英文:
Once upon a time, a brahman master indented to give a big party. he told his disciple, "i need earthenware for the party. go to the market and fetch for me a mason."
On his way to the mason's home, the disciple came across a man whose donkey was loaded with earthenware for sale in the market. yet all pottery was broken by the animal in the twinkling of an eye. on his return home, the man was crying and getting quite distraught. on seeing this, the disciple asked: "why are you so sad and disappointed?"
The man replied, "i have been making earthenware with all my expedient means after toiling and moiling for many years. i was on my way to the market intending to sell them. but this dumb animal has broken all i had in no time. that's why i'm so distraught."
The disciple was glad to see and hear all this and said, "it's a good donkey. i should like to buy it."
The mason was delighted to sell it. when the disciple rode it back, the master asked, "why didn't you come back with a mason? what's the idea of bringing a donkey here?"
The disciple replied, "this donkey is better than a mason, for it can break things in a split second what a mason has made over a long time."
The master said, "you are stupid and ignorant indeed. although the donkey can break things in a second, it can't even make one pottery in a hundred years."
So are the people at large. those who sometimes receive offerings from their benefactors for a hundred years, give nothing in return. on the contrary, they always do more harm than good. this is held to be true with someone who shows ingratitude.
古文:
昔有婆羅門師,欲作大會,語弟子言:“我須瓦器,以供會用。汝可為我雇請瓦師。詣市覓之?!?/p>
時彼弟子往瓦師家,時有一人驢負瓦器至市欲賣,須臾之間,驢盡破之。還來家中,啼哭懊惱。弟子見已,而問之言:“何以悲嘆懊惱如是?”
其人答言:“我為方便,勤苦積年,始得成器。詣市欲賣。此弊惡驢,須臾之頃,盡破我器。是故懊惱。”
爾時弟子見聞是已,歡喜念言:“此驢乃是佳物!久時所作,須臾能破。我今當買此驢?!?/p>
瓦師歡喜,即便賣與。乘來歸家,師問之言:“汝何以不得瓦師將來?用是驢為?”
弟子答言:“此驢勝于瓦師。瓦師久時所作瓦器,少時能破。”
時師語言:“汝大愚癡,無有智慧。此驢今者適可能破,假使百年,不能成一。”
世間之人,亦復如是。雖千百年,受人供養,都無報償,常為損害,終不為益。背恩之人,亦復如是。
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