法苑珠林 42.65

42.65

又百緣經云。佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。時夏安居竟。將諸比丘欲游行他國。時頻婆娑羅王將諸群臣出城。遙望如來來受我供。爾時世尊遙知王意深生渴仰。及比丘僧漸欲游行。詣摩竭提國值諸群鳥。中有鸚䳇子王遙見佛來飛騰虛空逆道奉迎。唯願世尊及比丘僧。慈哀憐愍詣我林中受一宿請。佛即然可。時鸚䳇王知許可已。還歸本林。勅諸鸚䳇。各來奉迎。爾時世尊將諸比丘。詣鸚䳇林。各敷座具。在於樹下。坐禪思惟。時鸚䳇王見佛比丘寂然宴坐。甚懷喜悅。通夜翔繞佛比丘。四向顧視無諸師子虎狼禽獸及以盜賊觸惱世尊比丘僧。至明清旦世尊進引。鸚䳇歡喜在前引導。向王舍城。白頻婆娑羅王言。世尊今者將諸比丘遂來在近。唯願大王。設諸餚饍逆道奉迎。時王聞語已。勅設餚饍。執持幢幡香華伎樂。將諸群臣逆道奉迎。時鸚䳇王於其夜中即便命終生忉利天。忽然長大如八歲小兒。便作是念。我造何福生此天上。尋自觀察知從鸚䳇由請佛故一宿止住得來生此。我今當還報世尊恩。頂戴天冠。著諸瓔珞。莊嚴其身。齎持香華。而供養佛。却坐一面。佛即為其說四諦法。心開意解得須陀洹果。繞佛三匝還歸天上。時諸比丘白佛言。今此天子宿造何業生鸚䳇中。復修何福得生天上。來供養佛聞法獲果。爾時世尊告諸比丘。此賢劫中波羅柰國有佛出世。號曰迦葉。於彼法中有一長者。受持五戒。便於一時毀犯一戒。故生鸚䳇中。餘四完具。今得值我出家得道。佛告諸比丘。欲知彼時優婆塞者。今鸚䳇是。聞佛所說歡喜奉行。

The Avadānaśataka also states: The Buddha was in Śrāvastī, at the Jetavana Grove in Anāthapiṇḍada's park. When the summer retreat concluded, he wished to lead the bhikṣus on a journey to other lands. At that time, King Bimbisāra led his ministers out of the city, gazing toward the Tathāgata from afar, [hoping he would] come and accept his offering. At that time, the World-Honoured One, knowing from afar the king's intention and that he had conceived deep longing, gradually set out on his journey with the saṅgha of bhikṣus. Arriving in the kingdom of Magadha, he encountered a flock of birds. Among them was a king of parrots who saw the Buddha coming from afar, soared into the sky, and flew ahead along the road to welcome him, [saying]: "May the World-Honoured One and the saṅgha of bhikṣus, out of compassionate pity, come to my grove and accept an invitation for one night's stay." The Buddha immediately consented. When the parrot king knew that consent had been granted, he returned to his home grove and ordered all the parrots to come out to welcome him. At that time, the World-Honoured One led the bhikṣus to the parrot grove, where each spread his sitting mat beneath the trees and engaged in seated meditation and contemplation. When the parrot king saw the Buddha and the bhikṣus seated serenely in meditation, he was exceedingly joyful. Throughout the night he hovered and circled around the Buddha and the bhikṣus, looking in all four directions so that no lions, tigers, wolves, wild beasts, or thieves would disturb or annoy the World-Honoured One and the saṅgha of bhikṣus. At clear dawn the next morning, the World-Honoured One set forth. Joyfully guiding the way ahead toward Rājagṛha, the parrot said to King Bimbisāra: "The World-Honoured One, leading the bhikṣus, has now drawn near. May the Great King prepare various delicacies and go out along the road to welcome him." Having heard these words, the king ordered delicacies to be prepared, took up banners, streamers, incense, flowers, and music, and led his ministers along the road to welcome him. That night, the parrot king died and was reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, suddenly growing to the size of an eight-year-old child. He then had this thought: 'What merit did I create to be born in this heaven?' Searching and observing within himself, he knew: 'From being a parrot, because I invited the Buddha to stay for one night, I attained rebirth here. I must now return to repay the kindness of the World-Honoured One.' Wearing a heavenly crown, adorned with necklets and jewels to embellish his body, he brought incense and flowers to make offerings to the Buddha, and sat to one side. The Buddha then preached the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths for him. His mind opened in understanding, he attained the fruit of srotāpanna, circumambulated the Buddha three times, and returned to heaven. The bhikṣus said to the Buddha: "What past karma did this son of heaven create to be born among parrots, and what merit did he cultivate to attain rebirth in heaven, come to make offerings to the Buddha, hear the Dharma, and obtain the fruit?" At that time, the World-Honoured One told the bhikṣus: "In this Bhadrakalpa, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, a Buddha appeared in the world named Kāśyapa. In his Dharma, there was an elder who received and observed the five precepts. At one time he violated one precept, and therefore was reborn among parrots. The remaining four were kept intact, so that he now encountered me, renounced the household life, and attained the path." The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "If you wish to know who the upāsaka was at that time, it was this very parrot." Having heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and practiced accordingly.