經律異相 48.69

48.69

昔有一蛇頭尾自諍。頭語尾曰。我應為大。尾語頭曰。我應為大。頭曰。我有耳能聽。有目能視。有口能食。行時在前。故可為大。汝無此術。尾曰。我令汝去。故得去耳。若我以身遶木三匝。三日不已不得求食。飢餓垂死。頭語尾曰。汝可放之聽汝為大。尾聞其言即時放之。復語尾曰。汝既為大聽汝前行。尾在前行。未經數步墜火坑而死。

Formerly, there was a snake whose head and tail quarreled with each other. The head said to the tail: 'I should be the elder.' The tail said to the head: 'I should be the elder.' The head said: 'I have ears that can hear, eyes that can see, a mouth that can eat, and when moving I go in front; therefore I can be the elder. You have no such arts.' The tail said: 'It is only because I let you go that you can go. If I coil my body three times around a tree, not stopping for three days, you cannot seek food and will be on the verge of death from starvation.' The head said to the tail: 'Release it, and I will let you be the elder.' Hearing its words, the tail immediately released it. [The head] further said to the tail: 'Since you are the elder, I allow you to go ahead.' The tail moved ahead, and before going a few steps, it fell into a fire pit and died.