經律異相 6.22

6.22

佛遊波羅奈時。五百幼童相結為伴。俱共行戲於江水邊聚沙為塔。各自說言。吾塔甚好卿學吾作。其五百童雖有善心宿命福薄。天大暴雨江水卒漲。五百幼童俱時溺死。父母號哭求索屍喪。莫知所在。佛言。宿命不請勿生怨恨。此諸兒等宿命應爾。今生兜率天。佛放光明。令此父母遠見其子。尋時皆來散華供養。佛言。善哉。因造沙塔即得生天見彌勒佛。五百天子各啟父母勿復愁憂。但努力精進。繞佛三匝作禮飛去（出五百幼童經又出生經第四卷）。

When the Buddha was traveling in Vārāṇasī, five hundred young children formed a group. Playing together by the river, they piled sand to make stūpas, each saying: 'My stūpa is very fine; you should imitate what I make.' Although these five hundred children had good intentions, their past karmic fortune was slight: torrential rain fell, and the river suddenly rose; the five hundred young children all drowned at the same time. Their parents wailed, searching for the corpses, not knowing where they were. The Buddha said: 'Do not harbor resentment over what was not invited in past lives. These children were destined to this by their past lives; they are now born in the Tuṣita heaven.' The Buddha emitted light, enabling these parents to see their sons from afar. Instantly, [the devas] all came down, scattering flowers in offering. The Buddha said: 'Excellent! Because they made sand stūpas, they were immediately born in heaven and will see Maitreya Buddha.' The five hundred devaputras each addressed their parents: 'Do not grieve any longer; just strive with vigor.' Circling the Buddha three times, they bowed and flew away. (Extracted from the Sūtra of the Five Hundred Young Children and fascicle 4 of the Jātaka Sūtra)