諸經要集 9.98

9.98

Furthermore, the Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya says: The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: In a past age, there was a city named Vārāṇasī and a kingdom named Kāśi. At that time, a brāhmaṇa constructed a public well in the wilderness for herders and travelers, so that all could go to the well to drink and bathe. Toward evening, a pack of jackals came to the well to drink the water remaining on the ground. The jackal leader would not drink the ground water; he stuck his head into a pitcher to drink water. Having drunk, he lifted the pitcher high on his head and dashed it to pieces, but the neck of the pitcher still ringed around his neck. The other jackals said to the jackal leader, “If even a moist tree leaf can be used, one should always preserve it, let alone this pitcher which benefits travelers! Why break it?” The jackal leader said, “I take pleasure in this. As long as it pleases my mind, what do I care about anything else?” At that time, a traveler told the brāhmaṇa, “Your pitcher has been broken. Place another one there as before.” It was broken by the jackal up to fourteen times. The other jackals repeatedly remonstrated with him, but he still would not accept their words. Then the brāhmaṇa thought to himself: “Who is breaking the pitchers? I should go and lie in wait to watch.” It turned out to be the jackal. He then thought: “He is making difficulties for my merit well.” He then made a wooden jar, sturdy and difficult to break, designed so that the head could easily enter but be difficult to withdraw, and placed it beside the well. He then took a staff and waited in a hidden place. When the travelers finished drinking, the jackal leader entered to drink as before. Having drunk, he threw it to the ground, but could not break it. Then the brāhmaṇa took his staff and beat him to death. In the air, a deva spoke this gāthā: