經律異相 48.16

48.16

The Buddha was in the country of Vārāṇasī. In a marshy forest, he expounded the sublime Dharma for devas, humans, and the four assemblies. At that time, a flock of five hundred geese was in the sky. Hearing the sound of the Buddha's voice, their hearts felt deep love and joy, and they circled around, wishing to descend. A hunter had spread a net, and the geese fell into it. Killed by the hunter, they were born in the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. Seated upon the laps of their celestial parents like eight-year-old children, they were incomparably dignified and handsome, radiating light like golden mountains. Then they thought to themselves, 'By what cause was I born here?' They immediately recognized their past lives and the retribution of their love for the Dharma. Together holding flowers, they descended to Jambudvīpa, went to where the Bhagavat was, prostrated at his feet, and addressed him, saying, 'By virtue of the sound of the Dharma, we were born in a wondrous heaven. We pray that you will elucidate it for us again.' The Buddha preached the Four Noble Truths, and they attained the fruit of srotāpanna, then returned to heaven (taken from the Damamūka-nidāna Sūtra, Fascicle 13).