法苑珠林 64.54

64.54

又大集經云。佛言。善男子。過去世有一師子王住深山窟。常作是念。我是一切獸中之王。力能視護一切諸獸。時彼山中有二獼猴。共生二子。時二獼猴向師子王作如是言。王若能護一切獸者。我今二子以相委付。我欲餘行求覓飲食。時師子王即便許可。時彼獼猴留其二子。付彼獸王。即捨而行。是時山中有一鷲王。名曰利見。師子王眠。即便搏取獼猴二子。處嶮而住。時王寤已。即向鷲王。而說偈言。

Furthermore, the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra says: The Buddha said: Good sons, in a past age there was a lion king dwelling in a deep mountain cave. He constantly thought: 'I am the king among all beasts; by my strength I can watch over and protect all the animals.' At that time, in that mountain there were two macaques who had together borne two offspring. The two macaques said to the lion king: 'If you, O King, can protect all beasts, we now entrust our two young to you, as we wish to go elsewhere in search of food.' The lion king then gave his consent. Thereupon the macaques left their two young, entrusted them to the beast king, and departed. At that time, in the mountain there was a vulture king named Good Sight. While the lion king was asleep, he seized the two young macaques and perched in a precipitous spot. When the king awoke, he spoke a verse to the vulture king: