經律異相 11.20

11.20

有人。入林伐木。迷惑失心。時值大雨。日暮飢寒。惡蟲毒獸欲侵害之。是人入石窟中。有一大熊。見之怖出。熊語之言。汝勿恐怖。此舍溫煖可於中宿。時連雨七日。常以甘菓美水供給此人。七日雨止。熊將此人示其道徑。熊語人言。我是罪身人是怨家。若有問者。莫言見我。人答言爾。此人前行。見諸獵者。獵者問。汝從何來。見有眾獸不。答言。見一大熊。於我有恩。不得示汝。獵者言。汝是人黨。以人類相觀。何以惜熊。今一失道。何時復來。汝示我者。我與汝多分。此人心變。即將獵者示熊處所。獵者殺熊。即以多分與之。此人展手取肉。二肘俱墮。獵者言。汝有何罪。答言。是熊看我。如父視子。我今背恩。將是罪報。獵者恐怖。不敢食肉。持施眾僧。上座是六通阿羅漢。語諸下座。此是菩薩。未來世當作佛。莫食此肉。即時起塔供養。王聞此事。勅下國內。背恩之人無令住此。人以種種因緣。讚知恩者（出諸經中要事）。

There was a person who entered a forest to chop wood and became bewildered, losing his sense of direction. At that time, it happened to rain heavily; it was evening, and he was hungry and cold, with vicious vermin and poisonous beasts wishing to harm him. This person entered a stone cave. There was a large bear inside; seeing it, he was terrified and ran out. The bear spoke to him, saying, 'Do not be afraid. This dwelling is warm, and you may lodge in it.' It rained continuously for seven days, and [the bear] constantly provided this person with sweet fruits and fine water. When the rain stopped after seven days, the bear led this person out and showed him the path. The bear said to the person, 'I have the body of an offender, and humans are enemies. If anyone asks, do not say you saw me.' The person replied, 'Yes.' This person went forward and met hunters. The hunters asked, 'Where have you come from? Have you seen any beasts?' He replied, 'I saw a large bear. It was kind to me, so I cannot show you.' The hunters said, 'You belong to humankind; looking at it from the perspective of human beings, why spare a bear? Having lost your way this once, when will you ever come back again? If you show us, we will give you a large portion.' This person's mind changed, and he immediately led the hunters to the bear's dwelling. The hunters killed the bear and gave him a large portion. When this person stretched out his hands to take the meat, both of his elbows dropped off. The hunters said, 'What crime have you committed?' He replied, 'This bear looked after me as a father looks after his son. Now I have betrayed its kindness; this must be the karmic retribution for my offense.' The hunters were terrified and did not dare eat the meat, but took it to offer to the Saṅgha. The elder monk was an arhat endowed with the six supernatural powers, and he said to the lower-ranking monks, 'This is a bodhisattva, who in a future age will become a Buddha. Do not eat this meat.' Immediately they erected a stūpa to make offerings to it. When the king heard of this matter, he issued an order throughout the country: 'Do not allow anyone who betrays kindness to dwell here.' People, through various causes and conditions, praised those who know kindness. (Extracted from the Zhujing zhong yaoshi)