法苑珠林 65.28

65.28

時鼈急捉獼猴却行欲入水。獼猴急悑便作是念。若我入水必死無疑。然苦痛力弱任鼈迴轉。流離牽曳遇值嶮處。鼈時仰臥。是時獼猴兩手抱鼈。作是念言。誰當為我脫此苦難。獼猴曾知仙人住處。彼當救我。便抱此鼈向彼處去。仙人遙見便作是念。咄哉異事。念是獼猴為作何等欲戲弄。獼猴故言。婆羅門是何等寶物滿鉢持來。得何等信而來向我。爾時獼猴即說偈言。

At that time, the turtle firmly gripped the monkey and walked backward, wanting to enter the water. The monkey, terrified and panicked, thought: “If I enter the water, I will surely die without doubt.” Yet in pain and weakness, he let the turtle drag him about. Hauled and dragged through a treacherous place, the turtle turned onto its back. At that time, the monkey embraced the turtle with both hands, thinking: “Who will deliver me from this suffering and distress?” The monkey knew where the ṛṣis lived: “He will rescue me!” He then carried the turtle and went toward that place. The ṛṣi saw him from afar and thought: “How extraordinary! What is this monkey doing, and what kind of game is he playing?” The monkey called out: “Brāhmaṇa, what kind of precious vessel full of treasures are you holding? What kind of faith have you obtained to come toward me?” Then the monkey spoke a verse: