法苑珠林 51.55

51.55

如僧祇律云。佛告諸比丘。過去世時。雪山根底曲山壅中有向陽處。眾鳥雲集便共議言。我等今日當推舉一鳥為王令眾畏難不作非法。眾鳥議言。善誰應為王。有一鳥言。當推鶬鵠。有一鳥言。此事不可。何以故。高脚長頸眾鳥脫犯啄我等腦。眾咸言爾。復有一鳥言。當推鵝為王。其色絕白眾鳥所敬。眾鳥復言。此亦不可。顏貌雖白項長且曲。自項不直。安能正他。是故不可。又復眾言。正有孔雀。衣毛綵飾觀者悅目。可應為王。復言不可。所以者何。衣毛雖好而無慚愧。每至舞時醜形出現。是故不可。有一鳥言。土梟為王。所以者何。晝則安靜夜則勤伺守護我等。堪為王者。眾咸可爾。有一鸚䳇。在一處住。有多智慧。作是念言。眾鳥之法夜應眠息。晝則求食。是土梟法。夜則不眠。晝則多睡。而諸眾鳥圍侍左右。晝夜警宿不復眠睡。甚為苦事。我今設語。彼當瞋恚拔我毛羽。正欲不言。眾鳥之類長夜受困。寧受拔毛不越正理。便到眾鳥前。舉翅恭敬白眾鳥言願聽。我說如前。意見爾時。眾鳥即說。偈答。

As the *Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya* says: The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: “In a past age, at the foot of the Snowy Mountains, in an embankment of a winding mountain, there was a sunlit spot. A flock of birds gathered like clouds and discussed among themselves, saying: ‘Today we should select a bird to be our king, so that the flock will have respect and fear and not commit unlawful acts.’ The flock discussed, saying: ‘Good! Who should be king?’ One bird said: ‘We should choose the water-crane.’ Another bird said: ‘This will not do. Why? Its legs are tall and its neck is long; if any bird transgresses, it might peck our brains out.’ The flock all agreed. Another bird said: ‘We should choose the goose to be king; its colour is pure white, and it is respected by all the birds.’ The flock of birds said again: ‘This too will not do. Although its appearance is white, its neck is long and curved. If its own neck is not straight, how could it straighten others? Therefore it will not do.’ The flock spoke again: ‘There is precisely the peacock; its colourful feathers are pleasing to beholders. It could be king.’ They said again: ‘It will not do. Why is that? Although its feathers are beautiful, it lacks shame and remorse; whenever it dances, its ugly form is revealed. Therefore it will not do.’ One bird said: ‘Let the owl be king. Why? By day it is tranquil, and by night it diligently watches and protects us. It is worthy to be king.’ The flock all agreed. There was a parrot residing in a certain place who possessed great wisdom. It thought: ‘The way of the flock of birds is that they should sleep and rest at night and seek food by day. But the owl's way is that it does not sleep at night and sleeps much by day. If the birds attend and wait upon it on left and right, on guard day and night without sleeping, it will be a great misery. If I speak now, it will become enraged and pluck out my feathers; but if I choose not to speak, the flock of birds will suffer distress through the long night. I would rather have my feathers plucked than violate the right principle.’ It then went before the flock of birds, raised its wings with respect, and addressed the birds, saying: ‘Please listen to my opinion as stated before.’ At that time, the flock of birds replied in verse: