英文：
Once upon a time there was a group of merchants who wanted to go to the sea. a guide was required. they set out in quest of such a man. after finding such a man, they started the trip and saw a temple when they reached a land of wilderness. a man had to be immolated to cross it.
After consultation, the group of merchants said that they could not choose anyone in the company to be killed, for they were all related. the only one fit to be sacrificed was the guide. so they killed him. after performing the rites, they soon lost their way and knew not which direction to go. they then died one after another.
So are the people in general. those who seek to fish for treasure in the sea of dharma should keep the commandments of doing good deeds as their guide. if they break them, they will end their lives in the wilderness and can never be rescued. furthermore, they will have to go through the three evil paths of transmigration and suffer forever and ever. such men are just like the group of merchants who killed the guide and died in a body as a result.
古文：
昔有贾客，欲入大海。入大海之法，要须导师，然后可去。即共求觅，得一导师。既得之已，相将发引，至旷野中，有一天祠，当须人祀，然后得过。
于是众贾共思量言：“我等伴党，尽是亲亲，如何可杀？唯此导师，中用祀天。”即杀导师，以用祭祀。祀天已竟，迷失道路，不知所趣，穷困死尽。
一切世人，亦复如是：欲入法海，取其珍宝，当修善法行，以为导师。毁破善行，生死旷路，永无出期。经历三涂，受苦长远。如彼商贾将入大海，杀其导者，迷失津济，终致困死。
译文：
从前有一伙商人，想渡海做买卖。要渡海就必须请向导引路，才能成行。因此大家一同寻找，请到了一位向导。有了向导，大家就出发上路了。他们来到了一个旷野，那里有一座祭祀神的祠堂，按惯例必须杀活人祭祀后，才能离开。于是商人们共同商议说：“我们结伴而行的人都是亲戚，怎能杀死？只有这个向导，最适合祭祀神灵。”于是他们杀了向导，用来作了祭祀的供品。祭祀完毕后，他们却迷失了道路，不知该往何处走，都困死在旷野中。
一切世俗的人，也是这样，他们想得到人生的真谛、智慧和财富，就应当修行善事，接受教义作为行动的指南。但人们却常败坏善良的品行，从而在生与死轮回路上，永远不能超脱，并因为作恶堕入地狱、畜生、饿鬼道，受到火、血、刀这三种痛苦的长久煎熬。这就像商人们要渡海，却杀了引路的人，从而迷失了方向，最终导致困死旷野的结果一样。