經律異相 47.91

47.91

昔者有鹿數百為群。隨逐美草侵近人邑。國王出獵遂各分迸。有一母鹿。懷妊獨遊被逐。飢疲失侶。時生二子捨行求食。焭悸失厝墮獵弶中。悲鳴欲出不能得脫。獵師聞聲便往視之。見鹿心喜即前欲殺。鹿乃叩頭求哀自陳。向生二子尚小無知。始視曚曚未曉東西。乞假須臾暫還視子。將示水草使得生活。旋來就死不違信誓。獵者驚怪。即答鹿曰。一切世人尚無至誠。況鹿身從死得脫豈有還期。鹿復報言。聽則子存。留則子亡。說偈曰。

Formerly, there were deer numbering several hundreds in a herd. Pursuing sweet grass, they approached human settlements. The king of the country went out hunting, whereupon they scattered in all directions. There was a pregnant mother deer roaming alone; being pursued, hungry, and exhausted, she lost her herd. At that time, she gave birth to two fawns, left them, and went to seek food. Distressed, startled, and disoriented, she fell into a hunter's snare. Crying out in grief, she sought to get out but was unable to escape. Hearing the sound, the hunter went to look; seeing the deer, his heart rejoiced, and he stepped forward intending to kill her. The deer thereupon kowtowed and begged for mercy, explaining herself: 'I have just given birth to two fawns, who are still young and ignorant. Their vision is just beginning to clear, and they do not yet know east from west. I beg for a brief respite to temporarily return and see my fawns, to lead them and show them water and grass so that they can survive. I will immediately return to face death and will not break my sworn pledge.' The hunter was astonished and replied to the deer: 'All worldly people lack utmost sincerity; how much more so an animal—having escaped from death, how could there be any hope of your return?' The deer replied again: 'If you permit me, my fawns will live; if you detain me, my fawns will die.' And she spoke a verse: