眾經撰雜譬喻 2.28

2.28

昔佛在世時，有一優婆夷，朝夕詣佛，供養盡虔未曾有懈。佛知而問：「欲何志願也？」便白佛言：「若有福報，願欲現世生四子。」佛便問：「何以索四子也？」優婆夷言：「若四子長大，令一人主治生賈市積聚財寶，令一人知田農畜養積聚六畜及穀，令一人求官食祿覆蔭門戶，欲令一人出家作沙門，得道成就還度父母及一切人，求四子者正為此耳！」佛言：「令汝得所願。」優婆夷大喜為佛作禮而去。後生一男，聰明黠慧，其母愛之世間無比。子後長大便問母言：「慈愛何以太甚，未有此比？」母語子言：「本願四子，唯得汝一人，併愛在汝許，是以爾耳！」所欲之意悉向兒說。兒聞母說深感母志，便行治生，未滿一年得巨億財；次安田業畜牧，蓋澤牛馬穀米甚無數；次行學問仕進求官，取婦生男，門戶遂成豪富之家。復啟言：「所以求四子，各知一事，今代為之，三事粗辦唯少一事，得出家者甚善。」慈母曰：「四子之願得具足矣！」母心念言：「本願四子各付一事尚恐不辦，此兒所作，過於本望，令得出家必能成道。」即聽出家。兒辭母向佛所求作沙門，即得具足精進，不久得阿羅漢道，還度父母及一切人，得福得道無不歡喜。是以作福發願但在心志，無往不得也。

Formerly, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an upāsikā who went to the Buddha morning and evening, making offerings with complete devotion, never once slackening. Knowing [her thoughts], the Buddha asked, "What vow do you wish for?" She then said to the Buddha, "If I have karmic rewards of merit, I vow to give birth in this present life to four sons." The Buddha then asked, "Why do you seek four sons?" The upāsikā said, "When the four sons grow up, I would have one take charge of business and market trading to amass wealth and treasures; I would have one manage farming and animal husbandry to amass the six domestic animals and grain; I would have one seek official rank to earn a stipend and protect the household; and I wish to have one leave home to become a śramaṇa, attaining the Way, accomplishing [the goal], and returning to deliver his parents and all people. It is solely for this that I seek four sons!" The Buddha said, "May you obtain what you wish." Greatly pleased, the upāsikā bowed to the Buddha and departed. Later, she gave birth to a boy who was bright and clever, and his mother loved him beyond compare in the world. When the son grew up, he asked his mother, "Why is your affection so exceedingly great, without any comparison?" His mother told the son, "Originally, I vowed for four sons, but I obtained only you alone. All that love has been combined upon you; that is why it is so!" She explained to her son all the intentions of her wish. Hearing what his mother said, the son was deeply moved by his mother's aspiration. He then engaged in business, and in less than a year, he acquired hundreds of millions in wealth. Next, he established agricultural undertakings and animal husbandry, gathering an innumerable abundance of oxen, horses, and grain. Next, he pursued studies, sought an official appointment, took a wife, and fathered a son, and his household subsequently became a grand and wealthy family. He spoke to his mother again, saying, "You sought four sons so each could take charge of one matter. Now I have acted on their behalf, and three matters are roughly accomplished; only one matter is lacking. If I may leave home, it would be very good." The loving mother said, "The vow for four sons has been fulfilled!" The mother thought to herself, "Originally, I vowed for four sons and assigned each one matter, yet I still feared it could not be accomplished. What this son has done exceeds my original hopes. If I let him leave home, he will certainly be able to achieve the Way." She immediately gave permission for him to leave home. The son took leave of his mother, went to the Buddha, and asked to become a śramaṇa. He immediately attained complete diligence, and before long he achieved the fruit of arhatship. He returned to deliver his parents and all people; in gaining merit and attaining the Way, there was none who did not rejoice. Therefore, when one creates merit and makes a vow, it depends only on the determination of the mind; there is nowhere it cannot succeed.