(16) WATER THE SUGAR-CANE

Once upon a time two men who cultivated sugar-cane, pledged that the one who had a good harvest would win prizes, while the one with a bad harvest would be heavily penalized. One of them thought, "The sugar-cane itself is very sweet. It will be more delicious if I water it with its compressed juice. Then I will get the upper hand over him."

Immediately, he began to press the juice from the sugar-cane. He watered the plant with the juice in the hope of making it more delicious. Instead, he destroyed the seedling and lost his entire plantation.
So are people at large. Those who wish for the comforts of life use their high positions and great influence to oppress the mass. They steal others' possessions as their own wealth to do good works with a view to enjoy better life afterwards. However, they are unaware of the calamities, which are to come upon them. Those people are just like the man who, pressing the sugar-cane, lost everything.

16灌甘蔗喻

昔有二人共种甘蔗，而作誓言：「种好者，赏；其不好者，当重罚之。」时二人中，一者念言：甘蔗极甜，若压取汁，还灌甘蔗树，甘美必甚，得胜于彼。即压甘蔗，取汁用溉，冀望滋味，反败种子。所有甘蔗一切都失。

世人亦尔，欲求善福，恃己豪贵，专形挟势，迫胁下民，陵夺财物，以用作福。本期善果，不知将来反获其殃，如压甘蔗，彼此都失。

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