Sutta 37: The story of the Parable of Poison

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0096b28] In the past, there was a family that enjoyed using poison. Once they used poison, the family became rich. Their past life's good and bad karma made it so. The entire country hated them and dared not interact with them, fearing harm. The whole country shunned them. When they sought a wife for their son, no one would agree to give their daughter. Everyone told each other: "This family that uses poison is the worst in the world. They do not follow righteousness and want to harm people's lives. If you marry into them, there will be no place for the poison, and it will turn back to harm people. Therefore, keep your distance from them, just as you would avoid a dangerous robber. When a robber fights with someone, their fists exchange blows, and there is still a stronger or weaker side. But a family that uses poison gives it to people silently, and people are suddenly harmed, their lives beyond rescue." Everyone was informed and kept their distance from them, refusing to have dealings with them. The family was in great distress, searching everywhere for a wife for their son, but no one would agree. So, they went to another country, over a thousand li away, to seek a wife for their son.

[0096b28] xī zhě yǒu yī jiā, jiā xǐ xíng dú——yī xíng dú yǐ, jiā zhōng dé fù, sù mìng zuì fú, zì lìng qí rán——yī guó è zhī, bù gǎn wǎng lái yǔ gòng cóng shì, wèi jiàn wēi hài. yī guó yuǎn zhī, xíng qiú zi fù, wú kěn yǔ zhě, gè gè xiāng lìng: “cǐ xíng dú jiā, shì zhī zuì è, bù shùn yì lǐ, yù hài rén mìng. shè yǔ hūn yīn, xíng dú wú chù, fǎn lái wēi rén, shì gù yuǎn zhī. yóu lí jù zéi, zéi yǔ rén dòu, shǒu quán xiāng jiā, shàng yǒu qiáng ruò. xíng dú zhī jiā, mò rán yǐ yǔ rén, rén zú bèi cǐ hài, mìng bù kě jiù.” xián gòng lìng zhī, jiē yuǎn lí zhī, wú yǔ cóng shì. qí rén kùn jí, biàn qiú zi fù, wú kěn yǔ zhě, yīn xíng tā guó qiān yú lǐ wài qiú qí zi fù.

[0096b28] xi zhe you yi jia, jia xi xing du--yi xing du yi, jia zhong de fu, su ming zui fu, zi ling qi ran--yi guo e zhi, bu gan wang lai yu gong cong shi, wei jian wei hai. yi guo yuan zhi, xing qiu zi fu, wu ken yu zhe, ge ge xiang ling: "ci xing du jia, shi zhi zui e, bu shun yi li, yu hai ren ming. she yu hun yin, xing du wu chu, fan lai wei ren, shi gu yuan zhi. you li ju zei, zei yu ren dou, shou quan xiang jia, shang you qiang ruo. xing du zhi jia, mo ran yi yu ren, ren zu bei ci hai, ming bu ke jiu." xian gong ling zhi, jie yuan li zhi, wu yu cong shi. qi ren kun ji, bian qiu zi fu, wu ken yu zhe, yin xing ta guo qian yu li wai qiu qi zi fu.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0096c09] That family was rich and noble, while the woman's family was poor and not noble. Seeing the other family's wealth, they were greedy to give their daughter, not because of their poisonous practices, but for the added wealth. Soon, they welcomed the bride, and she performed the rituals at home, with complete decorum, not violating the customs of a bride, entering and exiting appropriately. At that time, their family suffered losses and discord. Only by resorting to poisonous harm could they become rich. The parents-in-law (姑嫜 [gu zhang]) instructed the bride to use poison to harm and kill a certain person: "This is our family's ancestral profession, and it should be so." The bride heard this and sorrowfully told her parents-inlaw (姑嫜 [gu zhang]): "My family practices compassion and has never caused harm. I cannot use poison; I would rather die than commit such an act." The parents-in-law (姑嫜 [gu zhang]) scolded her, refusing to accept her refusal. Then they spoke to the Poison Spirit (毒神 [du shen]): "Now take this woman. She refuses to use poison to harm people and will not obey. What should be done?" The Poison Spirit (毒神 [du shen]) replied: "I will transform her so that she does not disobey." The Poison Spirit (毒神 [du shen]) then went and transformed into a poisonous snake, approaching the woman. The woman was terrified and did not know where to go—it appeared on her head, appeared before her when she ate, appeared in her cup when she drank, appeared on her bed when she slept, and followed her when she walked. The woman was so terrified that she did not know what to do. She became thin and emaciated, unable to eat or drink. The Poison Spirit (毒神 [du shen]) commanded her: "Only if you use the poison will I leave you alone." Utterly desperate, she agreed to obey.

