SA-2 18（一八）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha. At that time, a bhikṣu went to the riverbank in the early morning, took off his clothes, bathed, and came out on the shore to dry his body. A deity emitted light, illuminating the riverbank, and asked the bhikṣu, "Bhikṣu! This is a nest and den, at night smoke comes out, and during the day fire burns. A brāhman saw this and destroyed the nest and den, and dug the ground. Then a wise person told the brāhman, 'Dig the ground with a knife.' He saw a turtle and said, 'Take this turtle.' He further told him to dig the ground, and saw a poisonous snake, and told him to catch it. He further told him to dig the ground, and saw a piece of meat, and told him to pull it out. He further told him to dig the ground, and saw a knife sheath, and the brāhman said, 'This is a knife sheath.' He told him to dig it out. He further told him to dig the ground, and saw a poisonous insect with a sharp thorn, and told him to dig it out. He further told him to dig the ground, and saw two paths, and further told him to dig them out. He told him to dig the ground again, and saw a pile of stones, and told him to take out the stones. He further told him to dig the ground, and saw a dragon, and the brāhman said, 'Do not disturb the dragon.' He then knelt before the dragon."

The deity said to the bhikṣu, "Do not forget my words. You can ask the Buddha. Remember what the Buddha says. Why is that? I do not see any god, demon, or Brahma who can explain it, except for the Buddha and his disciple bhikṣus. No one can understand such a question."

At that time, the bhikṣu went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and stood to one side. He told the Buddha in detail what the deity had said, saying, "World-Honored One! How is it that the nest and den smoke at night and burn during the day? Who is the brāhman? Who is the wise person? What is the knife? What is the digging? What is the turtle? What is the poisonous snake? What is the piece of meat? What is the knife sheath? What is the poisonous insect with a sharp thorn? What are the two paths? What is the pile of stones? What is called a dragon?"

The Buddha told the bhikṣu, "Listen carefully, I will explain it to you. The nest and den refer to this body. It is formed from the essence of the parents, the combination of the four great elements, and nourished by clothing and food. But this body will eventually disintegrate, bloat, become infested with worms, and decay. The night smoke refers to various thoughts and contemplations. The daytime fire refers to the extensive actions of body and speech. The brāhman refers to the Tathāgata. The wise person refers to the śrāvakas. The knife is a metaphor for wisdom. Digging the ground is a metaphor for diligence. The turtle is a metaphor for the five hindrances. The poisonous snake is a metaphor for anger and harm. The piece of meat is a metaphor for stinginess, greed, and jealousy. The knife sheath is a metaphor for the five desires. The poisonous insect with a sharp thorn is a metaphor for ignorance. The two paths are a metaphor for doubt. The pile of stones is a metaphor for arrogance. The dragon is a metaphor for the arhat who has exhausted all afflictions."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

The nest and den are called the body, the thoughts and contemplations are like
the smoke, the creation is like the burning fire, the brāhman is like the
Buddha, the wise person is the śrāvaka, the knife is the wisdom, digging the
ground is a metaphor for diligence, the five hindrances are like a turtle, anger
is like a poisonous snake, greed and jealousy are like a piece of meat
the five desires are like a knife sheath, ignorance is like a poisonous insect
with a sharp thorn, doubt is like the two paths, the view of self
is like a pile of stones, you should not disturb the dragon now, the
dragon is a true arhat. Only the Buddha, the World-Honored One, can answer questions well.

The Buddha having spoken thus, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and received them with respect.