法苑珠林 65.51

65.51

如大智度論云。乃往過去無量阿僧祇劫。有大林樹多諸禽獸。野火來燒三邊俱起。唯有一邊而隔一水。眾獸窮逼逃命無地。佛言。我於爾時為大身多力鹿。以前脚跨一岸。以後脚跨一岸。令眾獸蹈背上而度。皮肉盡壞。以慈悲力忍之至死。最後一兔來。氣力已竭。自強努力忍令得過。過已脊折墮水而死。如是久有。非但今也。前得度者今諸弟子是。最後一兔須跋陀是。佛世世樂行精進。今猶不息。

As the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra says: Long ago, in the past, countless asaṃkhyeya kalpas ago, there was a great forest with many birds and beasts. A wild fire came and burned it, arising simultaneously on three sides; there was only one side separated by a body of water. The various beasts were in desperate straits, with nowhere to flee for their lives. The Buddha said: At that time, I was a large-bodied, powerful deer. With my front legs straddling one bank and my hind legs straddling the other bank, I caused the beasts to step upon my back and cross over. My skin and flesh were completely ruined, yet through the power of compassion, I endured it until death. At the very last, a hare came. My strength was already exhausted, but I forced myself to make an effort and endure it so as to let it cross over. When it had crossed over, my spine broke, and I fell into the water and died. Matters like this have existed for a long time, not merely in the present. Those who previously attained crossing over are my present disciples; the last hare is Subhadra. The Buddha, lifetime after lifetime, took joy in practicing vigor, and even now does not cease.