[0096c09] qí rén jiā fù, jì fù háo guì, fù jiā pín xiá, qiě fù bù guì. jiàn bǐ jiā fù, tān yǔ qí nǚ, bù xíng dú gù, yì rù cái wù. xún yíng fù lái, zài jiā xíng lǐ, wēi yí xī bèi, bù shī fù lǐ, chū rù yīng jié. shí qí jiā zhōng, hào sǔn bù xié, dāng xíng dú hài, nǎi dé fù ěr. gū zhāng chì fù, lìng qí xíng dú hài shā mǒu rén: “wú jiā běn yè, zì yīng qí rán.” fù wén chóu yōu bái gū zhāng yuē: “wǒ jiā xíng cí, chū wú jiā hài, bù rèn xíng dú, sǐ sǐ bù fàn.” gū zhāng mà lì, bù kěn shòu jiào. yīn yǔ dú shén: “jīn qǔ cǐ fù, bù xíng dú yào, yǐ jiā hài rén, ér bù kěn cóng. dāng nài zhī hé?” dú shén dá yuē: “wú dāng huà zhī lìng bù wéi jiào.” dú shén biàn wǎng, huà wèi dú shé, lái qù qí fù. qí fù kǒng bù bù zhī suǒ zhì——huò xiàn tóu shàng,, shí xiàn qí qián,, yǐn xiàn qì zhōng,, wò xiàn chuáng shàng,, xíng bù zhú hòu, qí fù kǒng bù, bù zhī suǒ dào, léi shòu gǔ lì, bù néng yǐn shí. dú shén chì zhī: “lìng xíng dú yào, nǎi xiāng zhì ěr.” qióng kùn wú jì, kě zhī cóng jiào.

[0096c09] qi ren jia fu, ji fu hao gui, fu jia pin xia, qie fu bu gui. jian bi jia fu, tan yu qi nu, bu xing du gu, yi ru cai wu. xun ying fu lai, zai jia xing li, wei yi xi bei, bu shi fu li, chu ru ying jie. shi qi jia zhong, hao sun bu xie, dang xing du hai, nai de fu er. gu zhang chi fu, ling qi xing du hai sha mou ren: "wu jia ben ye, zi ying qi ran." fu wen chou you bai gu zhang yue: "wo jia xing ci, chu wu jia hai, bu ren xing du, si si bu fan." gu zhang ma li, bu ken shou jiao. yin yu du shen: "jin qu ci fu, bu xing du yao, yi jia hai ren, er bu ken cong. dang nai zhi he?" du shen da yue: "wu dang hua zhi ling bu wei jiao." du shen bian wang, hua wei du she, lai qu qi fu. qi fu kong bu bu zhi suo zhi--huo xian tou shang,, shi xian qi qian,, yin xian qi zhong,, wo xian chuang shang,, xing bu zhu hou, qi fu kong bu, bu zhi suo dao, lei shou gu li, bu neng yin shi. du shen chi zhi: "ling xing du yao, nai xiang zhi er." qiong kun wu ji, ke zhi cong jiao.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0096c24] At that time, a person from her homeland arrived in this city-state. He saw the woman's emaciated and distressed state and was startled: "Why are you like this?" The woman fully explained her situation: "Go back to my family and tell my parents to quickly come and get me, otherwise I will surely die." The person returned and fully explained, and her parents heard it, becoming greatly distressed. Her father prepared a carriage and horses and quickly went to fetch his daughter. When he arrived in their hometown, he fully explained to the parents-in-law (姑嫜 [gu zhang]): "The girl's mother is weeping, thinking of her daughter day and night, so she sent me to fetch her. Please allow us to see her. She will return soon." The parents-in-law (姑嫜 [gu zhang]) allowed her to go. The father took his daughter back and then told the parents-in-law (姑嫜 [gu zhang]): "Your family practices poison. I am taking your daughter, and I will not give her back to you. If there is a dispute, there is official law which allows this. This is the sorrow of a family's destruction. If you do not agree, abandon the practice of poison, and then I will return your daughter." The couple discussed: "This woman is beautiful, rare in the world, and cannot be abandoned! We would rather abandon the poison business. Moreover, if the authorities hear of it, they will harm us." So they stopped the poison business, made a solemn promise, dared not offend again, and sent away the Poison Spirit (毒神 [du shen]), and their family became peaceful.

[0096c24] yú shí běn tǔ bǐ shě, yǒu rén dào cǐ guó yì, jiàn qí nǚ shēn léi shòu bù ān, yǐ yòng è rán: “hé gù rú shì?” nǚ jù yǔ yì: “hái dào wǒ jiā, xuān bái fù mǔ, lìng jí yíng wǒ, bù ěr zài sǐ.” rén hái jù shuō, fù mǔ wén zhī, chóu qī kuì kuì. fù yán chē mǎ, jí xíng yíng nǚ, dào qí xiāng tǔ, jù yù gū zhāng: “nǚ mǔ bēi qì, sù yè sī nǚ, gù qiǎn yíng zhī, dāng tīng xiāng jiàn, bù jiǔ lái hái.” gū zhāng tīng qù, fù zài nǚ hái, biàn yǔ gū zhāng: “qīng jiā xíng dú, wú duó rǔ nǚ, bù fù xiāng yǔ. shè gòng zhèng zhě, zì yǒu guān fǎ yīng dé ěr, cǐ shì miè mén zhī yōu. bù kěn tīng zhě, qì xíng dú shì, nǎi xiāng hái fù.” fū fù gòng yì: “cǐ fù duān zhèng, shì zhī xī yǒu, bù kě qì zhī! níng qì dú yè. yòu guān jiā wén, biàn xiāng wēi hài.” biàn zhǐ dú yè, yǔ qí yuē shì, bù gǎn fù fàn, qiǎn qì dú shén, jiā zhōng suì ān.

