法苑珠林 34.28

34.28

又雜阿含經云。爾時世尊告諸比丘。過去世時有河中草。有龜於中住止。時有野干飢行覓食。遙見龜蟲疾來捉取。龜蟲見來即便藏六。野干守伺冀出頭足。欲取食之。久守龜蟲。永不出頭亦不出足。野干飢乏瞋恚而去。諸比丘。汝等今日亦復如彼。知魔波旬常伺汝便。冀汝眼著於色。耳聞聲。鼻嗅香。舌甞味。身著觸。意念法。欲令出生染著六境。是故比丘。汝等今日常當執持眼律儀住執持眼根律儀。惡魔不得其便。隨出隨緣。耳鼻舌身意亦復如是。於其六根若出若緣不得其便。猶如龜蟲野干不得其便。爾時世尊即說偈言。

Furthermore, the Saṃyuktāgama says: At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the bhikṣus: "In the past, there was grass in a river wherein a tortoise dwelt. At that time, a hungry jackal was wandering about seeking food. Seeing the tortoise from afar, it rushed over to seize it. Seeing it coming, the tortoise immediately drew in its six limbs. The jackal kept watch, waiting for its head or feet to emerge so that it might seize and eat it. Having watched for a long time, the tortoise never put out its head nor its feet. Starving, exhausted, and enraged, the jackal went away. O bhikṣus, you today are also like that: know that Māra Pāpīyān is constantly lying in wait for your vulnerability, hoping that your eye will attach to sights, your ear hear sounds, your nose smell scents, your tongue taste flavours, your body attach to tangibles, and your mind think of phenomena, desiring to engender attachment to the six sense objects. Therefore, bhikṣus, you today must constantly abide by observing the discipline of the eye faculty. If you observe the discipline of the eye faculty, the evil Māra will find no vulnerability. When [the mind] goes out and grasps conditions, it is likewise with the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind: if one does not let him find vulnerability when the six faculties go out or grasp conditions, it will be just like the jackal finding no vulnerability with the tortoise." At that time, the World-Honoured One uttered this gāthā: