大方便佛報恩經 4.36

4.36

「爾時善友太子未入大海在宮殿時，養一白鴈，衣被飲食，行住坐臥，而常共俱。爾時夫人往到其所，報其鴈言：『太子在時，常共汝俱。今入大海未還，生死未分，而我不能得知定實。汝今云何不感念太子？』鴈聞是語，悲鳴宛轉，啼淚滿目，報言：『大王夫人！欲使求覓太子者，不敢違命。』爾時夫人手自作書，繫其鴈頸。其鴈音響問太子大海所在，身昇虛空，飛翔宛轉而去。夫人見已，心生恃賴：『今者此鴈，其必定得我子死活定實消息。』飛至大海，經過周遍，求覓不見。次第往到利師跋國，遙見善友太子在宮殿前。其鴈𣫍身，擁翅往趣，到已悲鳴歡喜。太子即取母書，頭頂禮敬，發封披讀，即知父母晝夜悲哭，追念太子，兩目失明。

"At that time, before Prince Kalyāṇamitra had entered the great ocean and while he was still in the palace, he had raised a white wild goose. Clothing, bedding, food, and drink, walking, standing, sitting, and lying down—they were always together. At that time, the queen mother went to where it was and said to the goose, 'When the prince was here, he was always together with you. Now he has entered the great ocean and has not returned; whether he is alive or dead cannot be known, and I am unable to obtain certain and true news. Why do you not now long for the prince?' When the goose heard these words, it cried out mournfully, tossing about, tears filling its eyes, and replied, 'Great Queen! If you wish me to search for the prince, I dare not disobey your command.' At that time, the queen wrote a letter with her own hand and tied it around the neck of the goose. Calling out, the goose asked where the prince was in the great ocean; its body soared into the sky, wheeling and soaring as it flew away. When the queen saw this, reliance arose in her heart: 'Now this goose will surely obtain certain and true news of whether my son is dead or alive.' Flying to the great ocean, it traversed it all around, searching for him without finding him. In turn, it reached the kingdom of Ṛṣivadana and saw Prince Kalyāṇamitra far off before the palace. The goose gathered its body, spread its wings, and flew toward him; having arrived, it cried mournfully with joy. The prince at once took his mother's letter, made reverent obeisance with the crown of his head, broke the seal, and opened it to read. He then knew that his father and mother were weeping day and night, longing for the prince, and that both their eyes had lost their sight.