法苑珠林 6.95

6.95

如毘曇說云。畜生道中。壽極長者不過一劫。如持地龍王及伊羅鉢龍等。壽極短者不過蜉蝣之蟲。朝生夕死不盈一日。中間長短不可具述。如智度論說。佛令舍利弗觀鴿過未。前後各八萬劫。猶不捨鴿身。故知畜生受報長遠。非凡所測也。

As stated in the Abhidharma, among those in the animal realm, the longest lifespan does not exceed one kalpa, as in the cases of the Earth-Supporting Dragon King, the dragon Elāpatra, and their like. The shortest lifespan does not exceed that of a mayfly, which is born in the morning and dies in the evening, not lasting a full day. The lengths and breadths between these cannot be fully recounted. As stated in the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra, the Buddha had Śāriputra observe the past and future of a pigeon for eighty thousand kalpas before and after, and even then it had not relinquished its pigeon body. Thus we know that the retribution received by animals is long and enduring, beyond what ordinary minds can measure.