法苑珠林 50.24

50.24

宋有一國。與羅剎相近。羅剎數入境食人無度。王與羅剎約言。自今已後國中家。各專一日當分送往。勿復枉殺。有奉佛家。唯有一子。始年十歲。次當充行。父母哀號。便至心念佛。爰及宗親助子屬想。便送此兒辭別捨之。以佛威神力大鬼不得近。明日見子尚在歡喜同歸。於茲遂絕。國人嘉慶慕焉（右一驗出幽冥錄）。

During the Song, there was a state neighboring rākṣasas. The rākṣasas repeatedly crossed the border and ate people without limit. The king made an agreement with the rākṣasas, saying, 'From now on, each household in the country shall take turns, each for a single day, to send someone to you; do not kill people indiscriminately anymore.' There was a Buddhist family that had only one son, who was just ten years of age; it was his turn to be sent. The parents wept bitterly and recollected the Buddha with utmost sincerity, whereupon their kinsmen also joined in directing their thoughts to help the boy. They then sent off the boy, bid him farewell, and abandoned him there. Through the awe-inspiring supernatural power of the Buddha, the great demon could not approach him. The next morning, finding their son still alive, they returned together in joy. From then on, [the menace] ceased. The people of the state rejoiced and were filled with admiration. (The one verified account above comes from the *Records of the Unseen Realm*.)