[0096c24] yu shi ben tu bi she, you ren dao ci guo yi, jian qi nu shen lei shou bu an, yi yong e ran: "he gu ru shi?" nu ju yu yi: "hai dao wo jia, xuan bai fu mu, ling ji ying wo, bu er zai si." ren hai ju shuo, fu mu wen zhi, chou qi kui kui. fu yan che ma, ji xing ying nu, dao qi xiang tu, ju yu gu zhang: "nu mu bei qi, su ye si nu, gu qian ying zhi, dang ting xiang jian, bu jiu lai hai." gu zhang ting qu, fu zai nu hai, bian yu gu zhang: "qing jia xing du, wu duo ru nu, bu fu xiang yu. she gong zheng zhe, zi you guan fa ying de er, ci shi mie men zhi you. bu ken ting zhe, qi xing du shi, nai xiang hai fu." fu fu gong yi: "ci fu duan zheng, shi zhi xi you, bu ke qi zhi! ning qi du ye. you guan jia wen, bian xiang wei hai." bian zhi du ye, yu qi yue shi, bu gan fu fan, qian qi du shen, jia zhong sui an.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0097a07] The Poison Spirit (毒神 [du shen]) refers to the Four Māras (四魔 [si mo]). Practicing poison to seek wealth refers to the Devas of Māra (魔天 [mo tian]) and various evil spirits (惡鬼神輩 [e gui shen bei]), who daily seek to attract people. The people in the country who refused to give their daughters also refers to those who do not follow the demonic teachings (魔教 [mo jiao]). The one who fetched the wife, going to another place to seek a wife, refers to being stained by Dharma (染法 [ran fa]). The one who was told to practice poison but refused to obey refers to being aware of Māra (覺知魔 [jue zhi mo]) and not falling into the five aggregates (不墮五陰 [bu duo wu yin]). The person who returned to tell the parents refers to following the skillful teachings of Prajñā (般若善權之教 [ban ruo shan quan zhi jiao]). The father who brought her back refers to returning to the fundamental emptiness (本無 [ben wu]). Allowing her to marry only if they ceased their poisonous practices refers to abandoning the three poisons (三毒 [san du]) and various false thoughts (眾妄想 [zhong wang xiang]), seeking to align with the Four Immeasurable Minds (四等 [si deng]), and through the six perfections (六度無極 [liu du wu ji]) and skillful means (善權方便 [shan quan fang bian]), all beings are delivered from the three realms (三界 [san jie]), reaching the unsurpassed ultimate wisdom (正真無極之慧 [zheng zhen wu ji zhi hui]).

[0097a07] qí dú shén zhě, wèi sì mó. xíng dú qiú fù, wèi zhū mó tiān, è guǐ shén bèi, rì rì yíng fù. guó zhōng rén mín bù kěn yǔ zhě, yòu wèi qí rén bù cóng mó jiào. yíng fù zhě, xíng dào tā fāng, qiú yǐ wèi rén. biàn qǔ dé fù zhě, wèi rǎn fǎ. jiào shǐ xíng dú bù cóng yán zhě, jué zhī mó, bù duò wǔ yīn. shǐ rén hái guī yǔ fù mǔ zhě, wèi cóng bān ruò shàn quán zhī jiào. fù zhí jiāng guī, wèi cóng běn wú. lìng qí nǚ xù zhǐ dú nǎi yǔ nǚ zhě, wèi qù sān dú zhòng wàng xiǎng, qiú yīng sì děng, yīn liù dù wú jí shàn quán fāng biàn, yī qiè dé dù sān jiè, zhì yú zhèng zhēn wú jí zhī huì.

fú shuō huì zi jīng dì sān shí bā

[0097a07] qi du shen zhe, wei si mo. xing du qiu fu, wei zhu mo tian, e gui shen bei, ri ri ying fu. guo zhong ren min bu ken yu zhe, you wei qi ren bu cong mo jiao. ying fu zhe, xing dao ta fang, qiu yi wei ren. bian qu de fu zhe, wei ran fa. jiao shi xing du bu cong yan zhe, jue zhi mo, bu duo wu yin. shi ren hai gui yu fu mu zhe, wei cong ban ruo shan quan zhi jiao. fu zhi jiang gui, wei cong ben wu. ling qi nu xu zhi du nai yu nu zhe, wei qu san du zhong wang xiang, qiu ying si deng, yin liu du wu ji shan quan fang bian, yi qie de du san jie, zhi yu zheng zhen wu ji zhi hui.

fu shuo hui zi jing di san shi ba