經律異相 47.27

47.27

過去世近雪山下。有師子獸王。作五百師子主。是師子王後時老病瘦眼闇。在諸師子前行墮空井中。五百師子皆捨離去。爾時有一野干見師子王。作是念言。我所以得此林住安樂飽滿肉者由師子王。今墮急處云何當報。時此井邊有渠水流。野干即曰。以脚通水。水入滿井師子浮出。時此林神而說。偈言。

In a past age, near the foot of the Snow Mountains, there was a lion, a king of beasts, who was the master of five hundred lions. Later, this lion king grew old, sickly, emaciated, and dim of sight. While walking ahead of the lions, he fell into an empty pit. All five hundred lions abandoned him and departed. At that time, a jackal saw the lion king and thought to itself: "The reason I can dwell peacefully and happily in this forest, sated with meat, is due to the lion king. Now that he has fallen into dire straits, how can I repay him?" At that time, beside this pit, there was water flowing in a channel. The jackal then dug through to the water with its paws. The water flowed in and filled the pit, and the lion floated out. At that time, the deity of this forest spoke a verse, saying: