J218 Kuta-Vanija Jataka--Can Mice Eat Plowshares? 诈骗商人本生《老鼠能吞下犁头吗？》

Can Mice Eat Plowshares?

Jātaka 218: Kūṭa-Vāṇija Jātaka
“Well planned indeed!”-- How a man deposited plowshares with a friend, and the friend protested that they had been eaten by mice; and of the clever device by which the man's guilt was brought home to him.

Illustrated by Sucittā & Mee Chen
Typeset by Ger Lian
Based on Tale 89 in Jataka Tales of the Buddha: An Anthology,
retold by Ken and Visākhā Kawasaki, 3 volumes,
Buddhist Cultural Centre, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, 2012.

老鼠能吞下犁头吗？

本生经218：诈骗商人本生
“计划得好啊！”——此本生经叙述的是一个人把他的犁头存放在朋友处，而当朋友声称犁头被老鼠吃了的时候，他是如何巧妙地将罪行套在朋友的身上。

绘图/ 妙心与美真
排版/ 陈月莲
中译/ 卓佳萱
审稿/ 陈语
重述/ Tale 89 in Jataka Tales of the Buddha: An Anthology,
retold by Ken and Visākhā Kawasaki, 3 volumes,
Buddhist Cultural Centre, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, 2012.
阅读此绘本


It was while staying at Jetavana that the Buddha told this story about a dishonest trader.
一时，佛陀住在祇陀林时，开示一个诈骗商人的行为。

In Sāvatthi, there were two traders who became partners. They loaded five hundred wagons full of wares, and journeyed to the west.
在舍卫城里，有两个商人结为生意伙伴。他们将五百辆货车装满货物，向西方出发去经商。

After they had sold all their goods, they returned to Sāvatthi with a considerable profit.
卖完所有商品后，他们便带着满满的金钱回到了舍卫城。

When one of them suggested to his partner that they divide all they had brought back, including money and goods, the other trader, being a rogue, thought,
贤明商人提议他们平分所有的东西，包括金钱和剩余的商品，但诈骗商人心想：

“My partner has been roughing it with me for a long time. He must be fed up with bad food and uncomfortable beds.
“我的搭档长期以来一直跟我过着艰难的日子，他一定受够了难吃的食物和不舒服的床。

Now that we’re back, he’s going to splurge. He’ll overeat and kill himself.
现在我们回来了，他就要开始挥霍了。他会吃过多的美食而拉肚子死去。

Then I can take everything for myself.”
那样，我就可以将所有的东西占为己有了。”

He said to his partner, “The stars aren’t favorable. Let’s rest for a couple of days, and we’ll see about it. Just enjoy yourself.”
于是，他告诉他的伙伴：“今天的星宿运行不佳，我们休息几天再看看如何。接下来你就尽情地享受吧。”

Every day, the first trader suggested they make the division, but the second kept putting it off.
每日，贤明商人都要求分金钱，但诈骗商人却每每忽视他。

Finally, after two weeks, the two divided everything in half and went their own ways.
两周后，两位商人终于平分了所有的商品和金钱，然后各奔东西。

The first trader immediately purchased incense and garlands and went to see the Buddha. At Jetavana, he paid his respects to the Master and sat on one side.
贤明商人马上买了香和花环到祇陀林去拜见佛陀。他礼敬佛陀后，坐在一旁。

“When did you return?” the Buddha asked him.
佛陀问：“你是何时回来的？”

“A fortnight ago, Venerable Sir” he answered.
“世尊，两个星期前。”贤明商人答道。

“Why didn’t you come to see me right away?” the Buddha asked.
“那你为什么没有直接来找我呢？”

“I could do nothing because my partner insisted on postponing the division of our profit,” the trader explained.
贤明商人解释道：“我没办法呀。我的搭档不断地延迟分配利润的时间。”

“This is not the first time that that rogue has tried to cheat you,” the Buddha replied.
佛陀说：“这流氓不是第一次企图欺骗你了。”

At the trader’s request, he told this story of the past.
于是，佛陀应商人的要求，讲述了过去的事。

Long, long ago, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Bārāṇasī, the Bodhisatta was born as the son of a member of the king’s court and, when he grew up, became chief justice.
很久很久以前，梵施王在波罗奈城治国时，菩萨出生为大臣的儿子。长大后他成了法官。

At that time, a trader in Bārāṇasī became friends with another trader from the countryside and entered into business with him.
当时，一名波罗奈城的商人和一名来自乡村的商人结交为朋友并一同经商。

The country trader left five hundred plowshares in his friend’s storeroom in the city and returned to his village.
乡村商人将五百个犁头存放在城市朋友的储藏室后便返回他的乡村。

The city trader secretly sold all the plowshares and scattered mouse dung all around the storeroom.
城市商人偷偷卖光了他所有的犁头，然后把老鼠粪便撒在储藏室的周围。

