經律異相 47.27

47.27

In a past age, near the foot of the Snow Mountains, there was a lion, a king of beasts, who was the master of five hundred lions. Later, this lion king grew old, sickly, emaciated, and dim of sight. While walking ahead of the lions, he fell into an empty pit. All five hundred lions abandoned him and departed. At that time, a jackal saw the lion king and thought to itself: "The reason I can dwell peacefully and happily in this forest, sated with meat, is due to the lion king. Now that he has fallen into dire straits, how can I repay him?" At that time, beside this pit, there was water flowing in a channel. The jackal then dug through to the water with its paws. The water flowed in and filled the pit, and the lion floated out. At that time, the deity of this forest spoke a verse, saying: