Upon their shoulders, some were seen carrying loads consisting entirely of the heads, hands, joints, wrists, arms, elbows, spines, ribs, shoulders, hips, thighs, and toes of dead people, or their livers, gallbladders, intestines, and stomachs. At that time, the great donor asked in a low voice: "What is that which you are carrying on your shoulders?" They replied: "What I carry are the heads, hands, arms, elbows, joints, and wrists of dead people." He asked: "Carrying these arms, elbows, joints, and wrists of dead people, what do you do with them?" They replied: "Do you not know? The heavens are parched with drought, it is a time of famine, grain is exorbitantly expensive, and the people are starving and simply eat one another. What I carry is my food and drink."