法苑珠林 45.22

45.22

Furthermore, the Mahāsaṃghika-vinaya says: The Buddha told the monks: In a past age, there was a city named Vārāṇasī in the country of Kāśi. At that time, there was a brāhmaṇa who set up a charitable well in the wilderness so that herdsmen and travelers could all come to the well to drink and also bathe. As the day drew toward evening, a pack of jackals came to the well to drink the remaining water on the ground. There was a jackal chieftain who would not drink the water on the ground; instead, he inserted his head into the jug to drink water. After drinking, he raised his head high with the jug on it and slammed it down, shattering the earthenware jug, though the rim of the jug still encircled his neck. The other jackals said to the jackal chieftain, 'Even a wet tree leaf that is useful should be preserved; how much more so this jug that benefits travelers! Why break it?' The jackal chieftain said, 'I find pleasure in this. As long as my heart is pleased, what do I care about others' affairs?' At that time, a traveler told the brāhmaṇa, 'Your jug has been broken.' He replaced it again, but just as before, it was broken by the jackal, up to fourteen times. The other jackals repeatedly admonished him, yet he still would not accept their words. Then the brāhmaṇa thought to himself, 'Who is breaking the jugs? I must go and watch.' Seeing that it was indeed a jackal, he thought: 'This is my well of meritorious virtue, yet it creates obstruction.' So he made a wooden jug that was sturdy and hard to break, designed so that the head could enter easily but be difficult to withdraw. He placed it beside the well and, holding a stick, hid in a concealed place to watch. When the travelers finished drinking, the jackal chieftain entered to drink as before. Having finished drinking, he slammed it against the ground, but could not break it. Then the brāhmaṇa struck and killed him with the stick. In mid-air, a deva spoke this verse: