法苑珠林 64.70

64.70

又雜阿含經云。爾時世尊告諸比丘。過去世時天阿修羅對陣鬪戰。阿脩羅勝諸天不如。時天帝釋軍壞退散極生恐悑。乘車北馳還歸天宮。須彌山下道徑叢林。林下有金翅鳥巢。多有金翅鳥子。爾時帝釋恐車馬過踐殺鳥子。告御者言。可迴車還勿殺鳥子。御者白王。阿脩羅軍後來逐人。若迴還者為彼所困。帝釋告言。寧當迴還為阿脩羅殺。不以軍眾蹈殺眾生。於道御者轉車南向。阿脩羅軍遙見帝釋轉乘而還。謂為戰策即還退走。眾大恐悑。壞陣流散。歸阿脩羅宮。佛告諸比丘。彼天帝釋於三十三天為自在王。以慈力故威力摧伏阿脩羅軍。亦當讚歎慈心功德。又大悲經云。佛告阿難。若復有人心住慈善。當得十一種功德利益。何者為十一種。一睡眠得安隱。寤則心歡喜。二不見惡夢。三人非人愛。四諸天擁護。五毒不能害。六刀箭不傷。七火所不燒。八水所不溺。九常得好衣餚饍飲食床座臥具病瘦湯藥。十得上人法。十一身壞命終得生梵天。

Furthermore, the Saṃyuktāgama states: At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the bhikṣus: 'In the past, the devas and the asuras lined up in battle to fight. The asuras were victorious, and the devas were overcome. At that time, the army of Śakra, King of the Gods, was broken and scattered, and he was seized with extreme terror. Riding his chariot, he sped north to return to the heavenly palace. Below Mount Sumeru the road passed through a dense grove. Beneath the grove was a garuḍa nest, filled with garuḍa chicks. At that time, Śakra feared that the chariots and horses passing through would trample and kill the chicks. He told the charioteer: "Turn the chariot around and retreat; do not kill the chicks!" The charioteer said to the king: "The asura army is pursuing us from behind. If we turn back, we will be overcome by them." Śakra told him: "I would rather turn back and be killed by the asuras than have our troops trample sentient beings to death." On the road, the charioteer turned the chariot south. The asura army saw from afar Śakra turning his carriage back and, thinking it was a battle stratagem, immediately turned and fled. Their host was terrified, their lines broke and scattered, and they returned to the asura palace.' The Buddha told the bhikṣus: 'That Śakra, King of the Gods, is the sovereign king over the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven; through the power of loving-kindness, his mighty power subdued the asura army. You too should praise the virtues of a mind of loving-kindness.' Furthermore, the Mahākaruṇā-sūtra states: The Buddha told Ānanda: 'If there is a person whose mind abides in loving-kindness, they will obtain eleven benefits of merit. What are the eleven? First, their sleep will be peaceful, and upon waking their mind will be joyful. Second, they will not see evil dreams. Third, they will be loved by humans and non-humans. Fourth, the devas will protect them. Fifth, poisons cannot harm them. Sixth, knives and arrows cannot wound them. Seventh, fire will not burn them. Eighth, water will not drown them. Ninth, they will always obtain fine robes, rich delicacies, food and drink, beds and bedding, and medicine for sickness. Tenth, they will attain the states of superior persons. Eleventh, when the body breaks up and life ends, they will be born in the Brahmā heaven.'