經律異相 43.29

43.29

Animals and humans comprise all four modes of birth. Question: “How is it known that there is egg-birth among humans?” Answer: “As it is said: In the land of Jambudvīpa, many merchants entered the ocean to gather treasures. They obtained two swans, which transformed according to their wishes, one being lost while one remained. They played together, slept in the same chamber, and copulated with it, subsequently laying two eggs. As the eggs gradually warmed and matured, two boys were born. Later, when grown, they left home to practice the Way and attained the fruit of arhatship. One was named Śīvali and the second was named Uppala-śīvali.” Question: “How is it known that there is moisture-birth among humans?” Answer: “As the sūtras explain: there was King Mūrdhagata, Venerable Cāla, Venerable Upacāla, and the maiden Śailā.” Question: “How is it known that there is apparitional birth among humans?” Answer: “The humans of the beginning of the kalpa are such. Those who have already attained the noble Dharma no longer undergo egg-birth or moisture-birth.” Question: “Why do they no longer undergo egg-birth or moisture-birth?” Answer: “Egg-birth and moisture-birth belong to the animal destiny.” (From the fourteenth fascicle of the Vibhāṣā-śāstra.)