往生集 3.42

3.42

During the Buddha's time, there was a kingdom neighboring rākṣasas. The rākṣasas devoured people without restraint. The king made an agreement that from then on, each household in the kingdom would take a single day in turn to deliver someone, so that there would be no wanton slaughter. There was a family devoted to the Buddha that had only one son; when it was his turn to go, the parents wept and wailed, instructing him to practice buddhamanasikāra with utmost sincerity. By the Buddha's majestic power, the demon could not approach. When they went to look the next morning, they saw their son was still alive, and joyfully brought him back. From then on, the disaster of the rākṣasas was completely ended, and the people of the kingdom celebrated and admired them.