法苑珠林 57.74

57.74

Furthermore, the Zābǎozàng jīng states: In the past there was a maidservant who was by nature upright and prudent. She often managed the crushed wheat and beans for her master. At that time, a he-goat in the household watched for an opportunity and then ate the wheat and beans. The measure of pecks was depleted, and she was scolded by her master. Convinced that she had not taken them and that it was entirely due to the goat eating them, for this reason the maidservant harbored a persistent grudge, and constantly took a stick to strike the he-goat. The goat also harbored resentment and came to butt the maidservant. Such mutual offenses occurred on more than one occasion. One day, the maidservant went empty-handed to fetch fire. Seeing that she had no stick, the goat came straight to butt her. Because of the emergency, the maidservant placed the fire she had taken onto the goat's back. Feeling the heat of the fire, the goat ran headlong wherever it went, dashing into and burning villagers, which spread to the mountains and marshes. At that time, five hundred monkeys in the mountain were engulfed by the raging fire and could not escape in time; they were all burned to death at once. Having seen this, the devas spoke a verse, saying: