眾經撰雜譬喻 1.33

1.33

佛語目連：「汝對欲至。」目連言：「我有神力超蹈須彌山，對若東來我便向西，若北來我當趣南，那得我耶？」佛語目連：「罪福自然，不可得避。」遠飛不息乃墮山中。時有車輻老公，目連正墮其前，形狀似鬼，老公謂是惡物，舉車輻打之，即折其身。目連被痛甚羞懊惱，盡忘本識。佛哀念之授其威神。爾乃得自思惟，還復本形。是硑車輻老公，目連前世時父。目連與父諍，目連意中念言：「撾殺此公骨折快也！」是以得此罪殃。慎莫作不孝之罪，是以人生處世，不可不慎心口而孝養父母也。

The Buddha said to Maudgalyāyana: "Your retribution is about to arrive." Maudgalyāyana said: "I have supernatural power to leap over Mount Sumeru. If the retribution comes from the east, I will go west; if it comes from the north, I will head south—how could it reach me?" The Buddha said to Maudgalyāyana: "Guilt and merit are natural; they cannot be avoided." Flying far without rest, he fell into the mountains. At that time there was an old man [making] cart-spokes, and Maudgalyāyana fell right in front of him. His appearance resembled a ghost; the old man thought he was an evil creature, raised a cart-spoke, and struck him, instantly breaking his body. Maudgalyāyana suffered extreme pain and was deeply ashamed and distressed, completely forgetting his former consciousness. The Buddha, taking pity on him, bestowed upon him divine power. Only then was he able to reflect and restore his original form. This old man who fashioned cart-spokes was Maudgalyāyana's father in a previous life. Maudgalyāyana had quarreled with his father, and Maudgalyāyana thought in his mind: "How satisfying it would be to beat this old man to death until his bones break!" It was because of this that he incurred this retributive suffering. Take care never to commit the sin of unfilial conduct; thus, when people live in this world, they must be cautious in mind and speech, and filial in caring for their parents.