經律異相 23.45

23.45

有暴志比丘尼者。反懷惡信謗佛毀僧。佛言。不但今世。過去無數劫時。一獼猴王居在林樹食果飲水。時念一切蚑行喘息人物之類。皆欲令度使至無為。時有一鼈以為知友。鼈數往來到獼猴所。飲食言談說正義理。其婦見之。謂有婬盪問。夫為何所至。答曰。吾與獼猴共結親友。甚聰明智慧又曉義理。婦猶不信。因便佯病。困劣著地治不肯差。謂夫言。吾病甚重。得卿所親獼猴肝。乃當活耳。夫答曰。吾寄身託命。云何以活卿耶。婦曰。夫婦同共一體不念相濟。反為獼猴夫敬重婦。往請獼猴共食。獼猴答曰。吾家陸地。卿在水中。安得相從。鼈曰。吾當負卿。獼猴從之負到中道語獼猴言。婦病須卿肝。獼猴曰。何不早道。吾肝掛樹不齎將來。從還取肝乃相從耳。便還樹上跳梁歡喜。鼈問曰。卿應取肝來。到我家去。反更跳梁何耶。獼猴答曰。天下至愚無過於汝。共為親友寄身託命。還欲見危。鼈婦暴志是。鼈調達是。獼猴王我是（出鼈獼猴經）。

There was a bhikṣuṇī named Ciñcā who harboured evil intent, slandering the Buddha and reviling the Saṅgha. The Buddha said: "Not only in this present life, but in the past, countless kalpas ago, a monkey king resided in the forest trees, eating fruits and drinking water. At that time, he was mindful of all crawling and breathing living beings, wishing to deliver them all to the unconditioned. At that time, there was a turtle whom he took as an intimate friend. The turtle frequently came to the monkey's place, eating, drinking, conversing, and speaking of correct principles. His wife saw this and thought there was licentiousness involved. She asked her husband: 'Where have you been going?' He replied: 'I have forged a friendship with a monkey, who is very clever and wise, and also understands the principles.' The wife still did not believe it. She then feigned illness, lying feeble on the ground, refusing to be cured. She said to her husband: 'My illness is very severe; only if I obtain the liver of your close friend, the monkey, will I survive.' The husband replied: 'I entrust my life to him; how could I use him to keep you alive?' The wife said: 'Husband and wife are of one body, yet you have no thought of saving me, but instead care for the monkey.' The husband, honouring his wife, went to invite the monkey to eat together. The monkey replied: 'My home is on dry land, and you are in the water; how can I accompany you?' The turtle said: 'I will carry you.' The monkey complied. Carrying him midway, the turtle said to the monkey: 'My wife is sick and needs your liver.' The monkey said: 'Why didn't you speak earlier? My liver is hanging on a tree, and I did not bring it along. Only after returning to fetch the liver can I follow you.' Thereupon he returned to the tree, leaping and rejoicing. The turtle asked: 'You should fetch the liver and come to my home; why are you instead leaping about?' The monkey replied: 'In the world, none is more foolish than you! We were close friends entrusting our lives to each other, yet you wished to endanger me.' The turtle's wife was Ciñcā; the turtle was Devadatta; the monkey king was myself" (Extracted from the Turtle and Monkey Sūtra).