佛說鼈獼猴經第十
Chapter 10: The Buddha Speaks the Turtle and Monkey Sutra
聞如是：
Thus have I heard:
一時佛遊舍衛祇樹給孤獨園，與大比丘眾千二百五十人俱。時諸比丘，會共議言：「有此暴志比丘尼者，棄家遠業，而行學道，歸命三寶。佛則為父；法則為母；諸比丘眾以為兄弟。本以道法而為沙門，遵修道誼，去三毒垢，供侍佛法及比丘僧，愍哀一切，行四等心，乃可得度。而反懷惡，謗佛、謗尊、輕毀眾僧，甚可疑怪，為未曾有。」時佛徹聽，往問比丘：「屬何所論？」比丘具啟向所議意。
於時世尊告諸比丘：「此比丘尼，不但今世念如來惡，在在所生，亦復如是。吾自憶念，乃往過去無數劫時，有一獼猴王，處在林樹，食果飲水，慜念一切蚑行喘息、人物之類，皆欲令度使至無為。時與一鼈以為知友，親親相敬初不相忤。鼈數往來，到獼猴所，飲食言談，說正義理。其婦見之數出不在，謂之於外婬蕩不節。即問夫聟：『卿數出為何所至湊，將無於外放逸無道？』其夫答曰：『吾與獼猴，結為親友，聰明智慧，又曉義理，出輙往造，共論經法，但說快事，無他放逸。』其婦不信，謂為不然。又瞋：『獼猴誘訹我夫，數令出入。當圖殺之，吾夫乃休。』因便佯病，困劣著床。其聟瞻勞，醫藥療治竟不肯差，謂其夫言：『何須勞意損其醫藥？吾病甚重，當得卿所親親獼猴之肝，吾乃活耳！』其夫答曰：『是吾親友，寄身託命，終不相疑，云何相圖用以活卿耶？』其婦答曰：『今為夫婦，同共一體，不念相濟，反為獼猴，誠非誼理？』其夫逼婦，又敬重之。往請獼猴：『吾數往來，到君所頓，仁不枉屈詣我家門，今欲相請到舍小食。』獼猴答曰：『吾處陸地，卿在水中，安得相從？』其鼈答曰：『吾當負卿，亦可任儀。』獼猴便從，負到中道。謂獼猴言：『仁欲知不，所以相請，吾婦病困欲得仁肝服食除病。』獼猴報曰：『卿何以故，不早相語？吾肝挂樹不齎持來。』促還取肝，乃相從耳，便還樹上，跳踉歡喜。時鼈問曰：『卿當齎肝來到我家，反更上樹，跳踉踊躍，為何所施？』獼猴答曰：『天下至愚，無過於卿！何所有肝而挂在樹？共為親友，寄身託命，而還相圖，欲危我命，從今已往，各自別行。』」
At that time, the World-Honored One said to the monks: "This nun has not only spoken ill of the Thus-Gone One in this life—in every life she has been born, it has been the same. I recall, in the distant past, countless eons ago, there was a monkey king who lived in the forest, eating fruit and drinking water. He had compassion for all living beings—those that crawl, breathe, humans, and all creatures—wishing to ferry them all across to the unconditioned state. At that time, he had a turtle as a close friend. They respected each other deeply and never crossed one another. The turtle frequently came and went, visiting the monkey's place, sharing meals and conversation, discussing what is right and true.
"Now, the turtle's wife noticed that he was often away from home. She thought he was out being wanton and unrestrained. She asked her husband: 'You keep going out—where do you go? Are you not out there indulging in pleasure, straying from the path?' Her husband replied: 'I have struck up a friendship with a monkey. He is intelligent and wise, and understands what is right and true. Whenever I go out, I visit him, and we discuss the teachings together. We speak only of uplifting things—there is no indulgence at all.' But his wife did not believe him. She thought it was not so, and grew angry: 'That monkey has seduced my husband, making him come and go constantly. We should kill it, and only then will my husband settle down.'
"So she pretended to be sick, and lay weak and frail in bed. Her husband attended to her, seeking medicine and treatments, but she would not recover. She said to her husband: 'Why trouble yourself, wasting medicine on me? My illness is severe. I can only live if I get the liver of your dear friend, that monkey!' Her husband replied: 'He is my dear friend—I have entrusted my very life to him. I would never doubt him. How could I plot against him to save you?' His wife answered: 'Now, we are husband and wife, one body together. If you will not help me, but instead side with a monkey, is that not against all reason?'
"Her husband was pressured by his wife, and also held her in respect. So he went to invite the monkey: 'I have often come to your place to rest. You have never once condescended to visit my home. Now I would like to invite you to my house for a small meal.' The monkey replied: 'I live on land, and you live in the water. How could I go with you?' The turtle said: 'I will carry you on my back. That will be fine.'
"The monkey agreed and climbed on. When they reached the middle of the water, the turtle said to the monkey: 'Do you know why I invited you? My wife is gravely ill, and she needs your liver to eat as medicine.' The monkey replied: 'Why did you not tell me sooner? My liver is hanging on a tree—I did not bring it with me. Hurry, let us go back and get it, and then I will come with you.' So they returned to the tree, and the monkey climbed up, leaping about joyfully.
"The turtle asked: 'You were supposed to bring your liver to my house, but instead you climbed the tree, leaping and bounding about—what is the meaning of this?' The monkey answered: 'There is no one more foolish in all the world than you! What liver is ever hanging from a tree? We were friends, entrusting our very lives to each other—and yet you plotted against me, seeking to take my life. From this day forward, we each go our separate ways.'"
佛告比丘：「爾時鼈婦，則暴志是；鼈者，則調達是；獼猴王者，則我身是。」
The Buddha told the monks, “At that time, the turtle's wife was Patacara; the turtle was Devadatta; and the king of the monkeys was I myself.”
佛說如是，莫不歡喜。
Thus spoke the Buddha, and everyone rejoiced.