The Ant-hill
Thus I have heard. On one occassion the Blessed One was living at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapikdika's Park. Now on that occasion the venerable Kumara Kassapa was living in the Blind Men's Grove.
Then, when the night was well advanced, a certain deity of beautiful appearance who had illuminated the whole of the Blind Men's Grove approached the venerable Kumara Kassapa and stood at one side. So standing, the deity said to him:
That is what was said by the deity, who thereupon vanished at once.Bhikkhu, bhikkhu, this ant-hill fumes by night and flames by day.
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a bar: "A bar, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Throw out the bar; delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a fork: "A fork, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Throw out the fork; delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a sieve: "A sieve, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Throw out the seive; delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a tortoise: "A tortoise, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Throw out the tortoise: delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a butcher's knife and block: "A butcher's knife and block, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Throw out the butcher's knife and block; delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a piece of meat: "A piece of meat, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Throw out the piece of meat; delve with the knife, thou wise one." Delving with the knife, the wise one saw a Naga serpent: "A Naga serpent, O venerable sir."
Thus spoke the brahmin: "Leave the Naga serpent; do not harm the Naga serpent; honour the Naga serpent."
Bikkhu, you should go to the Blessed One and ask him about this riddle. As the Blessed One tells you, so should you remember it. Bikkhu, other than the Tathagata or a disciple of the Tathagata or one who has learned it from them, I see no one in this world with its gods, its Maras, and its Brahmas, in this generation with its recluses and brahmins, its princes and its people, whose explanation of this riddle might satisfy the mind."
to be continued ...