經律異相 47.21

47.21

At that time, the lion king never repaid the kindness, but abandoned him and walked away. The woodpecker thought to himself: 'My kindness was immense, yet I am conversely held in contempt. I will now follow him and wait for his moment of vulnerability. One who does not repay kindness should never prosper in the world; wherever he goes, I will never part from him.' Later, the lion king again killed herds of beasts and ate his fill; being satiated, he fell asleep without any fear. At that time, the woodpecker flew toward the lion, perched squarely upon his brow, and with all his strength pecked out one of his eyes, destroying it. The lion started up in alarm and looked to the left and right, but saw no other beast; he saw only the woodpecker alone in a tree. The lion king then said to the woodpecker, 'Why have you now destroyed my eye?' At that time, the woodpecker replied to him with a verse: