經律異相 46.25

46.25

有人以沽酒為業。鬼現來飲酒未雇錢。而告主人言。明日當有一人持花上下白衣帶青幐。幐中有金銀千斤。當於湖中浴卒死不出。汝往取金銀保後無憂。明日主人伺候。見人來入水洗浴上岸著衣洗足却躄地而死。酒師往取得金銀如數。後日鬼來。主人作食出酒白神言。我見人著衣欲去乃死。何不於水中殺之使得上岸乎。鬼言。我不能殺人病人。我知人壽命衰耗時耳。師曰。天上天下鬼神。知人壽命罪福當至未至。不能活人不能殺人。不能使人富貴貧賤。但欲使人作惡犯殺。因人衰耗而往亂之。語其禍福令人向之設祠祀耳（出十卷譬喻經第六卷）。

There was a man whose occupation was selling wine. A ghost manifested and came to drink wine without paying money, and told the host, "Tomorrow a person holding flowers will come, dressed in white above and below, wearing a blue sash. In the sash will be a thousand catties of gold and silver. He will bathe in the lake and suddenly die without emerging. You go and take the gold and silver, and you will certainly be free of worry thereafter." The next day, the host kept watch and saw a man enter the water to bathe; he came ashore, put on his clothes, washed his feet, and then fell backwards onto the ground and died. The wine merchant went and took the gold and silver according to the amount. On a later day, the ghost came. The host prepared food, served wine, and told the spirit, "I saw the man put on his clothes and prepare to leave before dying. Why didn't you kill him in the water so he wouldn't come ashore?" The ghost said, "I cannot kill people or sicken people. I only know when a person's lifespan and fortune are depleted." The merchant said, "The ghosts and spirits in heaven and on earth know when people's lifespans, transgressions, and blessings are due to arrive or have not yet arrived. They cannot give life to people, nor can they kill people; they cannot make people wealthy, noble, poor, or base. They only wish to make people do evil and commit slaughter, and taking advantage of people's decline, they go to disorder them, telling them of their fortunes and misfortunes so that people will face them and make offerings." (from the sixth fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Avadāna Sūtra).