Sometime later, the country trader returned and asked for his plowshares.
过了一段时间，乡村商人回来要回他的犁头。

The city trader, feigning distress, replied, “My friend, I am very sorry, but mice have eaten them. Let me show you.”
城市商人假装心疼地说：“我的朋友，实在很抱歉。那些可恶的老鼠把你的犁头吃完了。你看看吧。”

He took his friend to the storeroom and showed him all the mouse droppings.
接着，他把乡村商人带到储藏室给他看一地的老鼠粪便。

“Well, well, so be it. What can be done with things which the mice have eaten?”
“罢了，就让它过去吧。犁头都给老鼠吃了我们还能怎么办呢？”

“It was not your fault.” Replied the country trader, showing no emotion whatsoever.
“这不是你的错。”乡村商人无可奈何地回答道。

That afternoon, the country trader went down to the river for a bath and took his friend’s son with him.
那天下午，乡村商人带着城市商人的儿子一起到河里去洗澡。

On the way, he stopped at the house of another friend and asked him to hide the boy for a short time.
途中，他停在另一个朋友的家并让他把男孩暂时藏起来。

After bathing, he returned alone.
洗完澡后，他就一个人离开了。

“Where is my son?” asked the city trader.
“我的儿子呢？”城市商人问道。

“Dear friend, I took him with me when I went for my bath. I left him on the river bank, but, while I was in the water, a huge hawk came and seized your son in his talons. I beat the water and shouted as loud as I could, but the bird just flew away with your son.” The country trader replied.
乡下商人回答说：“亲爱的朋友，我把他带去河边洗澡，把他留在河岸上。当我在水里时，一只巨大的老鹰抓住了你的儿子。我在水里拼命地拍打喊叫，希望能吓走它，但那只鸟却带着你儿子飞走了。”

“Lies!” cried the city trader.
城市商人哭喊道：“你说谎！”

“No hawk could carry off a healthy, grown boy!”
“一只老鹰怎么可能将一个健壮的男孩带走！”

“I’m sorry, Friend, but it’s true. It was not my fault. Yes, it’s very unfortunate, but your son was carried off by a hawk. You’ll just have to accept it.”
“实在对不起，我的朋友。但这是事实。这的确很不辛，但你的儿子已经被老鹰带走了。你必须接受这个事实。”

“You’ve killed my son, and you will pay for it, you murderer!” shouted the city trader.
“你杀害了我的儿子。你这个杀人犯必须要付出代价！”城市商人怒喊道。

“You can’t get away with this! I will take you to court right now!”
“你一定会受到应有惩罚的。我现在就带你上法庭！”

“As you wish. Let’s go and seethe chief justice right away.” The country trader replied calmly.
“如你所愿。我们这就去见法官。”乡村商人冷静地答道。

The two of them went directly to the palace and were shown into the court of justice.
两人到了皇宫后便被带入了法庭。

The city trader immediately addressed the Bodhisatta.
城市商人首先开口，对菩萨说：

“Your Honor,” he began excitedly,
“尊敬的法官。”他激动地说起。

“This man is a murderer! He took my son for a bath but came back alone.
“他是个杀人犯！他带着我的儿子去洗澡，但最后只有他一个人回来。

When I asked where my son was, he told me that a hawk had carried him off. That’s obviously a lie! I am sure he has killed my son, and I demand justice!”
当我问我的儿子在哪儿，他告诉我一只老鹰把他叼走了。那肯定是个谎言！我可以确定是他杀了我的儿子。我请求伸张正义！”

“What do you have to say?” the Bodhisatta asked the country trader.
“你有何辩解？”菩萨对着乡村商人问道。

“Indeed, Lord, I took the boy to the river for a bath. While I was in the water, a hawk carried him off. “He replied.
乡村商人回答说：“我说的都是真的，法官。我带着那男孩到河边去洗澡。当我在水里洗澡时，一只老鹰将他带走了。”

“Where, my good man, are there hawks which can carry off boys?” the Bodhisatta asked.
“请问哪来的老鹰有能力带走一个男孩？”菩萨问。

“My Lord, if hawks cannot carry off boys, can mice eat iron plowshares?” The country trader replied.
“法官，如果老鹰无法带走一个男孩，那老鼠又怎能吞下犁头？”

“What do you mean by that odd remark?” the Bodhisatta asked.
“你这是什么意思？”菩萨又问。

“My Lord, the last time I was in Bārāṇasī, I left five hundred plowshares with this man.
“尊敬的法官，上次我在婆罗奈城时，我把五百个犁头存放在这位商人的家中。

This morning, when I asked about those plowshares, he told me that mice had eaten them, and he showed me his storeroom full of mouse dung.
第二天早上，当我问到我的犁头在哪儿时，他说老鼠已经把他们吃掉了。然后他带我到他的储藏室去，给我看他里面全是老鼠粪便。

