ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 32.12

32.12

that were able to, fled. Their eggs, and those birds that were not able to flee, were left behind.

“At that time there was a bodhisattva who had taken birth as a partridge, and from a distance the bodhisattva saw the approach of the blazing fire. He felt compassion for those living beings and thought, ‘If I make no effort to deliver these beings as they face suffering, how can I lead them from saṃsāra?’ So the bodhisattva wet his wings with water, and as he circled in the sky above the great fire, he shook his wings and said in verse:

“ ‘Though they have wings
They cannot fly.
Though they have feet
They cannot run.

“ ‘Their parents, flown away, are gone.
Stay put, fire. Stir not.

“ ‘If it is true and a true statement
That I have perfectly
Cultivated kindness,
Then stay put, fire. Stir not.’

“Then Śakra, King of the Gods, saw that the bodhisattva was disheartened and remained there for the benefit of beings. When he saw this he thought, ‘This is the bodhisattva of our own fortunate eon, who is disheartened and remains there for the benefit of beings. I will help him!’ Then Śakra, King of the Gods, let fall a great rain to quell the fire, and rescued all the beings from the threat of fire.

“O monks, what do you think? I am the one who was the partridge then and lived the life of a bodhisattva. Those who were the beings of the forest then are none other than these many persons. At that time I rescued them from the threat of fire and delivered them to safety. Now as well I have rescued them from the threat of fire