釋氏要覽 2.156

2.156

The Sūtra on the Matter of the Great Fish says: In the past, there was a pond with many fishes. At that time, a great fish admonished the small fishes, 'Do not go elsewhere, or you will surely be caught by humans.' At that time, the small fishes forgot the instruction and admonition and went elsewhere, almost being captured in a net. When they returned to their original place, the great fish asked, 'What did you see?' The small fishes said, 'There was only a long line.' The great fish said, 'My grandfathers and fathers all died by this line. Be careful never to go there again!' Later, the small fishes forgot the instruction and went there again, and all were captured. This is a metaphor for a monk who does not accept good instruction and later suffers an untimely calamity.