法苑珠林 76.31

76.31

As the Dharmaguptaka-vinaya says: The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: You should listen. In ancient times there were two ferocious beasts who were companions. One was a lion named Good Tooth, and the second was a tiger named Good Shoulder. Day and night they stalked and captured deer. At that time there was a jackal that followed behind the two beasts, eating their leftover meat to preserve its own life. Then the jackal secretly thought to itself: 'I cannot follow them for long. By what expedient means can I cause the two beasts to quarrel and turn against each other so that they no longer follow one another?' The jackal then went to where the lion Good Tooth was, and spoke thus to Good Tooth: 'The tiger Good Shoulder has made these remarks: “My birthplace is superior, my lineage is superior, my form and color are superior to yours, and my strength is superior to yours. Why? Daily I obtain fine, delicious meat, while the lion Good Tooth follows behind me, eating my leftover meat to preserve his own life.”' Then he spoke a verse: