[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 52.40 # 法苑珠林 52.40 法苑珠林 52.40 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [52.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.40) 唐居士李信者。并州文水縣之太平里人也。身為隆政府衛士。至顯慶年冬。隨例往。朔州赴番。乘赤草馬一匹并將草駒。是時歲晚凝陰風雪嚴厚。行十數里馬遂不進。信以番期逼促撾之數十下。馬遂作人語。謂信曰。我是汝母。為生平避汝父將石餘米乞女故獲此報。此駒即是汝妹也。以力償債向了。汝復何苦敦逼如是。信聞之驚愕流洟不能自勝。乃拜謝之。躬馱鞍轡謂曰。若是信孃當自行歸家。馬遂前行。信負鞍轡隨之至家。信兄弟等見之悲哀相對。別為廠櫪養飼有同事母。屈僧營齋。合門莫不精進。鄉閭道俗咸歎異之。時工部侍郎溫無隱。歧州司法張金停俱為丁艱。在家聞而奇之。故就信家顧訪。見馬猶在。問其由委。並如所傳（右二驗出冥報拾遺）。 > The Tang lay practitioner Li Xin was a native of Taiping Village, Wenshui County, Bingzhou. He was a garrison soldier in the Longzheng Garrison. In the winter of the Xianqing era, he went on duty to Shuozhou according to standard rotation. He rode a bay mare and took along a filly. At that time, it was late in the year, overcast, and the wind and snow were severe and thick. After traveling more than ten li, the horse refused to proceed. As the reporting deadline was pressing, Xin whipped it several dozens of times. The horse then spoke in human words, saying to Xin: "I am your mother. Because during my lifetime I concealed \[it\] from your father and gave more than a dan of grain to my daughter, I incurred this retribution. This filly is your younger sister. We have nearly repaid our debt through physical labor; why do you torment and press us so harshly?" Hearing this, Xin was stunned and wept uncontrollably; he then bowed in apology. Personally taking the saddle and bridle onto his own back, he said: "If you are Xin's mother, you should return home on your own." The horse then walked forward, and Xin followed it home bearing the saddle and bridle. When Xin's brothers saw it, they mourned face to face, set up a separate shed and manger to feed and care for it, serving it just as they would their mother. They invited monks to hold vegetarian feasts, and everyone in the household became diligent in practice. The monastics and layfolk of the local community all marveled at it. At that time, Vice Minister of Works Wen Wuyin and Judicial Officer of Qizhou Zhang Jinting were both observing mourning for their parents. Hearing of this at home, they marveled at it and went to Xin's home to visit and enquire. Seeing that the horse was still there, they asked about the circumstances, and all was as had been transmitted. (The above two verifications are from the Mingbao shiyi.) > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 52.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.39) - [Next: 52.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.41) - [Up: 52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.52.40) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.52.40) · Pramāṇa