經律異相 44.10

44.10

In the past, there was a man named Ciluolu who saw someone selling a turtle. Feeling pity in his heart, he wept toward the turtle. The turtle-seller said: 'Why are you weeping toward the turtle?' Ciluolu answered: 'I cannot bear to look upon it.' The impoverished turtle-seller laughed loudly: 'You are crazy!' Ciluolu answered: 'Pitying this turtle, I wish to purchase it from you.' The owner said: 'The turtle is worth a million.' Ciluolu then took him to his home, poured out his savings and borrowed at interest, obtaining eight hundred thousand. Ciluolu said: 'My money is exhausted; I have nowhere else to borrow.' The turtle-seller said: 'Since your money is exhausted, you may farm for me to pay off the full price.' Ciluolu agreed. He loaded the turtle onto a cart and cast it into a pond. The turtle was then able to speak: 'A great flood will soon come; you should climb a tree and call to me.' In later days, a deluge arose and the people were all killed. Ciluolu climbed a tree and called to the turtle, and the turtle arrived. Ciluolu sat upon the turtle's back. Advancing several miles, he saw a woman upon a floating raft, gasping for breath and near death; she begged Ciluolu, asking to be carried. Ciluolu addressed the turtle: 'This person is pitiable; please allow me to carry her.' The turtle said: 'Go ahead and take her aboard.' Advancing ten miles, they saw the turtle-seller drifting on a raft, who sought to be carried by Ciluolu. The turtle said: 'I am already heavy; I fear I will become exhausted and unable to cross over myself. By no means take him aboard!' Ciluolu said: 'He is pitiable; now is not the time to weigh right and wrong, we must carry him.' Ciluolu carried him as well. Advancing several tens of miles, they saw several pints of moths drifting on a raft; Ciluolu again informed the turtle and took them aboard. Reaching the realm of Nagara, the woman thanked Ciluolu with gold. The turtle-seller said: 'This turtle was originally sold by me; now that you have obtained gold, you must give it to me.' Ciluolu refused to give it. The turtle-seller then went to the king of Nagara, saying: 'Ciluolu stole someone's wife to traffic her, and has now brought gold and silver to this realm.' The king of Nagara immediately summoned Ciluolu and ordered an officer to execute him. When the officer submitted a report of the matter and was about to write with his brush, the moths repeatedly crawled over the brush, preventing the characters from forming. Hearing of this, the king asked Ciluolu: 'What merit do you possess?' Ciluolu answered in full. The king executed the turtle-seller (from the *Anan xianbian jing*).