經律異相 39.15

39.15

過去世時。有一大國。在于北方邊地。號曰智幻。智幻人齎持烏來。至波遮梨國。而其國界無有此烏。亦無異類奇妙之鳥。時人見烏。歡喜踊躍。供養奉事飲食果瓜。而消息之。遠方之烏皆來集會不可稱數。一國普事尊敬無量。於後異時有一賈人復從他國齎孔雀來。眾見羽翼殊傑行步弘雅所未曾有。聽其音聲心懷踊躍。皆捨烏而愛孔雀。前養烏之具皆供孔雀。尊敬自歸。諸烏皆沒不知處所。時有天頌曰。

In a past age, there was a great country in the northern frontier region named Zhihuan. A person of Zhihuan brought a crow to the kingdom of Bochelī (Pāṭalīputra?). In that kingdom there were no such crows, nor any other extraordinary or wondrous birds. When the people of that time saw the crow, they danced with joy, made offerings and served it with food, drink, fruits, and melons, taking care of it. Crows from distant places all gathered in incalculable numbers. The entire kingdom universally served and revered them immeasurably. Later at another time, a merchant brought a peacock from another country. When the crowd saw its extraordinary plumage and dignified, elegant gait, such as had never been seen before, and heard its voice, their hearts leaped with joy. They all abandoned the crows and cherished the peacock. The provisions previously used to feed the crows were all offered to the peacock with reverence and refuge. The crows all disappeared and their whereabouts were unknown. At that time, a deva recited a verse: