§41 毗舍阇鬼喻

(41) pisacah devils

昔有二毗舍阇鬼，共有一篋、一杖、一屐。二鬼共諍，各各欲得。二鬼紛紜，竟日不能使平。

once upon a time, there were two pisacah devils who conjointly owned a suitcase, a stick and a pair of wooden shoes about which they fought for their monopoly. they were quarreling all day long without reaching a settlement.

時有一人來見之已，而問之言：“此篋、杖、屐有何奇異？汝等共諍，嗔恚乃爾？”

an onlooker came over and asked, "what are the particularities of those three things that you have been fighting for so angrily?"

二鬼答言：“我此篋者，能出一切衣服、飲食、床褥、臥具資生之物，盡從中出。執此杖者，怨敵歸服，無敢與諍。著此屐者，能令人飛行無掛礙。”

the two devils replied, "this suitcase of ours turns out all sorts of things such as clothes, food, bed articles used on a bed, and other living necessities. one who takes the stick can conquer his hateful enemies without encountering resistance. one who puts on these shoes will be able to fly without a hitch."

此人聞已，即語鬼言：“汝等小遠，我當為爾平等分之。”

upon hearing it, the onlooker said to the devils, "would you please stand further away! let me equally apportion them to you both."

鬼聞其語，尋即遠避。此人即時抱篋捉杖躡屐而飛。二鬼愕然，竟無所得。人語鬼言：“爾等所諍，我已得去。今使爾等更無所諍。”

the two devils moved away. immediately the onlooker flew off snatching their suitcase and stick with the shoes on. the two devils were startled at the loss of their share. to them he said, "i got what you have been fighting for. now you need not are any more."

毗舍阇者，喻于眾魔，及以外道；布施如篋，人天五道資用之具，皆從中出；禪定如杖，消伏魔怨煩惱之賊；持戒如屐，必升人天。

here pisacah refers to devils and heretics. almsgiving applies to the suitcase that turns out all the essential things to the needs of the five ways of existence such as human beings, devas, etc. meditation symbolizes the stick, which can disperse or submit devils, enemies and afflictions as thieves. commandments observing is like the shoes that ensure rebirth in the world of devas and men.

諸魔外道諍篋者，喻於有漏中強求果報，空無所得。若能修行善行，及以布施、持戒、禪定，便得離苦，獲得道果。

as for the devils and heretics, coveting the suitcase, it signifies that they labor themselves to the seeking for the reward of enlightenment in the imperfect way, which result in nothing to be obtained. if one can perform acts of merit together with almsgiving, commandments observing and meditation practice, he will be rid of all suffering and in turn obtain nirvana.

注釋：

　　①毘舍闍鬼：梵文pisaca，即餓鬼，又叫做噉精鬼，吸噉人以及五谷的精氣。也譯做顛狂鬼。

白話：

從前有兩個餓鬼，共有著一只小箱、一根棍杖、一雙木屐。兩個鬼爭執起來，都想各自擁有這三樣東西。吵嚷了整整一天，無法平分。這時有一個人走來，見了這般情形，便問道：「這篋、杖、屐有什么奇異，你們爭執得這般怒氣沖沖?」二鬼答道：「我這篋么，能產生一切東西，衣服、飲食、床褥、臥具之類生活用品，都可從里面得到；執了這根杖么，怨敵就降服，不敢再對抗了：穿上這屐么，能令人自在飛行，毫無阻礙。」這人聽罷，便對鬼說道：「你們稍稍退后一點，我會為你們平分的。」鬼聽了這話，便即刻遠遠地避開了。這人說時遲那時快，抱篋，捉杖，躡屐，飛騰而去。二鬼愕然，竟然一無所得。人對鬼說道：「你倆所爭的東西，我拿去了。如今讓你們再沒有什么好爭的了。」
　　
餓鬼譬喻眾魔及外道：布施就好比是篋，人、天等五道眾生的生活用具都可從這里面產生：禪定則好比是杖，可以消滅降伏邪魔、煩惱之類的怨賊：持戒就如屐，穿上它，必可以升在人、天之類善道。眾魔及外道爭這個篋，譬喻在煩惱垢染中強求果報，空無所得。若是能修行善行、布施、持戒、禪定，便可以出離苦境，獲得道果。

這故事比喻∶布施譬如寶箱，人天一切享用物資都從布施的善因出生∶禪定如寶杖，修定能降伏煩惱的怨賊；持戒如寶屐，戒律清凈必升人天道中。兩個鬼譬如諸魔外道，外道們在有漏法中強求果報，結果是空無所得。只有一心一意，修諸善行，以及布施、持戒、禪定，就能脫離苦惱，獲證道果。

供您思考：

圣法法師在《百喻故事廣釋》中說：六道里面有個阿修羅道，一名叫做非天，有天福而沒有天德的意思。特別是以斗爭為性，故名阿修羅。常常興兵與忉利天斗爭，斗爭的結果呢？都是落敗而逃。因為各人的福報關系非是斗力可以取勝的。

人世間也是斗爭堅固的世間，國與國，家與家，民族與民族之間也常常發生斗爭。不論兄弟朋友鄰居之間也常常發生磨擦斗爭，斗爭的結果呢？大多都是兩敗俱傷。古人說：‘殺人一萬，自損三千。’沒有只傷人而不自損的。這樣豈不是等于藉他人的刀而殺傷自己一樣嗎？何況造成第三者得利，是誰聰明誰愚癡呢？