經律異相 6.22

6.22

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)