法苑珠林 49.8

49.8

如末羅王經云。人問世尊。何等為父母力。佛言。謂受父母身體。乳哺育養之恩。或從地積珍寶。上至二十八天。悉以施人。不如供養父母。是為父母力。

As the Sūtra on the Malla King says: A person asked the World-Honoured One, 'What is the strength of parents?' The Buddha said: 'It refers to the kindness of receiving one's physical body from parents, and their suckling and rearing. Even if one were to pile precious jewels from the earth up to the twenty-eight heavens and give them all in charity to others, it would not equal making offerings to parents. This is the strength of parents.'