雜譬喻經 1.58

1.58

昔有一蛇頭尾自相與諍，頭語尾曰：「我應為大。」尾語頭曰：「我亦應大。」頭曰：「我有耳能聽、有目能視、有口能食，行時最在前，是故可為大；汝無此術，不應為大。」尾曰：「我令汝去，故得去耳，若我以身遶木三匝三日而不已，頭遂不得去求食，飢餓垂死。」頭語尾曰：「汝可放之，聽汝為大。」尾聞其言即時放之。復語尾曰：「汝既為大，聽汝在前行。」尾在前行，未經數步墮火坑而死。此喻僧中或有聰明大德上座能斷法律，下有小者不肯順從，上座力不能制，便語之言：「欲爾隨意。」事不成濟俱墮非法，喻若彼蛇墜火坑也。

Formerly, the head and tail of a snake argued with each other. The head said to the tail: “I should be the leader.” The tail said to the head: “I too should be the leader.” The head said: “I have ears that can hear, eyes that can see, and a mouth that can eat, and when moving I am foremost; therefore I can be the leader. You lack such abilities and should not be the leader.” The tail said: “It is because I let you go that you can go. If I wind my body three times around a tree for three days without stopping, you, head, will not be able to go seek food, and will starve nearly to death.” The head said to the tail: “You may release it, and I permit you to be the leader.” Hearing its words, the tail immediately released it. The head then said to the tail: “Since you are the leader, I permit you to walk in front.” The tail walked in front, and before taking several steps, it fell into a fire pit and died. This illustrates that among the Saṅgha there may be a wise elder of great virtue who can decide the rules and discipline, but inferior juniors refuse to obey him. When the elder lacks the power to restrain them, he says to them: “Do as you please if you wish.” The matter is not accomplished, and both fall into non-Dharma, just like that snake falling into a fire pit.