法苑珠林 67.45

67.45

Furthermore, the Old Sūtra of Miscellaneous Parables states: Formerly, there were six companions who committed sins and all fell into hell into the same caldron. They all wished to recount their original transgressions. The first person said: "Sha." The second person said: "Na." The third person said: "Chi." The fourth person said: "She." The fifth person said: "Gu." The sixth person said: "Tuoluo." Seeing this, the Buddha smiled. Maudgalyāyana asked the Buddha: "Why do you smile?" The Buddha said: "There were six companions who together fell into hell in the same caldron. Each wished to speak of his original transgression, but because the hot broth boiled and surged, they could not speak a second time; with each single utterance, they sank back down. The first person who said 'Sha' meant: 'Sixty billion years in the human realm are only one day in Naraka; when will it ever end?' The second person who said 'Na' meant: 'There is no time of exit, nor do I know when I will attain release.' The third person who said 'Chi' meant: 'Alas! I was busy managing my livelihood and could not restrain my mind, stealing the shares of the five families to make offerings to the Three Honoured Ones; foolish and greedy without satisfaction, what does regret avail now?' The fourth person who said 'She' meant: 'I also managed my livelihood without sincerity; the wealth belonged to others, yet I have received bitter torment.' The fifth person who said 'Gu' meant: 'Who will guarantee for me that, once out of hell, I will not violate the moral prohibitions and may be born into heavenly bliss?' The sixth person who said 'Tuoluo' meant: 'At the outset of this matter, I did not carefully examine it in my mind; like driving a chariot that loses the way and enters a detour, breaking the axle and destroying the cart, regret is to no avail.'"