[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) › 78.21 # 法苑珠林 78.21 法苑珠林 78.21 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [78.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.78.21) 又雜譬喻經云。昔有一蛇。頭尾自諍。頭語尾曰。我應為大。尾語頭曰。我應為大。頭曰。我有耳能聽。有目能視。有口能食。行時在前。故可為大。汝無此術。尾曰。我令汝去。故得去耳。若我不去以身繞木三匝。三日不已。不得求食。飢餓垂死。頭語尾曰。汝可放我。聽汝為大。尾聞其言。即時放之。復語尾曰。汝既為大。聽汝前行。尾在前行。未緣數步墮大深坑而死。喻眾生無智強為人我終墮三塗。 > Furthermore, the Saṃyukta-avadāna-sūtra says: In the past, there was a snake whose head and tail disputed with each other. The head said to the tail, 'I should be the master.' The tail said to the head, 'I should be the master.' The head said, 'I have ears that can hear, eyes that can see, and a mouth that can eat. When traveling, I go in front; therefore I can be the master. You have no such abilities.' The tail said, 'Because I let you move, you are able to move. If I do not move and coil my body three times around a tree, persisting for three days, you will be unable to seek food and will starve to the point of dying.' The head said to the tail, 'You may release me; I allow you to be the master.' Hearing these words, the tail immediately released it. The head further said to the tail, 'Since you are the master, I allow you to go first.' As the tail went first, before traveling a few paces, it fell into a large, deep pit and died. This is an analogy for sentient beings who, lacking wisdom and stubbornly asserting self and other, ultimately fall into the three miserable destinies. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 78.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.78.20) - [Next: 78.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.78.22) - [Up: 78](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.78) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.78.21) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [諸經要集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2123.15.67) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.78.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.78.21) · Pramāṇa