經律異相 21.27

21.27

The Buddha was dwelling in Rājagṛha. At that time, the monks performed the censure act (utkṣepana-karman) against Devadatta. The group of six monks shared Devadatta's words and views. The Buddha told the monks: "In the past, in a secluded spot, five hundred monkeys roamed in a forest. They came to a nyagrodha tree beneath which was a well, and in the well was the reflection of the moon. Then the monkey king saw this reflection of the moon and said to his companions, 'The moon has died and fallen, landing in the well! We should pull it out together, so the world will not remain in long darkness.' They deliberated together, asking how they could pull it out. The monkey king said, 'I know the method to pull it out: I will hold the tree branch, you hold my tail, and linking one to another, we can pull it out.' Then the monkeys followed the king's words, holding each other in succession. Just before reaching the water, the weight of the linked monkeys proved too heavy; the weak tree branch snapped, and all the monkeys fell into the well water. The monkey king at that time was this Devadatta today; the other monkeys at that time were the group of six monks today." (From the Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya, fascicle 8.)