百喻經(jīng)之四三: 磨大石喻

(43) TO GRIND A BIG STONE

譬如有人，磨一大石，勤加功力，經(jīng)歷日月，作小戲牛。用功既重，所期甚輕。

Once there was a man who ground a big stone with great effort. He made a small toy bull out of it after days and months of labor. The effort being made was strenuous, yet the gain expected was trivial.

世間之人，亦復如是。磨大石者，喻于學問，精勤勞苦;作小牛者，喻于名聞，互相是非。

So are the people from all walks of life. Grinding a stone refers to learning seriously and diligently. To make a small toy bull applies 'to the illusive fame and the inducement of the mutual criticism.

夫為學者，研思精微，博通多識，宜應履行，遠求勝果。方求名譽，驕慢貢高，增長過患。

A scholar should endeavor himself to serious studying to get wide and extensive knowledge. Furthermore, he has to put his learning into practice so as to obtain some fulfillment. The goal must not be the illusive fame, complacence and arrogance, which breed only sins and calamities.

白話：

譬如有人磨治一塊大石頭，花費許多氣力，歷經(jīng)漫長歲月，磨成一只玩具小牛。用去的功夫極大，期望的目標輕微。

世上的人也是這樣。磨治大石塊，譬喻做學問，精勤勞苦;做成小牛，譬喻為了名望，互相攻訐。做學問么，研究思索精微的玄理，廣泛通曉種種知識，理應步步實踐，去求得那遙遠但究竟圓滿的殊勝之果。一旦為了求名譽，驕傲自大，就會增長過患。

這故事比喻∶人們精勞勤苦地修學，應該志求高勝的道果，如果只是為求一些聞名閑利，那用力多而收獲少，或者得不償失，反而增長過患了。

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