法苑珠林 5.92

5.92

又雜阿含經云。阿修羅前世時。曾為貧人。居近河邊。常渡河擔薪。時河水深流澓駛疾。此人數為水所漂殆死得出。時有辟支佛。詣舍乞食。歡喜即施。食訖空中飛去。貧人見之因以發願。願我後身長大一切深水無過膝者。以是因緣得此極大身。四大海水不能過膝。立大海中身過須彌。手據山頂下觀忉利天。

The Saṃyukta-āgama sūtra also states: In a previous life, an asura was once a poor man living near a river, who constantly crossed the river carrying firewood. At that time, the river's water was deep and its swirling current swift; this person was repeatedly washed away by the water and barely escaped with his life. At that time, a pratyekabuddha came to his house begging for food; rejoicing, he gave it to him. Having finished eating, [the pratyekabuddha] flew away through the air. The poor man, upon seeing this, made a vow: 'May my future body be so tall and great that all deep waters do not exceed my knees!' Due to this cause and condition, he obtained this extremely gigantic body: the waters of the four great oceans cannot exceed his knees. Standing in the great ocean, his body surpasses Mount Sumeru, and resting his hands on the mountain peak, he looks down upon the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven.