昔外国节法庆之日,一切妇女尽持优钵罗华以为鬘饰。
In the past, as a foreign country’s etiquette and law, on its day of celebration, all its women all held utpala flowers, with them as garlands adorning themselves.
有一贫人,其妇语言:「尔若能得优钵罗华来用与我,为尔作妻;若不能得,我舍尔去。」
There was a poor person, with his wife saying, ‘If you are able to get utpala flowers, coming with them, to give them to me, I will for you still be your wife. If you are not able to get them, I will leave you.’
其夫先来常善能作鸳鸯之鸣,即入王池作鸳鸯鸣偷优钵罗华。
That man was formerly constantly good at being able to make the chirp of a mandarin duck, then entering the King’s pond, making a mandarin duck’s chirp while stealing its utpala flowers.
时守池者而作是问:「池中者谁?」
Then, that pond guard made this inquiry, ‘Who is that within the pond?’
而此贫人失口答言:「我是鸳鸯。」
Then, this poor man lost mindfulness of his speech and replied, saying, ‘I am a mandarin duck.’
守者捉得将诣王所,而于中道复更和声作鸳鸯鸣,守池者言:「尔先不作,今作何益?」
That guard caught him and intended to go to the King’s place. Then, on the middle of the way, he again changed to harmonise his voice, to make a mandarin duck’s chirp. That pond guard said, ‘As you formerly did not make this, now making this has what benefit?’
世间愚人亦复如是,终身残害作众恶业,不习心行使令调善,临命终时方言:「今我欲得修善。」
The world’s foolish people are likewise thus, with lifelong killing and harming, doing all evil karmas, not regulating their minds’ activities, to direct and tame them to be good. When approaching life’s end, then saying, ‘Now, I desire to, and must cultivate good.’
狱卒将去付阎罗王,虽欲修善亦无所及已,如彼愚人欲到王所作鸳鸯鸣。
When hell guards are intending, going to hand them over to King Yama, although desiring to cultivate good, they are also already without those in time. They are like that foolish person about to reach the King’s place, then making a mandarin duck’s chirp.
[Note: Avoiding of evil (which includes killing, stealing, lying and more), and doing of good (which includes saving, giving, truthfulness and more), in thought, word and deed must be timely – beginning from now, with repentance (忏悔) for past evil karmas created, as life is ending as we speak, and it can end suddenly, at any time.]
全百喻
All Hundred Parables:
https://purelanders.com/baiyu