法苑珠林 82.87

82.87

As the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya says: The Buddha told the monks, "In a past age, by the edge of an araṇya pond, there were two wild geese who became close friends with a turtle. Later, the pond dried up. The two geese conferred, saying: 'Now this pond has dried up, and our friend will surely suffer great hardship.' Having conferred, they said to the turtle: 'This pond has dried up, and you have no way to survive. You may bite onto a stick of wood, and we will each hold an end in our beaks to carry you to a large body of water. While holding the stick in your mouth, be very careful not to speak.' The turtle then bit onto it. As they passed over a village, the young children saw them and all said, 'The geese are carrying off a turtle!' The turtle became angry and said, 'What business is it of yours?!' Thereupon he lost hold of the stick, fell to the ground, and died. At that time, on this account, the World-Honoured One spoke a verse:"