大唐西域記 6.55

6.55

雉救火側不遠，有窣堵波，是如來修菩薩行時，為鹿救生之處。乃往古昔，此有大林，火炎中野，飛走窮窘，前有駛流之阨，後困猛火之難，莫不沈溺，喪棄身命。其鹿惻隱，身據橫流，穿皮斷骨，自強拯溺。蹇兔後至，忍疲苦而濟之。筋力既竭，溺水而死。諸天收骸，起窣堵波。

By the side of this, not far off, is a stūpa. On this spot Bodhisattva, when practising a religious life, being at that time a deer, saved (or, rescued) living creatures. In very remote times this was a great forest; a fire burst out in the wild grass that grew in it. The birds and beasts were sorely distressed. Before them was the barrier of a swiftly flowing river. Behind them the calamity of the raging fire which barred their escape. There was no help for it but to plunge into the water, and there drowned, they perished. This deer, moved by pity, placed his body across the stream, which lashed his sides and broke his bones, whilst he strove with all his strength to rescue the drowning creatures. A worn-out hare coming to the bank, the deer with patience bearing his pain and fatigue, got him safely across, but his strength being now worn out, he was engulfed in the water and died. The Devas collecting his bones raised this stūpa.