所行藏（Sujato 英译）第 17 阅读页 · CP16 · Ruru the Deer King’s Conduct

The Conduct Leading to BuddhahoodThe Conduct Leading to BuddhahoodThe Chapter on an ElephantThe Chapter on an Elephant

The Perfection of Ethics (6th)The Perfection of Ethics (6th)Ruru the Deer King’s ConductRuru the Deer King’s Conduct“Then again when I was“Then again when I was

the king of deer named Ruru,the king of deer named Ruru,in appearance I was like burnished gold,in appearance I was like burnished gold,focused on the highest ethics.focused on the highest ethics.

There was a pleasant, delightful region,There was a pleasant, delightful region,free of humans,free of humans,so I went there and stayedso I went there and stayed

on a lovely bank of the Ganges.on a lovely bank of the Ganges.Then a man upstream,Then a man upstream,harassed by creditors,harassed by creditors,

fell into the Ganges, thinking,fell into the Ganges, thinking,‘I live or I die!’‘I live or I die!’Day and night in the GangesDay and night in the Ganges

he was swept along the stream,he was swept along the stream,crying out pitifully,crying out pitifully,along the middle of the Ganges.along the middle of the Ganges.

When I heard the soundWhen I heard the soundof his pitiful crying,of his pitiful crying,I stood on the Ganges bankI stood on the Ganges bank

and asked, ‘What man are you?’and asked, ‘What man are you?’When asked he explainedWhen asked he explainedto me his own deed:to me his own deed:

‘I was so scared of my creditors,‘I was so scared of my creditors,I jumped in the great river!’I jumped in the great river!’Taking pity on him,Taking pity on him,

surrendering my own life,surrendering my own life,I entered and dragged him outI entered and dragged him outin the darkness of the night.in the darkness of the night.

When I knew he had recovered,When I knew he had recovered,I said to him,I said to him,‘I ask of you one favor:‘I ask of you one favor:

tell no one about me.’tell no one about me.’But once he had returned to the city,But once he had returned to the city,for the sake of money he told when asked.for the sake of money he told when asked.

Taking the king,Taking the king,he drew close to me.he drew close to me.All that I had doneAll that I had done

was related to the king.was related to the king.When the king heard this,When the king heard this,he fitted his arrow, thinking,he fitted his arrow, thinking,

‘Right here I shall kill‘Right here I shall killthis ignoble betrayer of a friend.’this ignoble betrayer of a friend.’I protected him,I protected him,

substituting myself:substituting myself:‘Let him be, Great King.‘Let him be, Great King.I shall carry out your pleasure.’I shall carry out your pleasure.’

I guarded my ethics,I guarded my ethics,not my life.not my life.For then I was ethical,For then I was ethical,

because it was solely for awakening.”because it was solely for awakening.”