If he expects me to believe that mice can eat iron plowshares, why can’t he believe that a hawk can carry away a boy.
如果他要我相信老鼠可以吞下犁头，那他为什么不能相信一只老鹰有能力带走他的儿子呢？

I trust you to make a wise decision and to judge this case fairly.”
我相信您会做出明智的决定并公正地审判这个案子。”

The Bodhisatta understood exactly what had happened and was impressed with the country trader’s ruse.
菩萨很快弄清了事情的来龙去脉，并对乡村商人聪明的赞叹不已。

“Sir! If you pay this man for his plowshares, I am sure your son will come home.” He said sternly, looking directly at the city trader.
菩萨看着城市商人厉声地说道：“先生，如果你愿意为这位先生所损失的犁头做赔偿，我保证你的儿子一定会回到你身边。”

Outwitted and undone, the city trader paid the money he owed and got his son back.
在不知所措的情况下，城市商人只好赔钱给乡村商人，把儿子赎了回来。

Eventually, the two traders passed away to fare according to their kamma.
最后，两位商人都各自随其业报而逝去。

Having concluded his story, the Buddha identified the birth:
佛陀联系本生的过去世和现在世作为开示的总结：

“At that time, I was the chief justice. The rogue who tried to cheat you was the city trader, and you were the clever country trader.”
“当时的法官是我，试图欺骗你的流氓是城市商人，而你就是那个聪明的乡村商人。”

The End
终


Glossary 词汇表

Bodhisatta: is the Buddha-to-be, prophesized by another Buddha.
菩萨（Bodhisatta）：已被过去佛授记的未来佛。

Kamma: Action. There are of three kinds of kamma: bodily kamma (kāya-kamma), verbal kamma (vacī-kamma), and mental kamma (mano-kamma). We create kamma through intentions (cetanā), that can be wholesome or unwholesome. When there are suitable conditions, these kamma will cause future results. Wholesome kamma will cause good results (vipāka) and rebirths in good destinations. While unwholesome kamma will cause bad results and rebirths in bad destinations.
业（Kamma）: 行为造作。可分为三种业 ：身业、口业与意业。通过动机，我们可造作善业或恶业。当因缘成熟时，业力会带来果报。善业将会导致善报及投生善道；恶业将会导致恶报及投生恶道。


Teacher Guide

Some questions to guide the students for reflection:
一些引导学生省思的问题：

1. Which trader did you prefer? Why?

2. The country trader used a strategy, while the city trader used a trick, to achieve what they wanted. What are the differences of their mindset? (Things to consider: wisdom, greediness, fair-mind, narrow-mind, rational, unreasonable, wholesome, and unwholesome).

3. What is the kammic pattern* shown by both traders, from past to present life?

*kammic pattern: a person’s way of thinking, speaking and action, and how they react in relation to the world and relationships around them. This pattern can follow you to different life times, unless you decide to learn from them and better yourself.

教师指南

1. 你比较喜欢哪一位商人？为什么？

2. 为达到他们的目的，乡村商人使用的是一种策略，而城市商人用的是一种手段。他们的思维方式有什么不同？（需要考量的事情：智慧、贪婪、公正、心胸狭窄、理性、不理性、善、不善）。

3. 从过去世到今世，两位商人各展现了什么业的模式？

*业的模式：一个人的思维、说话和行为方式，以及他们如何对世间及其周围关系的反应方式。这种模式可以跟随你不同的生命期，除非你决定从中学习并改善自己。


Shared Reading

There was a city trader who deceived a country trader in his past life. In this life, he was still an unreliable trader and continued to cheat his business partners. Because his bad habit of cheating that hasn't been corrected in time, it follows him like a shadow from life to life. This is called the kammic pattern.

Dear friend, will you speak deceitfully or dishonestly?

A person who often speaks deceitfully not only does not have the credibility of speaking, but also loses the trust of others in them, and no one wants to be friend with untruthful people.

Please reflect on yourself; what kind of person do you want to be?

Starting today, cultivate your own good habits and characters, and become an honest person who is loved and liked by others!

读后的分享

一名城市商人在过去世欺骗了一名乡村商人。在这一世，他还是一名不可靠的商人并继续欺骗他的生意伙伴。因为他没有及时改正他爱欺骗的坏习惯，这个坏习惯就如同影子一样，生生世世地伴随着他。这称为业的模式。

亲爱的朋友们，你会说谎或是欺骗他人吗？

一个经常说谎的人，说话不仅没有可信度，而且会失去别人对他们的信任，谁也不想和不真实的人做朋友。

问问自己，你想要成为什么样的人？

从今天开始，培养自己的好习惯和品格，做一个受人爱戴的诚实人！