眾經撰雜譬喻 2.28

2.28

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.