§87 劫盗分财喻

(87) THE ROBBER'S JOY

    昔有群贼，共行劫盗，多取财物，即共分之。等以为分，唯有鹿野钦婆罗，色不纯好，以为下分，与最劣者。下劣者得之恚恨，谓呼大失。

Once upon a time, there was a band of robbers who divided their boot according to their different ranks. Among the belongings, there was a Benares Kambala, the color of which left much to be desired. It was considered as an inferior part to be given to one of the robbers of the lowest rank. The robber got angry and made a strong protest to the rest.

    至城卖之，诸贵长者多与其价，一人所得倍于众伴，方乃欢喜，踊悦无量。

Afterwards, he brought it to the city for sale. An honorable elderly man paid him a high price. He ended up getting more money than any other robber in the band. He then leaped for joy.

    犹如世人，不知布施有报无报，而行少施，得生天上，受无量乐。方更悔恨，悔不广施。如钦婆罗，后得大价，乃生欢喜，施亦如是。少作多得，尔乃自庆，恨不益焉。

This is held to be true with the almsgiving. People who are doing almsgiving, are usually not aware whether there will be a retribution. Be it ever so little they are doing it, they, after death, go to Heaven to enjoy an unlimited amount of happiness. The less they do, the more they get. They will then regret for not having done enough. This is just like the robber who was happy after he had got a top price for his Kambala.

注释：

　　①钦婆罗：梵文kambala，是细羊毛织的衣服，一般为外道所穿。

源流：

　　《众经撰杂譬喻经》卷下第二十八则：昔有导师入海采宝。时有五百人追之共行。导师谓曰：「海中有五难：一者激流，二者洄波，三者大鱼，四者女鬼，五者醉菓。能度此难，乃可共行。」众人要讫，乘风入海，到宝渚，各行采宝。一人不胜菓香，食之，一醉七日。众人宝足，颿风已到，欲严还出，鸣鼓集人，一人不满，四布求之，见卧树下，醉未曾醒。共扶来还，折树枝柱之，共归还国。

　　家门闻喜，悉来迎逆。醉者见无所得，独甚愁戚。醉人不乐，柱杖入市，市人求价，乃至二万两金，其人与之。问：「杖有何德?」曰：「此为树宝，捣烧此杖，熏诸瓦石，悉成珍宝。」（《大正藏》第四册第五三八页）　　

　　《诸经中要事》：昔有贫寒孤独老公，家无自业，遇市一斧，是众宝之英，而不识之，持行斫株，卖之以供微命。用斧欲尽，会见外国治生大估客，名曰萨薄，见斧识之，便问老公：「卖此斧不?」老公言：「我仰此斧活，不卖。」萨薄复言：「与公绢百疋，何以不卖?」公不应和。萨薄复言：「与公二百疋。」公便怅然不乐。萨薄复言：「嫌少当益，公何以不乐?与五百疋。」公便大啼哭。萨薄复问公：「缉少当益，何以啼哭?」公言：「我不恨绢少，恨我愚痴。此斧本长尺半，斫地以尽，余有五十，犹得五百疋绢，是以为恨耳。」萨薄复言：「勿有遗恨，今与公千疋绢。」即便破券持去，薪火烧之，尽成贵宝。（转引自《经律异相》卷四十四，《大正藏》第五十三册第二三三页）

白话：

　　从前有群贼一道行劫，抢来许多财物，就共同分了。其他都是多少一样地平分，只有鹿野出的钦婆罗衣颜色不是很好，就列为下等物，给最劣的贼。那下劣者得了，恚恨不已，叹说道：不公平、不合算。他拿到城里去卖，许多富贵长者给了他很高的价钱，一人所得数倍于其他伙伴，方才大欢喜。

　　就好比世人不知道布施到底是有报还是无报，便稍稍行了点布施，结果得以生于天上，享受到无量的欢乐，方才悔恨起来，后悔不广行布施，犹如钦婆罗衣后来卖得大价钱，才开始高兴起来。布施也是这样，少施多得，方自我庆幸起来，后又悔恨不多做一点。