經律異相 11.36

11.36

過去世時。有波羅奈城。城邊有池。池名雨成。是池中多魚龜鵝雁鴨等。中有雁王。名曰治國。作五百雁主。時有獵師。先施毛羂。雁王前行。右脚著羂。作是念言。若我出是羂脚。餘雁不敢噉穀。盡已即便現脚。眾雁飛去。唯有一雁。名曰蘇摩。不捨王去。王語大臣言。我與汝職作王。在諸雁前行。答言。不能。問言。何故致。

In a past age, there was the city of Vārāṇasī. Beside the city was a pond named Yūcheng ('Rain-Formed'). In this pond were many fish, turtles, geese, and ducks. Among them was a goose king named Zhiguo ('Ruler of the Realm'), who was lord over five hundred geese. At that time a hunter set a hair snare in advance. The goose king walked ahead, and its right foot caught in the snare. It thought: 'If I pull my foot out of this snare, the other geese will not dare to eat the grain.' When they had finished eating, it then revealed its foot. The flock of geese flew off; only one goose, named Soma, would not abandon the king and leave. The king said to the minister: 'I give you the post of king to walk ahead of the geese.' He replied, 'I cannot.' The king asked, 'Why?'